INDIANA BASS STOCKING

[emerson biggens]

Does anyone know why Indiana DNR stocks primarily Stripe Bass and Walleye in our lakes? Do they not like bass fisherman?

[X19 Indy]

Why are most of the best lakes in the state to catch bass not managed by the Indiana DNR? Don't mean to be a smart ass, just saying...

[emerson biggens]

Your Spot on Man! The DNR needs to focus on LMB, IMO!

[cubswin]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by emerson biggens &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Does anyone know why Indiana DNR stocks primarily Stripe Bass and Walleye in our lakes? Do they not like bass fisherman? </td></tr></table>

so what lakes would you want them to stock in?

Reason they stock striped bass and walleye is usually to try and control shad numbers. Shad compete heavily with young of the year bass, bluegill, crappie, and most every other game fish.

I can't think of all that many lakes in Indiana where its hard to catch largemouth in good numbers. Shoot even the mississsenwa, which has historically sucked for bass, I can usually catch a limit or more. And I suck at fishing.

Which lakes are you talking about that have recruitment issues with bass?

[emerson biggens]

You must be a little better than you let on if you can catch a limit in most Indiana Lakes. What do you mean Shad and bass compete, for what? The reports I read said, lakes have too much forage. Since bass fisherman make up 41% of the fisherman and rate their fishing experience "below average" ( per DNR studies) I think a few more bass will help the average catch ratio of 1 keeper per hour ( per DNR study). Lakes that could use more bass compared to Waveland Lake, well all of them.

[cubswin]

young of the year shad, young of the year bass, young of the year bluegill all compete for zooplankton.

And no, I suck at fishing. But I do catch fish most every trip. Can think of more than one lake that have produced 20+ stringers this year for tournaments.

And how can you quote a dnr study, and slam the dnr in the same thread? 1 keeper for hour, would mean 8 keeper sized fish in a tournament. Means you get to cull, so how bad can it be. I'm not against stocking where its needed, and I don't like how the dnr manages some things. Just don't think stocking bass is really a fix. More cover management would probably help more than anything.

Waveland is a very good lake, for the amount of pressure it gets the fishing is very good.

This isn't texas after all. And the reason they stock bigger predators, walleyes, stripers, and wipers is because of too much forage, that is why they stock those fish. All of them are better at catching shad offshore than largemouth are.


Personally I'd like to see them start some cover projects with clubs, to improve cover in the lakes. Especially around spawning areas. Habitat improvement always help.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_gizzard_shad

Probably what we, as bass fishermen, need to do is work more with the dnr. Muskie guys have, and have established some very good fisheries.


Modified by cubswin at 9:50 PM 11/20/2011

[TR21Bassin]

I've yet to see any lake with too much forage. You go into to bays on other lakes in other states and they are loaded with shad, and you catch more fish. At Patoka and other Indiana lakes you really have to look for the baitfish.

IN DNR has no desire to help the Bass Fishing Community. Thats pretty evident by the way they harass bass fishermen and never check others or pleasure boaters on the water.

A buddy use to work at one of the hatcheries in Indiana and about 2 years ago they had an additional 500,000 fingerling bass. They offered them to Indiana but they didn't want them so they gave them to Kentucky which gladly accepted and put in Kentucky lakes.

[cubswin]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by TR21Bassin &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">

IN DNR has no desire to help the Bass Fishing Community. Thats pretty evident by the way they harass bass fishermen and never check others or pleasure boaters on the water.

</td></tr></table>

They are going to help those that make the most noise. What real indiana organization makes any when it comes to bass fishing? Indiana smallmouth guys do with Ray Rigby.

As far as getting checked, I've been checked once this year. I've seen quite a few pleasure boats get pulled over.

Probably just differences in the officers working your area than in mine.

[X19 Indy]

I have been checked by the DNR every time out on Geist this year by the same guys. I watched them circke a bay checking every fisherman and never checked a single pleasure boat. There were about 20 of them anchored in the cove (guess which one it was ). I asked the DNR guys about it because at this point we were on a first name basis. They said that they are there to enforce fish and game laws and that the drunks in the pleasure boats were the responsibility of the numerous Police orginizations on the lake. I couldn't believe it.

With regards to the DNR's management of the lakes for fishing I have seen them destroy great lakes on a regular basis with stocking. Why did the stock Sauger in the White River? They are non native to the river. Why do they kill Glenn Flint every 5 years. By the way, there are a ton of shad in Geist and the fishing is great. Guess what, not managed by the DNR.

[emerson biggens]

Hey Cubswim,
That was a typo, the catch rate is 1 keeper per EIGHT hours fishing and so I don't worry about culling.

Anyway, where did the Texas reference come from? Do you work for the DNR? How do they know thee other species are better predators they haven't tried to stock more bass or Small mouth bass. Someone catching 20 lbs in a tournament doesn't mean a lake a good population of bass. However when everyone in the tournament catches a limit, hence Waveland, then you have great bass fishing.

