What ever happened to the bluegill?

[gocards40]

How long has it been since they stocked the hybrids? I am assuming this has not helped the bluegill fishing by the responses. Do they have any other plans to try and fix this problem. I ask because I know that smaller lakes have run into the same problem and when they get rid of the gizzard shad it does help the crappie and bluegill. Other guys can correct me if I am wrong but I think they chemically kill the shad in the small lakes in Kentucky. I guess something like that would not be an option for patoka. Patoka is a fairly large lake and I am wondering why the gizzard shad are that much of a problem. I am sure they are in other lakes of similar size. Does anyone know why Patoka would be different.

[CatFan96]

I am wondering why the gizzard shad are that much of a problem. I am sure they are in other lakes of similar size. Does anyone know why Patoka would be different.

Patoka isn't different. Other lakes with shad populations have similar fisheries. Patoka is an excellent bass and crappie lake, but any lake with shad isn't going to produce bluegill like Patoka did in it's prime.

[raporter]

Walleye frye have been stocked this year. We do not have hybrids in Patoka, only whites and stripers.

[CatFan96]

Walleye frye have been stocked this year. We do not have hybrids in Patoka, only whites and stripers.

Weren't walleye stocked in the lake shortly after it filled?

[jfw]

I know when the lake first opened they had Northeren Pike but they did not do well

[CatFan96]

Here's an excellent report from a few years back that details the reduction in population and size in bluegill after the shad introduction in 94.

http://www.in.gov/dnr/files/PATOKA_LAKE_04_report.pdf

[gocards40]

Patoka isn't different. Other lakes with shad populations have similar fisheries. Patoka is an excellent bass and crappie lake, but any lake with shad isn't going to produce bluegill like Patoka did in it's prime.

I would assume there was a population of shad in that lake back in the 90's. But just not gizzard shad. From what I have read the adult gizzard shad have not natural predators and grow very large for shad.

[GeoFisher]

I would assume there was a population of shad in that lake back in the 90's. But just not gizzard shad. From what I have read the adult gizzard shad have not natural predators and grow very large for shad.

You sure about the Walleye.............WOW, that would be GREAT.

You know how many?

Later,

Geo

[raporter]

You sure about the Walleye.............WOW, that would be GREAT.

You know how many?

Later,

Geo

Several million frye. I talked to Dan Carnahan about it and we were to get more as they became available. He said they would do a shock this month to check survival rate. I hear of one being caught now and then but have never seen or caught one myself. If it is true then there has to be some successful spawning going on.

[raporter]

Several million frye. I talked to Dan Carnahan about it and we were to get more as they became available. He said they would do a shock this month to check survival rate. I hear of one being caught now and then but have never seen or caught one myself. If it is true then there has to be some successful spawning going on.

Just got this info this morning.

We went out last week and the news is good. We got 36 that ranged in length from 6.2-9.6 inches. The catch rate was 18/electrofishing hour which is well above the 7/hour needed to call the stocking a success.

[SteveM4A1]

why not introduce muskie? don't they love to eat on shad? and they have a hefty apetite

[CatFan96]

why not introduce muskie? don't they love to eat on shad? and they have a hefty apetite

I'd suspect their spawning requirements are similar to Northern Pike. Patoka didn't provide good spawning success for the pike.