lower flows=smaller fish ?

[FEATHERFLICKER]

Hi there, i have been reading posts for the last few weeks, and from what i have read it sounds as if there may be a large population of small fish in the water near the dam. I have not fished tanny yet ( first trip planned for feb 12-13 ) so i don't know what i am talking about here exactly. I was wondering what some of you think about the current status of the fishery with regards to -

1- does it seem that there is a larger population of small (8-11 inch fish) now than there has been in the past ?

2- has it pushed out or otherwise effected the population of larger fish ?

3- What is it that you think might be causing this dynamic ?

I wonder what the effect of low flows, low generation , has had on the fish in the trophy area ? just thought it might evoke some interesting replies .

thanks to all.

[Phil Lilley]

Boy- you bring up some good questions...

Yes we have tons of small rainbows in the lake right now. We usually do this time of year cause Neosho federal hatchery "blesses" us with dinks from their hatchery every year in December. They are stocked downstream but always seemed to make their way to the dam, regardless if they run water.

Do they puch other trout out, namely bigger rainbows. it does seem that way. But we're not seeing them below Fall Creek- even the bait fishers aren't coming in with 15-16-17-18 inch rainbows. So if they were moving out, they'd show I'd think.

So where are they? I don't have the answer. My guess is that they are still above Fall Creek for the most part.

Low flow in winter equals low food base, esp in the trophy area. Is that backed up by any "official" research- nope. How much of a decline in the food base- not much. But our bugs do much better during medium to heavy flows than with no generation- I'm sure of that.

[Fox Statler]

If large rainbows and browns have plenty of "dinks" to eat, why should they waits their time eating sowbugs and scuds? I think I would be fishing "dinks" for the bigger fish.

[Fish Bork]

Rainbows don't eat anything much bigger then scuds, and only the big big browns will eat 8 to 10 inch fish and then only if there is nothing else in the lake to eat.

[Phil Lilley]

Hummmm..... rainbows eat minnows... well small forage fish. If we had a natural spawn, they'd eat rainbow fry too.

We sell and use minnows here and we catch mostly rainbows on them. I've put rainbows in a tank and fed them minnows and they attack them. Rainbows also gorge themselves on shad when they come thru the turbines.

We also use crank baits and catch alot of rainbows.

I've seen a brown eat a 13 inch rainbow right off the surface of the lake. Maybe 20 times I've witnessed a brown either chasing/eating a rainbow or have a brown try to eat a rainbow when the rainbow was hooked by a fisherman.

Fox is refering to using streamers that imitate rainbows and browns to catch either.

[loo10]

Rainbows don't eat anything much bigger then scuds, and only the big big browns will eat 8 to 10 inch fish and then only if there is nothing else in the lake to eat.

Please don't take offense but you are severly misinformed on this.

Every statement you just made is incorrect.

Rainbows eat smaller fish regularly.

Medium sized, big, and the giant browns thrive on small rainbows.

Given availablity of a careless fish meal....

browns will take it every time.

[Fish Bork]

O.K. I should have made my statement more accurate. 90percent of the time if you open a rainbow in Tanyecomo all you will find are amphipods and isopods in thier belly. Yes all fish are opportunistic feeders and will prey on what is most available. I was wrong I hang my head in shame

[loo10]

O.K. I should have made my statement more accurate. 90percent of the time if you open a rainbow in Tanyecomo all you will find are amphipods and isopods in thier belly. Yes all fish are opportunistic feeders and will prey on what is most available. I was wrong I hang my head in shame

But the ones you are opening are the smaller ones.

If you could take an accurate check on a group of big fish in Taney.

they'd have meat in them...fish, sculpins, & crayfish...with a few mice,

baby ducks, & muskrats thrown in.

Browns are the #1 predator in this waterway.

Awwwww....I din't mean to shame you.

Being a Cubs fan....you have enough grief already.

[FEATHERFLICKER]

But the ones you are opening are the smaller ones.

If you could take an accurate check on a group of big fish in Taney.

they'd have meat in them...fish, sculpins, & crayfish...with a few mice,

baby ducks, & muskrats thrown in.

Browns are the #1 predator in this waterway.

Awwwww....I din't mean to shame you.

Being a Cubs fan....you have enough grief already.

Good to hear that you think the larger fish are around somewhere, now it's just a matter of finding them.

I plan on fishing at night to target the larger fish, sounds about what i had in mind, buggers, sculpin patterns and streamers. Have you had a shad kill in the lake this year... i am betting it has been to warm. thanks again .

[Phil Lilley]

That's what I like about the people on this forum- they readily admit if they're wrong and go on... something I'm well versed in - sticking my foot in my mouth or computer in this case.

It is interesting the guys fishing at night are seeing some big rainbows so there are some up there.