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At some time we that really like to fish for white bass should have some report with info as to why they are gone. I would assume that the biologists that moniter the situation would have some ideal. What is it? just a question?will they ever be back?
While I think you ask some interesting questions, these are things that the biologists really need to answer. Asking here is fine, but none of us are really qualified to answer those questions. I like WB too. I recognize that they are cyclitic (good some years, not so many other years). Some lakes in KY that used to have good populations of WB now don't. Others seem to have good populations of them. I doubt there is any one factor.
Andrew
This web page lists contact information for all the KDFWR Fisheries Biologists:
http://fw.ky.gov/fishbiol.asp?lid=682&NavPath=C101C139
Pick the one for the fishery your interested in, and email them. Let us know what you find out. I'd be interested to know, too. The Fishing Forecasts say they started stocking them in 2006, but that's all I've heard about it.
APB is correct. They do run in cycles. As to why they disappear completely that is a mystery. There is a lake near me that is known for musky, bass, and crappie. Someone other than the state took it apon themselves to start stocking white bass. It worked well and for the next 5 years that lake was full of whites. Now they are almost all gone. For the last 5 years you might see a picture or two at the marina of a white bass, but for the most part they are gone. I hope the state boys have an an answer for you. My guess is cycle + predation + over fishing + disease + poor spawning grounds + water quality = who knows for sure?
I'm no biologist, but there is one thing I have noticed, if there are alewives, there are very few white bass. Alewives when they reach maturity, are about 10 inches long, and they feed on fry, just about the time the white bass spawn, the alewives are also in the same kind of waters, but that is only my guess.
something that i have noticed on green. over the past 4 or 5 years when it was time for the white bass to make their run upstream there was not enough water for them go. then after they spawned the water would come up.
i can remember catching white bass at the mill dam in middleburg when the made their run, thats about 50 or 60 miles upstream. now your lucky if you get one good week in the spring at the head waters of the lake and a couple of good fish in the jumps during summer.....KP
[QUOTE=LarryG;315697]I'm no biologist, but there is one thing I have noticed, if there are alewives, there are very few white bass. Alewives when they reach maturity, are about 10 inches long, and they feed on fry, just about the time the white bass spawn, the alewives are also in the same kind of waters, but that is only my guess.[/QUOTE]
There are many many locals around Cumberland, good fisherman that blame the alwives for Cumberland's WB demise. I personally buy into the theory as well.