Now I know why bass numbers have declined.

[basscrusher]

For a few years all the non tidal sections of rivers in VA had spring flooding problems due to crazy high rainfall That wiped out a few years of spawns

  Also, some sections of the Shenandoah have issues related to runoff from cattle and chicken agriculture. 

[Ratherbfishing]

Speaking as a non-biologist, I have heard that bass are not a preferred food source for musky (not "caloric" enough) and, instead, will target large shad and other fish that are too large for most bass to readily eat anyway.  If this is true, then the presence of musky (even really BIG ones) should not negatively affect bass populations.  

[Team9nine]

1 hour ago, Ratherbfishing said:

Speaking as a non-biologist, I have heard that bass are not a preferred food source for musky (not "caloric" enough) and, instead, will target large shad and other fish that are too large for most bass to readily eat anyway.  If this is true, then the presence of musky (even really BIG ones) should not negatively affect bass populations.  

 

This ^^

 

It's a big issue in a couple specific parts of the country, but a decent bit of the research done on the matter largely refutes the theory of musky predation being a reason for declining bass populations. This would even be more likely the case in a river situation, where a larger number of preferred type prey species would be available (suckers, shad, and other large minnow species). However, this is not to be confused with bass location, which can definitely be affected and altered by strong pike and musky populations.

[Smells like fish]

Can someone link me to the story of the Amazon River fish caught in Florida? I found a story from 4 days ago of an Aripaima washed up dead with a hook still in its mouth. Thanks 

[Emiliano]

I think all the exotic species that were introduced are a "dream come true" for many anglers, they are fun to catch, they are aggressive and multi coloured! No more need to go thousands miles away to wild countries and remote areas anymore  'cause we have them in our rivers, lakes and ponds, but what about native fish and the ecosystem?

Snakehead, Peacock, Arapaima, what's next?  Here in Europe Bass was introduced in 1800, so long time ago, and in most european countries it's considered as a native one. In the recent past other species were introduced (most from east Europe) and in some lakes native fish just disappeared due to overpopulation of predatory fish.

Here it's the same story with different invasive fish.

Back to the real topic, I don't think pike there (US) are the problem for bass if they used to share the same area before, but maybe the real issue is an overpopulation of both species in the same body of water and not  enough prey (shad, craw, minnow...).  

I also caught my PB (7lbs 2oz) in a reservoir plenty of big pike

[Captain Phil]

South Florida has had "South American" fish since before fisherman arrived.   Snook are south of the border fish vacationing in Florida.  Snook regularly grow to 30-40 pounds.  They are not normally found father north than Mosquito Lagoon in Titusville.   Lengthy severe cold kills them by the thousands. This happened about ten years ago.   Since then, the State had to restock snook and they have recovered nicely. 

 

Fishing for bass in Florida, you might catch a 100 pound tarpon too.  Peacock bass are relatively recent transplants.  Oscars are fish tank escapees and our canals are full of them.  If Florida has Arapaima, someone put them there.  The everglades environment seems perfect for them.  Personally, I haven't noticed a large mouth bass decline since these exotics arrived.  We just have more opportunities. 

[Emiliano]

Hi @Captain Phil ,I really hope you are right and you  can protect the unique and beautiful Florida environment. 

I went south more than 10 years ago  when I used to flyfishing  and I fell in love with Everglades and the Keys....so I cross my fingers

[gim]

9 hours ago, Emiliano said:

Back to the real topic, I don't think pike there (US) are the problem for bass if they used to share the same area before

Pike are a problem here.  Many of our lakes are over populated with stunted populations of them.  They are slimy, aggressive, and mostly of the small variety.  The state agency stocks walleyes in many of these lakes and its a waste of time and money because it just feeds the pike, more or less.  Most of the big pike have been removed because of spearing or harvesting and they haven't been replaced and big pike are often the apex predator in a system without muskies, so all the small pike continue to go unchecked.  They've even made the bag limit 10 daily to try and encourage the harvest of small ones.  There are days during the season when I go bass fishing and I catch up to 30-40 of them on accident.

 

Whether they are negatively affecting bass populations is probably unlikely.  A big pike would most definitely eat a small bass and vice versa but I don't think either one greatly affects the population of the other.

[N.Y. Yankee]

Ever catch a nice muskie on a 10wt fly rod? WHEE BOY!

[padon]

On 2/12/2021 at 11:47 AM, Steveo-1969 said:

I fish the Upper Potomac River for smallmouth (the Shenandoah dumps into the Potomac at Harper’s Ferry, WV) and we have also seen an uptick in musky numbers and a downtrend in smallmouth numbers. But this is the first time I’ve read there’s a correlation between the two. Did the article you mentioned say that? If so, can you site the source? I’d love to read it.

 

The MD DNR now has a smallmouth stocking program for the Upper Potomac. Their explanation for dwindling numbers is flooding during the spawn for several years in a row. I’ve also seen anglers in another forum blame the rising flathead catfish population.

i have fished the upper potomac and susquehanna both for 30 years and i can tell you the decline in smallmouth has nothing to do with muskie. the poor fishing on both of these rivers is the fault of nothing but mankind.the water qualityin both rivers has gone to sh** literally in the last 10 years. outdated and poorly maintained sewage treatment plants on both rivers frequently overflow into the rivers. add to that fertilizer run off from farms etc and you see why the fishing has gone down hill. both states know this but refuse to seek federal funds to help clean them up due to politics. this isnt my opinion google it and you will see many articles written on it. the extremely wet summer of 3 or 4 years ago was the final nail in the coffin with almost constant flooding and sewage overflows for 3 months.

[Armtx77]

On 2/11/2021 at 7:43 PM, jimmyjoe said:

   I don't believe musky have ever been known for being picky eaters.

 

 

   jj

Something about that, made me LOL and choke on my rum, a little.

[PotatoLake]

On 2/11/2021 at 10:42 PM, Bluebasser86 said:

One of my favorite lakes in Missouri for bass is also one of the best lakes in the state for muskie. It doesn't produce lots of bass, but the big ones are there and that's what I like.

 

Here they blame them for eating all the crappie. Or they blame the smallmouth for eating all the crappie, or blue cats for eating all the crappie or walleye. Meanwhile, none of the guys targeting those fish species have ever practiced selective harvest in their lives and instead live by the "gotta fill the freezer", mantra.

 

My brother in law caught this muskie out of the lake I mentioned in Missouri. Appeared that someone had cut/ripped it's gills out and released it in an attempt to kill it but the fish had managed to survive.

Im not sure we’re talking about the same lake in MO, but my favorite lake has both big Muskie, and pretty darn good bass fishing. For awhile they had issues with flood control and various other issues that were affecting the fishing quality, but Muskie was not one of them. We love that you can be targeting big bass and every blue moon have a Muskie on the end of your line.

 

Thats a BS move there on that fish in that pic. ticks me off.

[DaubsNU1]

I fished a lake in Missouri years ago with excellent bass AND Musky populations.

 

Biggest problem in Nebraska is carp overtaking lakes. NE Game and Parks frequently has to renovate lakes when the carp get too bad. 

 

Musk and Pike aren't a problem for bass, in my opinion.