Thread: Has electronics and live bait ruined my favorite lake ?

Originally Posted by catchNgrease

They do if there is nothing there to eat them.

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They will eat each other. As fry everything is trying to eat them. Biologist claim only 1 to 3 % make it from fry to adulthood.

A 300-acre lake is really a relatively small body of water... and it really wouldn't take but a few frequently fishing wrong-doers very long at all to affect overall populations, but another possibility might be merely the cyclical nature of some species and that the lake is trying to rebound from a weaker spawning cycle for a year, maybe two in a row, that could have (indeed) affected the volume of fish overall at the present time.

Not that it applies to your particular situation: But, I have also heard of anglers who typically fish at a given time of the year, (spring), who now (suddenly) venture out at (say) at different times of the year, (summer), but continue to fish in the same deeper water areas where they always caught fish during their favorite (spring) times, and at their ole reliable (spring) fishing haunts, but fail, however, to realize, that due to the migratory nature of most fish species... they simply weren't fishing, or, even looking at places where the fish were at the particular (different) time of the year. Heck, I've caught crappies on spots for weeks, only to find that they've moved completely out of the particular spot one day, and didn't return to the area until the same time the following year.

This is called the "dead sea" impression. It typically occurs when cooler season fishermen go fishing in the summer months and spend their time and efforts searching for fish below the thermocline, for example. I've also heard of some fishermen making posts on social media about poor fishing/fish populations in an area, on social media, as a covert tactic, to keep other people, who read those unproductive (planted) posts, from fishing in their favorite honey holes.

Don't let it bother you too much. It could be that you just need to find another lake... at least until your local honey hole rebounds in a couple of years. Meanwhile, I would share my concerns with your local Game & Fish Resources Department if stricter enforcement and/or a change in regulations might be in order. Good luck to you.

There aren't any fish in my local lake

Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

There aren't any fish in my local lake

Originally Posted by Special K

A 300-acre lake is really a relatively small body of water... and it really wouldn't take but a few frequently fishing wrong-doers very long at all to affect overall populations, but another possibility might be merely the cyclical nature of some species and that the lake is trying to rebound from a weaker spawning cycle for a year, maybe two in a row, that could have (indeed) affected the volume of fish overall at the present time.

Not that it applies to your particular situation: But, I have also heard of anglers who typically fish at a given time of the year, (spring), who now (suddenly) venture out at (say) at different times of the year, (summer), but continue to fish in the same deeper water areas where they always caught fish during their favorite (spring) times, and at their ole reliable (spring) fishing haunts, but fail, however, to realize, that due to the migratory nature of most fish species... they simply weren't fishing, or, even looking at places where the fish were at the particular (different) time of the year. Heck, I've caught crappies on spots for weeks, only to find that they've moved completely out of the particular spot one day, and didn't return to the area until the same time the following year.

This is called the "dead sea" impression. It typically occurs when cooler season fishermen go fishing in the summer months and spend their time and efforts searching for fish below the thermocline, for example. I've also heard of some fishermen making posts on social media about poor fishing/fish populations in an area, on social media, as a covert tactic, to keep other people, who read those unproductive (planted) posts, from fishing in their favorite honey holes.

Don't let it bother you too much. It could be that you just need to find another lake... at least until your local honey hole rebounds in a couple of years. Meanwhile, I would share my concerns with your local Game & Fish Resources Department if stricter enforcement and/or a change in regulations might be in order. Good luck to you.

You might be on to something, but I’ve been fishing this reservoir for over 20 years . Have seen ups and downs , but I’ve always been able to catch a few bluegills off the banks year round .
I’ve caught them with a flyrod in January on a Sunny bank during the afternoon . That’s why I have a cheap fish finder with temperature. A couple degrees in winter makes a big difference.
Lately the surface temps have been between 70-75 degrees . The gills should be all over the shallow water . Especially the areas shallow areas next to deep water .
I plan on going again this Tuesday . Supposed to be 71 for the high . Got to enjoy the nice days while I can .
I’ll be targeting the small bass that are left in the lake , along with the gills . Maybe they’ll be more cooperative.
I just want to stretch a line , don’t care what species does it for me right now .

If you are going to release them why not use a few live worms to just get a good feel for what's out there.

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