In-Fisherman Smallmouth Article

[Andrew Zuber]

Did anyone read the article in the current (just got it yesterday) InFisherman about when NOT to fish for smallmouth?

A REEL (pun intended) eye-opener...

Some of the info...when a male smallmouth is taken off the bed, preditory fish consumed all the eggs within MINUTES.

Male smallmouth do not take over bed-guarding duties until they are FIVE or SIX years old!

Many other interesting facts...check it out...



az

 

[TOMMY RICH]

Andy..I haven't read the article but, am familiar with the subject. This mostly happens in your northern lakes(Great Lakes) but, have talked to people in the southern lakes that that this is not that much of a problem. Gobies and white bass and such in the great lakes is a big problem in itself. The eat every inch of forage there is and leave few for the gamefish including robbing nests.

A lot of the TVA lakes in the south are now building "spawning benches" all over the lake to help with such problems. The sharper rock ledges and drop offs do not give some of the smallmouth the "most ideal" conditions to spawn. The benches vary in depth from 4 to 15 feet all over these lakes. I spent quite a bit of time last fall at Dale Hollow talking to a crew that were settin' em' out everday. The TVA had a small barge with a small boom to put them in place. What was interesting was how deep some of these fish actually spawn...they've done extensive research the last couple years. Very cool....

I am also a firm believer in "catch & release" programs...The one they have at Dale Hollow is set-up so you don't keep any and I think that's the way it should be. As far as "closed seasons" on smallmouth...that depends on the lake itself. If you have a lot of "meat mongers" takin' fish of all sizes..it can destroy a lake in no time.

Since they have started the 1 fish under 16" and 1 over 21"(which by the way could weigh 6 lbs.)....Dale Hollow is makin' a huge comeback! In the 80's and 90's it was not good at all. Simnitro can witness what proper management can do....

TEE