Table Rocks decline.

[Seth]

2 hours ago, Phil Lilley said:

Again, all I have to offer is a comparison to Taney.  Here's another thought.

We thought Taney had somehow lost a lot of our big trout a year ago.  Starting in November, fishing was slow.  This continued through March.  We convinced our biologist to do a shock survey.  Even before they actually did it, the fish came alive and we started catching them again.  The spring, summer and fall season proved to be even better than the year before, which was a record, according to our c/r records..  I still don't know what happened for those 4 months of slow fishing.

I'm not sure what happened either, but I was more than satisfied with the quality of fish present. We caught less fish during the tourneys than we ever have since I started fishing them in 2017, but also the most 2+ pound fish. The lack of quantity was made up with quality. During a typical tourney, we'd catch 50+ fish with ease. I'm not sure if we ever caught more than 20 in a tourney last year.....

[dtrs5kprs]

46 minutes ago, Quillback said:

Yeah it is still a fun place to fish.  The pressure is crazy for sure,  but who wants easy fishing?  😄

It's closer than Minnesota.

[Quillback]

10 hours ago, dtrs5kprs said:

It's closer than Minnesota.

No skeeters too.  The bugs, not the boats. 

[Bill Babler]

I don’t think the forage base is a problem on TR.  You can really see when Winter fishing the amount of Shad.  With crayfish and gills, the forage is more than amply to grow and sustain the bass and walleye populations. 

I think the constant 12 months a year 365 day a year pressure is more of a factor than forage. They are constantly under pressure  

I think a pretty good point by Phil. The fish adapt and the next new bait or technique what ever it may be will again produce older wiser fish.  For a time. 

 

[Macsimus]

15 hours ago, dtrs5kprs said:

It's closer than Minnesota.

😃

Just a comment from an outsider. I'm with Fishinwrench on this one as far as the development on TR. This March will be my 10th year coming down to TR for a 2 month hiatus from the frozen Tundra. Last year, as we crossed the bridge at KC heading south, I was sick to my stomach to see the hill above Cedar Bluff utterly stripped and denuded. The same development has been happening to the big desirable lakes in MN. Big money comes in and builds big palatial estates. Property values go way up and of course the demand for services from the local city/county. Taxes then go up as well. Wonderful family resorts close one by one as the original owners reach retirement or want out. Almost no one can buy the resort and maintain it as such because the season is too short to sustain the mortgage and because the land values are so high. It's sad and honestly, I don't see any way to stop it or even slow it down. I won't even bother to address the escalating power of wealthy lakeshore owner associations and what they're doing.

On a brighter note, I still love fishing TR even though I still suck at it. 😁

[196champ]

I'm just a young buck at 35 but caught my first keeper bass on Table Rock at 5 on a flip tail worm fishing from the bank on Campbell's point with my dad.  We would wade out on the slippery rocks and fish until they ate all of our tackle or it got dark.

Times change, as with everything, no more fishing between Campbell's point and the marina from the bank or boat.  That's a bummer, but again, more people and the way things evolve.

Like many, I'm not a fan of change but in many instances, it's just the way it goes.

Randy makes some good points but overall you can say the same thing for many lakes across Missouri and the country.

The fish have changed the way they operate to some extent and it may require different techniques to be as successful as you once were.  If your not willing to roll with the punches and fish outside the box then quit complaining.

 

One thing i have noticed, due to social media, is some of the guide trips that are posted.  Not bashing guides to any extent but i notice some of them posting limits of bass to go under the knife every day.

When you run 2-3 trips a day in the summer months that can really put a hurting on them.

In no way am I against catching and keeping some fish (bass, crappie, catfish, trout, walleye) whatever you like to eat, but the way these guys pile them up day in and day out cant be helpful.

[Phil Lilley]

On 1/8/2023 at 3:18 PM, Quillback said:

What did they find in the shock survey?

It was as strong as the one the fall before.  Better if nothing else.

[Ketchup]

You know, i read some of Randys stuff, and watch a video here and there. As with wrench, I’m in the same mindset that it takes some toughness to go against the more favorable stance, which in todays market is FFS, building on every open spot of land big enough to fit a tiny home, and giving the gov’ment more and more of your money. I respect the guy for speaking out against something,  that without a doubt is not in the best interest of this planet. 
 

On a side note, our bass club has gone to fishing solo, 1 guy per boat with a 3 fish limit which was adopted for co-anglers in 2010 in B.A.S.S tournaments. That little change should help a few bass over the next few years. 

[dtrs5kprs]

3 hours ago, Ketchup said:

On a side note, our bass club has gone to fishing solo, 1 guy per boat with a 3 fish limit which was adopted for co-anglers in 2010 in B.A.S.S tournaments. That little change should help a few bass over the next few years. 

Good for your club. 

Fished a bunch of 3 fish limit derbies in college (because the Iowa limit was 3). Makes for some fun, and tight, weigh ins.

[fishinwrench]

3 hours ago, Ketchup said:

I’m in the same mindset that it takes some toughness to go against the more favorable stance

There are more than enough YT channels out there that reflect the "Don't Worry/Be Happy" attitude, no matter what.    

The majority of his content is positive helpful tips and such, but when it comes to the TRULY IMPORTANT things there honestly isn't all that much to be positive and thankful for.    All the happy-go-lucky folks, that complain about him complaining, are just avoiding reality......and doing worse than nothing to improve or sustain those important things.