Thread: Ask the Biologist

Craig,
Which lay more eggs a 3 year old 11 inch crappie or a 4 to 5 year old 13 to 15 inch?

Originally Posted by Blackdog40

Craig,
Which lay more eggs a 3 year old 11 inch crappie or a 4 to 5 year old 13 to 15 inch?

Blackdog40,

The larger/older fish would be able to physically hold more eggs but possibly at the cost of fertility. Older fish can have lower fertility percentages than their younger counterparts. This is why the hatcheries occasionally rotate out their broodstook, to maintain higher fertility with ideally aged fish which keeps fry production more efficient and hatch rates more predictable.

Craig,

I have been fishing for carp with my four year old daughter and she loves it. We have been going out to Lake Afton and catching a bunch of carp up to 10 pounds or so. What lake would you recommend if we were after a giant common carp? I also chase flatheads. I dont see much information about Mr Flathead. Which lakes seem to have the monsters in your area?

Thanks,
Cody

Originally Posted by Flats&Craps

Craig,

I have been fishing for carp with my four year old daughter and she loves it. We have been going out to Lake Afton and catching a bunch of carp up to 10 pounds or so. What lake would you recommend if we were after a giant common carp? I also chase flatheads. I dont see much information about Mr Flathead. Which lakes seem to have the monsters in your area?

Thanks,
Cody

Cody,

First off, CONRATS on taking your daughter fishing!

In order to grow larger than average carp you have to have lower densities which usually leaves the larger reservoirs out. Smaller lakes with good largemouth bass populations limit the carp density which allows the remaining carp to grow to jumbo sizes. I manage three state fishing lakes two of which are basically carp free but the other grows JUMBO carp. Chase State Fishing Lake would be my recommendation out of the lakes I manage if you are looking for a trophy carp. The carp are easily accessible from the north shore near the piers and fish feeders. The feeders keep the carp close during the May through September feeding season. Carp in the mid-teens to low twenties are not uncommon at Chase. A few anglers chase the carp but most pressure at Chase is for the channel cats and bass. Another option for good carp action are the feeders on the federal reservoirs. Cheney has feeders in the Red Bluffs area and these feeders hold high numbers of carp as well as other species. These reservoir carp are not as big but they can make up for their lake of size which sheer numbers.

The best flathead lakes in my district are El Dorado Reservoir and Winfield City Lake. I commonly see flats over 35lbs at El Dorado and the annual flathead tourney at Winfield produces good sized flats. The stilling basins below the federal reservoirs always hold big flatheads. Big flats are caught below both El Dorado and Council Grove on a regular basis. Just after a big release is a great time to hit these areas.

Hope this helps...

Craig,

Thanks for the info. Might have to give it a shot before the weather gets to cold.

Cody

KDWP Video on Blue Catfish Production at the Farlington Fish Hatchery

Excellent video, very informitive

BAN ON LEAD IN FISHING GEAR DENIED
Posted: 23 Nov 2010 11:13 AM PST
Ruling follows August denial to ban lead bullets
WASHINGTON, DC — On Nov. 11, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that they had denied a petition calling for a ban on the manufacture, use, and processing of lead in fishing gear. This decision follows an earlier denial of a petition to ban all lead shot and bullets.
On August 3, the American Bird Conservancy and a number of other groups petitioned EPA under Section 21 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to "prohibit the manufacture, processing, and distribution in commerce of lead for shot, bullets, and fishing sinkers." On August 27, EPA denied the portion of the petition relating to lead in ammunition because the agency does not have the legal authority to regulate this type of product under TSCA.
In a letter to the petitioners, EPA indicated that the petitioners have not demonstrated that the requested rule is necessary to protect against an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment, as required by the TSCA. The letter further indicated that the increasing number of limitations on the use of lead fishing gear on some federal and state lands, as well as various education and outreach activities, call into question whether a national ban on lead in fishing gear would be the least burdensome, adequately-protective approach to address the concern, as called for under TSCA. EPA's letter also notes that the prevalence of non-lead alternatives in the marketplace continues to increase.
For detailed information on the petition, go online to http://www.epa.gov/oppt/chemtest/pubs/petitions.html#petition8 .
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