Kentucky Lake vs Table Rock

[Bill Babler]

Just watching MLF NOW. The BPT is on Kentucky Lake. Since 2022 KDC has stocked 4.5 million F1 Florida strain bass with plans to stock another 15 million plus. 

Both TR and KL are very geographic in terms of North South. Almost parallel to each other. 

Our learned Conservation Dept. wants to reduce our bass population.  Now that’s what I call forward thinking. 

With the huge forage base we have here, what is the Sam Heck is wrong with these people. 


 

[Brennan]

I’m not familiar with the conservation department wanting to reduce the bass population. What’s the story?

Tim

[Gumboot]

19 hours ago, Brennan said:

I’m not familiar with the conservation department wanting to reduce the bass population. What’s the story?

Tim

MDC lowering spotted bass keepers from 15" to 12".

https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-seeks-public-input-proposed-spotted-bass-regulation-change-table-rock-lake

[tjm]

We sure need more invasive species don't we? spotted bass, fl bass, Asian carp, snakeheads; why aren't we stocking snakeheads? 

[Flysmallie]

1 hour ago, tjm said:

We sure need more invasive species don't we? 

Nobody seems to mind when it's a trout.

[FishnDave]

6 hours ago, tjm said:

why aren't we stocking snakeheads? 

Let me know if you need a signature for your petition.  

[tjm]

18 hours ago, Flysmallie said:

Nobody seems to mind when it's a trout.

True but as far as I know trout don't hybridize with  or typically displace our  endemic/native  species.  They are certainly a problem in some other countries though. And for the record I'm not advocating for trout to be introduced in any water they haven't already contaminated. I would not object to requiring all stocked fish of any species to sterile. 

[skeeter]

On 6/8/2025 at 10:47 AM, Bill Babler said:

Just watching MLF NOW. The BPT is on Kentucky Lake. Since 2022 KDC has stocked 4.5 million F1 Florida strain bass with plans to stock another 15 million plus. 

Both TR and KL are very geographic in terms of North South. Almost parallel to each other. 

Our learned Conservation Dept. wants to reduce our bass population.  Now that’s what I call forward thinking. 

With the huge forage base we have here, what is the Sam Heck is wrong with these people. 


 

Yep, that idiotic idea is almost as dumb as their re-introduction of the dratted Otters.   Clearly recall the noise and opposition when they introduced the 15" limit in the 70's, which was one of the best things they ever did, but we now seem to have some very different people in charge. 

Notice when we see them doing their "Electro-fishing" census their boat is always relatively close to shore because the voltage won't reach deeper depths?  So their sampling is incomplete.  

Would Florida strain LM survive our winter water temps ?  

[tjm]

Snakeheads do survive Mo. winters (at least in few counties) and commonly reach 10-12#, can  be 20#, might make a great tournament fish. Since they can breath air, they wouldn't be harmed by long times in the live well. And they can't hybridize with our endemic or native fish. 

[Bill Babler]

Kentucky lake is almost identical as far as geological longitude and latitude.

Hey I’m not saying we need Florida strain bass or please forbid the stocking of Northern LM. 

We just don’t need to increase the  killing of the ones we do have. 

And, Skeeter you are right as far as the electro fishing. Same locations year after year I know they are establishing a consistency line but in the past 10 years we have pretty much had an entire cycle change. 

Fish have changed spawning times and locations. We caught spawning Spotted bass 2 weeks ago. When MLF was at Kentucky lake last week there were still a few LM on beds. 

The Otter deal was a total disaster and they are trying to do it again with the bass. 

I’m guessing Red Wolves to control the deer population will be next.