Rock Bass ??

noreast · 06-22-2016, 12:53 PM

Lat year, we caught them 5 to 1 over smally's. if not more. That included Rattlesnake and Winter harbor unfortunately.

wtibert · 06-22-2016, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noreast

Lat year, we caught them 5 to 1 over smally's. if not more. That included Rattlesnake and Winter harbor unfortunately.

I've been 50/50 in Paugus between those and smallies this year so far.

8gv · 06-22-2016, 01:41 PM

Tuesday's brief fishing trip in Paugus Bay resulted in 2 smallies and one rocky.

bt99 · 06-27-2016, 05:41 PM

Spent about a half hour on Saturday morning removing a number of rock bass from the lake. Set up with a small hook, little piece of worm and a bobber.

Threw the line in the water, less than 10 seconds later the bobber would go under. Reeled in the line, threw the rock bass into a bucket. Bait the hook and repeat the process. After a dozen or so, it started to slow down so I could enjoy a sip of coffee between casts.

noreast · 07-08-2016, 08:53 AM

I'm afraid the south west portion of the lake seems infested. The younger kids are pulling 15 a day in limited fishing. unfortunately they have been putting them back as I don't want them to take the 1st step to being a serial killer. The older kids can handle the culling though, They use them for lobster bait.

secondcurve · 07-08-2016, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noreast

I'm afraid the south west portion of the lake seems infested. The younger kids are pulling 15 a day in limited fishing. unfortunately they have been putting them back as I don't want them to take the 1st step to being a serial killer. The older kids can handle the culling though, They use them for lobster bait.

What part of the lake do they catch Lobster in?

Rossapollo · 07-12-2016, 10:08 PM

Wolfeboro bay infested with rock bass. Been fishing here for 20 years. In short destroying the 'milfoil' in back bay has affected the ecology in Wolfeboro bay. Before the milfoil treatment in backbay - we'd caught largemouth, then white perch moved through, then smallies dominated last 12 years. Season after weed removal actually caught a 'lost' pickerel in wbay not far from goodhue! Well this season my son & I lost count at 35 rock bass on our first day! At dock, trolling & from shore... Evening trolling around shore would yield 3-5 2lbs smallies...now one smallie per 6 rockbass...son pulled in a almost 2lb rockbass on a smallmouth spoon in 15' of water...
One rockbass last season now this year lost count on first day up...lakes have cycles but rock bass are not a natural cycle and are now unchecked in backbay & wbay...

noreast · 07-13-2016, 10:27 AM

I think it was mentioned earlier in this thread but they destroyed fishing in Sunapee for a LOOOONG time.

Pineedles · 07-14-2016, 09:34 AM

I really believe a bounty has to be offered up by F&G. It doesn't have to be large, just an incentive to rid the Big lake of these invasive devils. I fished a trout stream in CT last week, been going there for years, caught a rock bass. This is the first time I have caught one in this stream, EVER!

MikeF-NH · 07-14-2016, 10:02 AM

I dont think fish and game has money to offer a bounty but I'd love to see a "derby" of sorts with prizes offered for persons turning in most "poundage" of rock bass. Good way to remove 'tons' of rock bass from the lake....yes I know that new derbys on the lake are banned.

AC2717 · 07-14-2016, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeF-NH

I dont think fish and game has money to offer a bounty but I'd love to see a "derby" of sorts with prizes offered for persons turning in most "poundage" of rock bass. Good way to remove 'tons' of rock bass from the lake....yes I know that new derbys on the lake are banned.

Sebago does it

why not do a state Derby and let them come from all lakes, ponds, and waterways of NH.

And why are new Derby's banned? that's nuts, so much for have a Bass Tournament up here aired on national TV that will draw crowds and revenue

wtibert · 07-14-2016, 01:02 PM

Does anyone know if they've been seen in Moultonborough? I'll be up there all week next week and wouldn't mind culling a whole bunch from the lake if they are there....

