Birdstrike

[SSKY]

I have no problem with the situation on cumberland as it now exists for walleye. The potential for (if they are left) the native walleye have proven to grow bigger than has ever been in lake erie. That being said it would be intresting to give them a chance again with stocking, if that genetic strain is still here. if so it would be just intresting if we could stock the home grown walleye and see what would happen in spite of the stocked erie strain that is now stocked.The fishermen that I have talked to that live in the mount victory area are now waiting for the "walleye run" up the rockcastle river to fish for walleye in the 4 to 5 pound range. If there is truly a walleye run up the rockcastle river they would be the lake strain and then my argument would be pretty much mute because they would have already crossed and then there would be no native walleye. The state has said that there are native walleye in the rockcastle but the above "walleye run" would frown that none have crossed.I just looked for a better fishery and that is all. If it is gone then it is gone. My opinion might have been jaded by PWT jerks but that is another issue. I do apologize to you Mr Birdstrike for my last post if I insulted you in any way, that was not my intent.

[SmallmouthChaserGLX]

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.