Do either of these lake have Asian Carp or other really bad invasive species? Or have they been able to be kept out?
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Do either of these lake have Asian Carp or other really bad invasive species? Or have they been able to be kept out?
As far as I know they are not there. I have heard of no reports of them. Call the AGFC.
No Silver or Bighead Carp is the White River chain of lakes (that I have heard of). There are Zeebra Mussels in Bull Shoals though.
Stripers and hybrids are invasive species as far as I'm concerned, and one or both are there.
Norfork,Bull shoals, White River are cool water streams from under the Dams of these lakes."Trout" Waters. Don't think the silver carp would like or thrive "live in the cold waters".These cool water are usually maintained 68-70 deg year around all the way to Guion Arkansas.These water will freeze you in batesville ark where we live in the hot summer time. To keep their trout alive.From a want to be Biologists. Would like to be like D-10."Dream Job"Only can Dream.
Why do you ask crazy fish?
Don't think the low temp will deter them, since they are thriving all the way to the great lakes, but the water may be too sterile for them. Not much nutrient in those waters.
They have to be able to swim in and no access from what I see . Someone would have to bring them in . Nimrod does'nt have them and that is a good thing these dams don't allow access for the Asian Carp .
The day them things get in these lakes is the day I say we Nuke em and start over. Some of the most beautiful and pristine waters on this planet.Even if the fertility is lower they are still a joy to be on.It would not take much to help these lakes to improve if the right things are done.
It's bad enough they are fracking around some of them.
There are no silver or bighead carp in Bull Shoals Lake or Norfork Lake. As D-10 mentioned, there are zebra mussels in Bull Shoals Lake. We have not confirmed any zebra mussels in Norfork Lake.
Mac Daddy is correct that Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass are stocked in Norfork Lake. Neither are stocked in Bull Shoals Lake by the AGFC. MDC does stock striped bass every other year in Bull Shoals Lake.
doggone, we willing to hear from anglers on ways we can improve fishing in these lakes.
If you have any more questions, feel free to contact me at 1-877-425-7577.
Jeremy Risley
Jeremy, why do the Ozark lakes not have any submergent vegetation? Can it not grow? I couldn't imagine how productive these bodies of water would be with hyrdrilla, Millfoil , coontail growing to 20+ feet.
The AGFC has tried establishing vegetation (including coontail) on Bull Shoals Lake. It did well during the first summer. The next summer, the vegetation had 25 to 30 feet over water over it and the vegetation all died. I really don't have a solid answer for you. Hydrilla is the only one of those that will grow in 20 plus feet of water. I know of anglers trying to establish hydrilla but it didn't take in Norfork.
From a fisherman's perspective, I love to have vegetation in the Ozark Lakes!! I am a fan of vegetation.
Really appreciate the work The AGFC does.Keep putting in more cover for the fish."Fish habit"We had the best crappie fishing year on Norfork ever.The parking lot's were full of crappie fishermen.Everyone catching crappie.Thanks Again Mojorig.We Arkansas are blessed to have you taking care of our fisheries.Thanks again.
How cool is it that two AGFC fisheries guys are on here and willing to answer questions!! Don't see that on any hunting forums. You fisheries guys rock!
Chris
That moss in degray existed for decades that lapped many high and low water level periods. My understanding is the COE purposely introduced an invasive species of some kind that was proven to destroy that particular species of moss. Subsequent to that i noticed the fish that came out of the lake were skinny and didnt have much fight in em but the last winter the moss was there my dad caught a 25.5 inch bass on a jerkbait.
Thanks all!! D10 is the crappie fisherman in the agency. I'm just a green carp fisherman but I come on here to get angler's input on the area fisheries.
Jackie53,
We appreciate the kind words but we really didn't do any thing. Mother Nature did it all. The great crappie fishing, this year, was the result of the high water year in 2011!! We had another great spawn in 2013 and 2015 so fishing should be good for a few more years.
High water each spring flooding the shoreline brush is a key to great Crappie fishing on our flood control lakes . :twocents
The year that killed the moss in Degray was a "perfect storm" they drew the lake down 18feet that winter to work on the damn, so all the moss out to 18feet was high and dry for months. Then we had record flooding and the lake came up 20 feet over normal pool. So with all the shallow moss killed due to the draw down then the deeper hydrilla was wiped out with 40+ feet over it in the spring/summer. Now no moss, it's a shame, it was such a Great Lake.
Jackie , I know the silver carp have made it up the river to Batesville . I witnessed just last week several of them trying to jump up the dam unsuccessfully but I am sure some have made it above lock 1 when we had the high water earlier in the year .
D10, I know there has been a few large kills of the silver carp in Kentucky that was said to be the result of a parasite . Do you know if the USFW is working on anything to help kill this species out or at least try and control it in some form ?
They need to figure quicker. They have absolutely ruined a great crappie fishery in the lakes off Black River.