Rock Bass tournament

[Flyfisha]

Lake Sunapee has 3,384 less rock bass after the annual fishing tournament on August 10th. 21 teams took part with the oldest participant being 98 and the youngest 4. The tournament was sponsored by the Sunapee Recreation Department. It has been held annually for the past 13 years!!

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by Flyfisha

Lake Sunapee has 3,384 less rock bass after the annual fishing tournament on August 10th. 21 teams took part with the oldest participant being 98 and the youngest 4. The tournament was sponsored by the Sunapee Recreation Department. It has been held annually for the past 13 years!!

I wonder two things: how much of an impact this has/has had and how many other fish are hurt in the process.

It's been discussed here before, but if they've been doing it over a decade, there surely are results info?

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[dt5150]

we need one on winni, big time! make the spring winni salmon derby into a rock bass derby for a few years. give the salmon a break and take out some rock bass at the same time.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

I wonder two things: how much of an impact this has/has had and how many other fish are hurt in the process.

It's been discussed here before, but if they've been doing it over a decade, there surely are results info?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

Think;

I doubt there would be any impact whatsoever to other fish by the targeting of rock bass. Rock bass are found in shallow water near docks and other shoreline structure. Trout (lakers, rainbows) and salmon are in deeper water feeding at thermocline depths. They simply do not share the same water or feeding habitat.

Rock bass are also very aggressive and have taken over a lot of the small mouth and large mouth waters on the lake. Basically when they move in other fish move out! Over the past few years I have been catching small mouths while trolling for salmon over deep water and in areas where they just shouldn't be. Rock Bass are invasive and need to be dealt with accordingly.

I would love to see the spring derby include a rock bass category as many kids could get involved since catching them requires nothing special but a hook and worm from shore or any dock. I believe this would also increase participation in the derby.

I agree with DT5150 that its time to give the salmon a break for a couple years and let them regain the numbers they once had in the lake.

Dan

[kawishiwi]

I think rock bass tourneys are unlikely to materially reduce their impact on the lake.
It might make the remaining rockies a little bigger on average by slightly reducing the numbers.
As all fish poulations go through cycles there is some chance we'll see a natural crash of rockies that might be exploited by the smallmouth, bluegills, & sunfish to reclaim and compete again in the shallower areas.
It does appear the smallmouth may have transitioned to deeper waters. I often fish the "baitballs" in 30ish ft of water and catch smallmouth there.
In trying for White Perch we started bringing nightcrawlers to sample the schools with fish that apeared to be bigger than fingerling Yellow Perch but smaller than bass. We get a few Whites but often find 8" smallies, sunfish, rockies, or 6" Yellow Perch down there. I would think many of these would be shallower if not for the prevalence of rockies.
My son caught a 1.4lb Bluegill a few years ago...trolling...a rapala TD 9 lure...10ft down in 30ft of water for smallies. Only bluegill we've ever caught and it was in the last place I would have expected.

[SAB1]

Where do the rock bass go in winter. We catch just about everything ice fishing but never those rascals.

[Hillcountry]

Originally Posted by SAB1

Where do the rock bass go in winter. We catch just about everything ice fishing but never those rascals.

LOL...but good question!

[SAB1]

Thought of the sunfish as well when I posted. Certainly don’t see those thru the ice either. But man the rock bass seem so plentiful it’s had to understand why we don’t catch any.