Thread: Hey Adam....

Originally Posted by Slow Retrieve

With all due respect weren't you doing something similar in your opening post that you accuse him of doing when drawing conclusions of the fish in our lakes because of your success on a trip to Louisiana?

That said I tend to agree with you and the premise that these invasive species have to be having some negative impact on the local ecosystem and the native fish. I simply can't believe that millions of large plankton eating fish couldn't. I guess the question is the extent of that and how it impacts the future. One thing I hope is that just the shear size of Kentucky and Barkley will allow them to coexist where in comparison it appears that in some smaller waters that they are in it seems they smother out most everything else.

Yep, sure did I suppose. But you forgot that I did mention that Lake D'arbonne is without Asian Carp. I also was not stating conflicting information. If you really look into some of the recent years tournament weights, records being broken, and reports of some serious slabs coming from Lake D'arbonne.
If you speak to the commercial catfish fisherman, they have been complaining for a few years about the massive decline in bait fish and gizzard shad.



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Originally Posted by bandchaser

Yep, sure did I suppose. But you forgot that I did mention that Lake D'arbonne is without Asian Carp. I also was not stating conflicting information. If you really look into some of the recent years tournament weights, records being broken, and reports of some serious slabs coming from Lake D'arbonne.
If you speak to the commercial catfish fisherman, they have been complaining for a few years about the massive decline in bait fish and gizzard shad.



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Yeah I don't disagree at all, and again no offense intended.

My only saving grace is since I so often struggle when fishing for crappie that I won't see the drop off that so many others do

Originally Posted by BladeRunner

Show me your data to back up any of your statements. AS I thought, you do not have any real data to back up your mouth just your personal unsupported beliefs. If you honestly do not believe that State and Federal fishery resource professionals are the best informed and dedicated organizations to address the invasive Asian carp issue, who do you honestly think will? Do you have any data comparing Asian carp reproductive success between river and reservoir systems, average life spans and annual mobility? I'm waiting to see any data you may have to back up your accusations. In the mean time I suggest everybody needs to double down on our support for the fishery resource professionals who are working daily to address invasive Asian carp and other aquatic resource issues.

Who are you referring to? You want some data, I've got the same data as the fisheries have, discussions that I have had with Paul and Adam, and my involvement to attend the Asian Carp meetings the past few years.
It appears that you yourself are ill-informed. I support our state people in this fight. But once again, this dilemma began with this invasive species being allowed over here in a commercial application. Then in the 1993 flood, these fish escaped from their catfish ponds via backwaters from the Mississippi River. Now, our very own Federal government and Federal Fish & Game acknowledged these events and said that not to worry, this species can not handle the cold winter months and the Mississippi River. Nature will take care it......

Yep, they were right, again. And they are not holding anyone accountable, or what was exactly stated to me last summer by the Federal Fish & Game at a meeting was they didn't know how to hold anyone accountable and it's too long ago to even begin. And they still will not hold themselves accountable by giving anything and everything in financial support to the State agencies to fight this on their behalf's.
https://www.nps.gov/miss/learn/nature/ascarpover.htm
https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/grea...e=2&HUCNumber=
https://news.illinois.edu/view/6367/204767
https://www.google.com/amp/amp.kentu...e44395302.html
https://fw.ky.gov/Fish/Pages/Asian-C...formation.aspx

Also, there are several threads on this KY page that you can research on your own. The data is out there for anyone to research, and there is alot of it too.

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So many variables can effect a water system as large as the twin lakes, carp has an effect I’m sure. But many other factors play a role as well. Just like weather cycles work, fish quality follows in such a matter. I would compare the ups and down of reelfoot as a good reference. Just my opinion.

Honestly it doesn't take a rocket scientist, just someone with a fish finder that has fished these lakes their entire lives to tell you that the baitfish population has taken a massive hit from something and it's not the weather. Introduce something that is essentially a super predator at the base of the food chain that reproduces at a staggering rate and there is no way that they are not having an impact.

Hey guys, To address the first question: crappie condition (relative weight) probably hasn’t changed much since the fall when we checked the weights. The relative weights were below normal for ky lake and below normal for an “average” crappie. There have of course been prior years with worse relative weights (primarily in precarp years)
Relative weight is essentially controlled by two factors 1. The density of crappie 2. The availability of prey items (shad, bluegill, drum, silversides, logperch, etc.).

Those two controlling factors haven’t really changed yet because none of our prey species have spawned yet this year (With the exception of chain pickerel, which isn’t a huge factor). There is also a lot of variation between lakes and embayments based on the different densities of certain year classes of crappie.

We only quantitatively measure fish condition (relative weight) in the fall so that is when we will have new hard numbers again. Fish can be weighed in the spring, but egg weights throw off the calculations.

Bass relative weights were also down last year.

Is this being caused by Asian carp? They are probably a factor due to their direct competition with gizzard shad. However, relative weights have historically fluctuated a lot in these lakes so I am hopeful that they will rebound. (They were normal in 2016) For the time being, I wouldn’t expect any improvement until we get some reproduction of our crappies prey sources.

I’ll check this thread more often so if anyone has more questions I’ll be happy to answer. As always, thanks for sharing your concerns

I agree the Asian Carp are more than likely effecting the eco system for native species such as Crappie. I also believe this is a two fold problem, Asian Carp and the man made problem of over fishing. I know many don't want to hear this, but fishing has changed over the years, mainly with the high tech electronics. The novice fisherman can go out with the basic gps and depth finder and locate fish on structure and catch numerous fish. I know guys who go out nearly seven days a week, catch maximum fish under current creel limits. Some bragging of catching 300 to 400 per season. I don't think the lakes can sustain this type of pressure along with the added factor of the Asian Carp problem. I often wonder how well we do enforcement of creel limits, been on this lake since 1994, stopped one time for a catch check. I know we have limited time and resources and we cant catch everything. I hope one day we do not get to the point of other species, mainly salt water in some states and federal waters, where they limit the season, (meaning no season during the peak spawn) and reduce the creel limits to where it may not be feasible to make a trip to these great natural resources and fish. Time will tell?

Many of us on here will be seeing their effects for the rest of our lives. I just hope the states get their priorities straight and start an all out war to drastically reduce the numbers.
They are effecting the size of crappie on Kentucky Lake, some areas more than others.
Big Sandy area, big effect, over on main Tennessee river channel (Danville), not as bad.
i think it a matter of time before a pleasure boater gets hurt bad by their jumping. My youngest wake boards and water skis, he never goes out without seeing them jump.