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Loch Lomond From: Realtor Joe (68.254.30.34), Ohio
A question for anyone! I used to fish that lake years ago and 10 pounders were somewhat routine or maybe not routine but 25 to 30 caught every year. Five and 7 pounders were routine. We heard that they quit fertilizing the lake and ever since the fishing reports are terrible in comparison to what they used to be. Whats going on, it used to be a "great" bass lake. I was planning on looking to retire there. Any thoughts? Joe Loch Lomand From: Champion135 (65.70.239.174), Arkansas Well you have to take into fact that there is 3 to 4 times the fishing out there,also the number of Residents living on the water now.Also we as advid fisherman have not done our part in selective harvest.You see 15-20 yrs ago we were taught to catch and release all that we caught,but we've done that for 15 yrs and now we are seeing the effects of it.I'm all about catch and release don't get me wrong but fish will grow and reproduce according to there surrondings and available food supplies.The numbers of fish ranging from 10-12" now on these lakes is off the charts.Please don't get me wrong on this there are still some nice big fish in these lakes,but they'll eat 1 and 2 lbs bass and crappie before they'll touch my Fluke. Champion135 Loch Lomond From: Champ188 (70.178.136.206), Arkansas Champion135 has it right. It doesn't matter what kind of regulations you place on a lake — minimum length, slot limits, whatever — if there is no harvest at all. Such limits are designed to CONTROL THE NUMBERS of certain year and size classes of bass by REMOVING some of the them from a lake. As Champion135 states, a body of water can only support a given number of bass per acre depending on the food supply. The more little fish you have gobbling up the food, the fewer big bass there will be. We would all do well by ourselves and our fisheries to bring home an occasional mess of fish to eat, in accordance with creel, length or slot limits for that particular body of water. Lastly, Bella Vista last spring hired Darrell Bowman as its new lakes manager. Darrell is the former trout program director for the state Game and Fish Commission and has a deep knowledge of warm-water fisheries as well. He is currently assessing each Bella Vista lake individually and formulating management plans. Yes, the fertilization of Loch Lomond was halted several years ago. One real advantage of having Darrell on board is his ties with AGFC personnel. A few years back, when the POA board insisted on doing things its own way, the AGFC backed off from helping manage the BV lakes. Basically, the told the POA that they weren't going to waste their time and expertise if no one was going to listen to them anyway. Darrell already has done much to restore the relationship with AGFC personnel and no doubt will have these lakes in better shape as quickly as he's able. |
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