As for support, I have been supporting the DNR for 20+ years, paying lake permits, park entry fees and the LAKE ENHANCEMENT FEE. Haven't seen the enhancement. I'm not bashing the DNR, I'm sure they would like to see more LMB in our lakes also. I say just buy some and turn they loose, we won't keep them.

[cubswin]

Texas reference was just a reference

And my point about working with them is showing that bass fishermen want improvement. Talking about it on here, does nothing other than provide a fun debate. Applying pressure through a user group, does put pressure on them. They are a govt agency after all, and subject to doing what the public wants. If, we as bass fishermen, just complain about them on forums, then why would things improve??? Think the pleasure boaters, that include a lot of active moms, would do that instead of emailing them?

[emerson biggens]

I do think mother's would talk , to anybody that listens. I have contacted the DNR and expressed my views. I hope that all 41% of bass fisherman will contact them also. I know some tournament organizers have contacted them in the passed and felt that it fell on deaf ears.

So I have a little free time to contact these forums and encourage others to contact their government and tell them we need some changes! Trust me, the dozens of bass fisherman I talk to are not impressed with Indiana bass fishing.

[cubswin]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by emerson biggens &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I do think mother's would talk , to anybody that listens. I have contacted the DNR and expressed my views. I hope that all 41% of bass fisherman will contact them also. I know some tournament organizers have contacted them in the passed and felt that it fell on deaf ears.

So I have a little free time to contact these forums and encourage others to contact their government and tell them we need some changes! Trust me, the dozens of bass fisherman I talk to are not impressed with Indiana bass fishing. </td></tr></table>

Ok...

Can you provide the contact information? And I don't disagree that things could improve, though I don't think stocking is really the answer. And I also don't think that individuals with separate messages is going to get the response that you and the other 41% want. Be far better to come up with views that everyone agrees on and at least do a petition, or other sort of mass communication in my opinion.

Thanks for the diversion, has been interesting.

[emerson biggens]

Sure, contact Indiana DNR website look up the fisheries biologist in your area and express you views. Oh and tell all your friends to do the same. Stir the pot the petitions will follow.

Hang in there Cubs!

[X19 Indy]

We have 2 orginizations in this state to represent us and I am a member of both. IBFN and IBF. I have been to zone meetings and State meetings for years and have never even heard them discuss this topic or contacting the DNR about anything. I just don't think the DNR cares.

About a decade ago the IBF worked with the DNR to build a new ramp at Wawasee. This included significant funds donated by us and grant money. Guess what, you can't use the ramp that we built to host a tournament. This is what you will encounter. Good luck. I don't necessarily think they should stock bass but don't think walleyes, wipers, stripers, or anything else including steelhead up north make a ton of sense either.

F it, I am moving to Canada.

[emerson biggens]

X19 Indy,

Thanks for the input. We need all Indiana bass fisherman to contact the DNR and make some changes. With the economy so bad, people can go fishing and not spend a fortune. All these ads about "Going to the Forest, it's closer than you think", if they are going to promote the outdoors, then why not enhance our lakes. Some more bass would help! We won't keep them.

[X19 Indy]

I am not familiar with the ads you speak of. Good luck with the DNR. I doubt you will get anywhere. BTW, the Muskie guys paid for the stocking on their own with the support of the DNR. I would think with all of the money we pay IBF and with the $100,000+ they have in various accounts that they should be doing something on this front. Instead thee are trying to build a new shelter house a Brookville. Come on, really? A shelter house? I personally think they are all worthless.

[emerson biggens]

Thanks X19 Indy!
I'm going to keep pitching. The DNR spending $40,000 to $50,000 per year stocking Monroe with " Walleye and Stripe bass" on the backs of the 41% bass fisherman in Indiana. Think what they spent on all lakes. I don't get the rub? Do they not like bass fisherman? Do they not like bass? They seem to like our money? I'll try Mitch next! Spread the word!

[Chasman]

I agree more cover for bass would work. Some stocking of bass just to get new stren of gene's. As for shad, the shad we have in our local lake are getting too large for the bass to eat. I mean 8" to 12" in length. A local strip pit has musky in it. The crappie are about gone, and red ear a blue gills are also in trouble and the bass population is way down. We can only think that the musky are eating them. Musky aren't even a spieces of Indiana lakes (mid to southern IN ) and the DNR stocked them. I rather see smallmouth stocked in our lakes.

[billius]

Most reservoirs in Indiana, that I fish, have tons of baitfish. Brookville lake, just south of me is loaded with baitfish. Patoka used to have a lot of baitfish, but I've not been there for 4 years. In all the years I lived here, before I moved to Bama for 4 years, I was only stopped by the DNR maybe 4 times...and that would be over a period of the first 60 years of my life.