Birdstrike

I am sorry that i cannot post to your original thread but this board does not allow it.Theory, an unproven ideal with good scientific ideals to back it up. 21 pounds 8 oz aint no theory. I do not believe that anyone has ever stocked sauger in the cumberland, If i am wrong then so be it. That being said the fish do not care for the arbitrary desiginations of KY or TN they are just in the river. sauger 7pounds 7 oz in the lake is no theory again just fact. I do like the issue of man managed, the saltwater fish have seemed to do well, the white bass not so much(why?). the carp seem to be doing well as well as the alewives. My only point is that if you have fish from here that did great when they were here then put them back here just like you do with saltwater fish that are here. from that standpoint i do not see what any argument is about.The fishery may be better, at worst it would be the same,then why is there a problem?

You of all people know how good the walleye fishing is in the greater Cumberland. You are well known for catching fish in the middle of the day all summer long. So tell me again what's wrong with the way the lake's being stocked? If it aint broke... Hey, I would love to see 20+ lb walleyes coming out of the lake. If you think that the Rockcastle fish will grow that big, bring them on. I think they once grew that big because they were one of the few predators in a new lake that was plum full of food for them, but what do I know.

I'm not against your ideas at all. I just don't think it as big of an issue as you present it to be. The native fish are being stocked into some KY lakes right now so maybe we just sit back a while and see how they make out.

As for the stripers... I've never caught one at Cumberland, have never tried and don't care if I ever do. But they are big business for the community, much more so than walleye fishing ever will be. In my opinion, they are here to stay.

sounds like a real prick wrote that response to your questions. Sorry about that. I respect you Scott as a fisherman, and for your compassion for the lake. I shouldn't pretend to know what is, or will be, best for the lake for I am not at all qualified to make those comments. I do share your compassion for the waters of Ky and hope to see improvements in the quality of fishing for all of those who want to share the experience. I truly hope you are right about the heartiness of the Rockcastle strain walleye and hope we will once again find white bass in plenty.

I apologize for coming across like a pompous a$$.

Tight lines,

Steve

In a way I think you are both right.

I read an article somewhere about a year ago that said that the Hayes Smallmouth from Dale Hollow was due the the fish from the river growing to tremendous size when given the oppertunity of having the forage base of the lake given to them after empoundment. After struggling for something to munch on they found food in abundance and some got huge.

Applying the same pricipal to walleye... If they dammed the river and formed a lake, larger than average fish should appear in 10 years or so. However, if they bred and stocked the strain in lakes no noticeable difference would probably take place. Even though they may have the genetics to grow to larger than average sizes the "nurture" part of the equation isn't there. Undoubtedly there would be a small jump in the sizes of a few fish here and there but probably nothing like the cumberland giant holding the state record (note the similar situation to the dale hollow fish). Eventually the normal course of nature would merge the two strains (erie/rockastle) together and what would emerge..... (suspense) a perfectly average walleye.

Just like birdstrike im no expert but this is just what I understand and have read from people who know alot more about this than me. Maybe if they took some small fish directly from the river and introduced them to a lake we could see some larger fish but the chances of any noticable fish showing up would be small. Out of several thousand fingerlings I wonder how many actually make it up to 5 lbs before they are eaten by us or other fish.... and of those that survive how many make it to 10, 15, 20? I would imagine very few or we would be knee deep in 15 pounders.

Apply this same knowledge to Cedar Creek. Newly impounded, moderate pressure, lots of cover, lots of bait.... My question is were there any bass in those creeks before the lake was impounded? If so I may be planning a trip say... March 20, 2010.