1 Attachment(s)
So, I up and says to creekslick...
ole buddy how about a good fishing tip for Greers. I've never been there and would sure like to find some good eaters. They don't have to be bigguns, and it don't have to be very many, we would just like to eat some. So Wayne up and says to me. Ole bud, I've known you for a few years, and I know the limits of your catching ability. Fishing Greers ain't for the faint of heart, but I'm gonna be kind and put you on some good eating, and he did. He sent us over to Janssens restaurant, and it was some of the best eating I've ever had, and sure beat pulling the boat over on icy roads and getting out and trying to catch some non-existent fish in an unknown lake.
Enjoyed the visit with you and your lovely spouse. What a beautiful place. It only took me 55 years to get here even though it wasn't but a couple hours away.
Thanks also to Jackie who was going to try to put us on a fish as well. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate so no fishing happened, but maybe someday we can get back over and pursue the elusive walleye. After all, it ain't always about the fishing, the friendships you make are good in any kind of weather.
Attachment 191738
So, I up and says to creekslick...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
creekslick
I should have said we don't have the numbers like Conway, Nimrod, or Dardenelle. From what I've heard it's hard to manage these deep clear lakes for crappie. Here's my 2 cents, a lake can only support so many pounds of fish so with all the whites and hybrids we have that takes away the number of pounds of crappie the lake can support. So if you are up here fishing and catch whites and hybrids please keep them and don't throw them back in the lake. Maybe D10 can chime in on this.
You are correct Wayne. Greers Ferry is the least productive Corps reservoir in Arkansas due to the geology in the drainage and a few other factors. One of them being the lack of nutrients flowing into the lake from the tributaries. The more nutrients in a lake, the more phytoplankton, zooplankton, shad, and predators. There is only so much shad to go around for all of the mouths to feed. We are in the process of documenting the age and growth, mortality rates of all predators in Greers. Due to several years of not having sustained high water during the spring and summer, it appears that the forage base is down. One thing that we have already documented are the low relative weights of hybrids in the lower part of the lake (below the narrows). Due to this, we are not stocking hybrids this coming year. This wont fix the problem but will not put more mouths in the lake to feed. This will not happen every year because there are just as many hybrid anglers as crappie anglers on the lake. We also suspect that very few people harvest hybrids and whites. We will hopefully be looking into this in the next couple of years. What we can't control is the number o white bass in the lake. We see a ratio of 10:1 white bass to hybrids. There are tons of white in the lake and when no one harvests them, they get thick. Another thing that we suspect is happening, is that hybrids and whites may be reproducing with each other. We have been catching fish that have characteristics of both species. What we really need badly is a high water year or several high water years in a row. It does the lake a huge favor. It would sure be nice if the powers that be would hold the lake a few feet higher during the spring and summer. South Western Power won't go for this though. They are in the business of making and selling power, not boosting the productivity of a lake.
So, I up and says to creekslick...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
warhawk
What are the chances of introducing blue back herring as a bait fish in Arkansas lakes? Like Lake Lanier in Georgia???
I have been asked this several times by bass fisherman, including my father in law and his buddies. This was looked into during the 80s. Unlike gizzard shad and threadfin shad, blueback herring predate on the eggs of other species. Also they do not tolerate warm water like gizzard and threadfin do. They are not native to the state and as a rule of thumb, it is not a good idea to introduce non native species without fully understanding the consequences. Many introductions become a night mare.