Pineedles · 07-14-2016, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wtibert

Does anyone know if they've been seen in Moultonborough? I'll be up there all week next week and wouldn't mind culling a whole bunch from the lake if they are there....

Oh yeah they're there.

KrotzNH · 07-23-2016, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pineedles

Oh yeah they're there.

We own a home in Moultonborough, and I have been fishing the lake for 5 years now. My target is usually bass and pickerel, but the number of rock bass I have been catching has grown exponentially each year. This season, I have literally caught more rock bass than all other fish combined - and I am using large lures that rock bass have no business biting! It is very concerning ....

SteveO123 · 08-01-2016, 04:16 PM

Caught my first-ever rock bass (2 in a couple of minutes) here on Opechee the other day for the first time in 10 years. Coincidentally (?) the largemouth left after the milfoil was removed. Oh well-- Just have to deal with those red-eyed bass-turds now.

--Steve

kawishiwi · 08-01-2016, 11:09 PM

From. http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/fish...rock-bass.html
"Conservation/Management: Rock bass are considered an invasive species that, once introduced, is capable of altering the food web in lake and pond ecosystems.

Recommendations:

Discourage the spread of rock bass through illegal introduction into new waterbodies. Once established, rock bass are virtually impossible to eradicate."

So until something starts feeding in earnest on the rock bass or rock bass fry it seems they are with us. As with any population theres a chance it will crash and maybe the bass can make a comeback. As it is I'ved moved my bass fishing to 30ft+ in midsummer. It appears to me, a winni novice, that there are smallmouth that have become more like the salmon feeding on the open water bait. Read some of the trip reports on fishlakewinni.com to hear how many smallies are being caught DEEP by the Salmon/Trout trollers.
Its tough fishing that deep to find bait/bass as they appear to relate only to the wandering bait clouds vs gathering on structure.

noreast · 07-14-2016, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pineedles

I really believe a bounty has to be offered up by F&G. It doesn't have to be large, just an incentive to rid the Big lake of these invasive devils. I fished a trout stream in CT last week, been going there for years, caught a rock bass. This is the first time I have caught one in this stream, EVER!

It was that or the new building, The vote was close, the fish won.

topwater · 07-20-2016, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noreast

It was that or the new building, The vote was close, the fish won.

In my opinion the Rock bass are here to stay. With the amount of them and the vast distances that they are discovered, No way to take them out. As a lot of things, It will get worse before it gets better.

07-12-2016, 10:08 PM	#7
Rossapollo Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Rock bass infestation Wolfeboro bay infested with rock bass. Been fishing here for 20 years. In short destroying the 'milfoil' in back bay has affected the ecology in Wolfeboro bay. Before the milfoil treatment in backbay - we'd caught largemouth, then white perch moved through, then smallies dominated last 12 years. Season after weed removal actually caught a 'lost' pickerel in wbay not far from goodhue! Well this season my son & I lost count at 35 rock bass on our first day! At dock, trolling & from shore... Evening trolling around shore would yield 3-5 2lbs smallies...now one smallie per 6 rockbass...son pulled in a almost 2lb rockbass on a smallmouth spoon in 15' of water... One rockbass last season now this year lost count on first day up...lakes have cycles but rock bass are not a natural cycle and are now unchecked in backbay & wbay...

07-14-2016, 01:02 PM	#12
wtibert Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 35 Thanks: 36 Thanked 7 Times in 3 Posts	Moultonborough Does anyone know if they've been seen in Moultonborough? I'll be up there all week next week and wouldn't mind culling a whole bunch from the lake if they are there....

08-01-2016, 04:16 PM	#15
SteveO123 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Laconia, Lake Opechee Posts: 187 Thanks: 286 Thanked 90 Times in 48 Posts	In Opechee too... Caught my first-ever rock bass (2 in a couple of minutes) here on Opechee the other day for the first time in 10 years. Coincidentally (?) the largemouth left after the milfoil was removed. Oh well-- Just have to deal with those red-eyed bass-turds now. --Steve

08-01-2016, 11:09 PM	#16
kawishiwi Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 519 Thanks: 227 Thanked 167 Times in 108 Posts	Could be a long term problem... From. http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/fish...rock-bass.html "Conservation/Management: Rock bass are considered an invasive species that, once introduced, is capable of altering the food web in lake and pond ecosystems. Recommendations: Discourage the spread of rock bass through illegal introduction into new waterbodies. Once established, rock bass are virtually impossible to eradicate." So until something starts feeding in earnest on the rock bass or rock bass fry it seems they are with us. As with any population theres a chance it will crash and maybe the bass can make a comeback. As it is I'ved moved my bass fishing to 30ft+ in midsummer. It appears to me, a winni novice, that there are smallmouth that have become more like the salmon feeding on the open water bait. Read some of the trip reports on fishlakewinni.com to hear how many smallies are being caught DEEP by the Salmon/Trout trollers. Its tough fishing that deep to find bait/bass as they appear to relate only to the wandering bait clouds vs gathering on structure.

06-22-2016, 12:53 PM	#1
noreast Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 648 Thanks: 316 Thanked 120 Times in 93 Posts	Lat year, we caught them 5 to 1 over smally's. if not more. That included Rattlesnake and Winter harbor unfortunately.

06-22-2016, 01:41 PM	#3
8gv Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,128 Thanks: 64 Thanked 753 Times in 487 Posts	Tuesday's brief fishing trip in Paugus Bay resulted in 2 smallies and one rocky.

06-27-2016, 05:41 PM	#4
bt99 Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Oileán Fada Posts: 25 Thanks: 2 Thanked 13 Times in 5 Posts	Spent about a half hour on Saturday morning removing a number of rock bass from the lake. Set up with a small hook, little piece of worm and a bobber. Threw the line in the water, less than 10 seconds later the bobber would go under. Reeled in the line, threw the rock bass into a bucket. Bait the hook and repeat the process. After a dozen or so, it started to slow down so I could enjoy a sip of coffee between casts.

07-08-2016, 08:53 AM	#5
noreast Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 648 Thanks: 316 Thanked 120 Times in 93 Posts	I'm afraid the south west portion of the lake seems infested. The younger kids are pulling 15 a day in limited fishing. unfortunately they have been putting them back as I don't want them to take the 1st step to being a serial killer. The older kids can handle the culling though, They use them for lobster bait.

The Following User Says Thank You to secondcurve For This Useful Post:
noreast (07-09-2016)

07-13-2016, 10:27 AM	#8
noreast Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 648 Thanks: 316 Thanked 120 Times in 93 Posts	I think it was mentioned earlier in this thread but they destroyed fishing in Sunapee for a LOOOONG time.

07-14-2016, 09:34 AM	#9
Pineedles Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Moultonborough & CT Posts: 2,549 Thanks: 1,074 Thanked 672 Times in 369 Posts	I really believe a bounty has to be offered up by F&G. It doesn't have to be large, just an incentive to rid the Big lake of these invasive devils. I fished a trout stream in CT last week, been going there for years, caught a rock bass. This is the first time I have caught one in this stream, EVER!

The Following User Says Thank You to Pineedles For This Useful Post:
AC2717 (07-14-2016)

07-14-2016, 10:02 AM	#10
MikeF-NH Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 318 Thanks: 2 Thanked 120 Times in 80 Posts	I dont think fish and game has money to offer a bounty but I'd love to see a "derby" of sorts with prizes offered for persons turning in most "poundage" of rock bass. Good way to remove 'tons' of rock bass from the lake....yes I know that new derbys on the lake are banned.

The Following User Says Thank You to Pineedles For This Useful Post:
wtibert (07-14-2016)