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I know, I know, Devil was commented on a while back as being basically destroyed as a bass fishery. [:/] I guess this old man finds it hard to believe that a Res. so full of bass during previous years can be that bad, so this stubborn old man is asking again. Anyone fish there for bass this summer, and if so, how was it? I usually fish by the dam this time of year and you could see them swimming in the shallow rocky area. Hate to drive all that way to find out for myself, but ----------, maybe that's the only way. [frown]
P.S. Send a pm if ya think it's best
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I'm headed to The Winds this week, but when I get back I just might have to have a go at Devil Creek. Since I live a lot closer it wouldn't be too bad for me to pop over there and have a look. I'll let you know what I find.
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Hey Bud, good hearing from ya. Thought you might of died and gone to heaven. [crazy][laugh] Totally agree with ya on the transplant idea. It'll never happen though, to logical and too much trouble. I would volunteer my time catching and transplanting, how about you? Never happen though. Which reminds me, I don't ever remember seeing small bass at Devil. They all seem to be the same size. Is there a reason for that? [:/] Something eat their spawn, like trout???
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[pirate] "DITTO", I live right by the lake and I
gaurentee the BASS numbers are way, way, way, lower than they used to be.
If you fish there, please think about fishing in the future and release the ones do you catch. Please!!!
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Look at it this way, when you looked in the water and saw bass swimming all over, how many did you see? If you saw 50 or 60 fish swiming along a 100 yard stretch of shore, then you would think that there must be a lot of fish. That is only only a limit of fish for the first 10 people who fish that area, or even worse the fist 5 people who fish it over a week-end. It doesn't take long to wipe out a good population of fish when the water gets low and there is good access to the lake and the fish.
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Bigger reason it's not likely to happen is that the bass ended up there by bucket biologists. F&G just decided not to do anything about it. I really doubt that they will change their minds and try to put more back in now that they are dropping off.
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Well, I have to admit I was one of those guys that kept some bass. [img]../../../images/gforum/frown.gif[/img] I just love to eat LM soooooooo much and they had made that a family fishery so I jumped to the conclusion that they knew what they were doing. I can promise you that no more catch and keep for me!!!!!!! I guess I need to go to Mantua for my bass fix for eatun or maybe the little guys at Weston. Trouble is - probably too late. [img]../../../images/gforum/frown.gif[/img]
Since you live so close, I thought you'd be able to answer my "big time" question. Anyone else that can jump in, please do!!!!! Why are the bass all the same size and where are the smaller bass? Is it because of a one time bucket bio. plant? Still where are the spawn of smaller fish? Not the right habitate?
I am serious about supporting a restocking effort form Weston. And have to agree with Balasko. The Id. Fish & Game people probably aren't interested. Oh well, that was a nice spot for a while. It does piss me off though, and I'm not in Id. The good bass fishingspots are getting fewer and fewer. I did say "good". [mad]
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There are a few small fish in the lake but here is the deal.
The last two year's were hot and dry springs, the irigation company pulled a lot of water out of the reservoir while the bass were trying to spawn. Many of the spawning beds were left high and dry within one or two days. They had a very poor success rate the past couple years . A few lucky fish waited or spawned deeper in the main lake were able to hatch their fry but they had few trees or cover to hide in so I don't think too many made it through the year. I have saw a few small fish from last year but not many. This year the water stayed high but there weren't as many fish to spawn as in past years. I guess we will have to wait and see.
I also spoke the Fish and Game about the bass and their reason for making it a family fishing water. They said initially they were going to poison the lake, however they decided to leave it and see what happened since there were no other bass lakes in the county.
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That was very informative, and logical, thanks Bud. Do you have any suggestions as to how I could help with it's recovery, besides no keeping of bass. I did send an e-mail to the F&G about my concerns and volunteering.
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It's kind of annoying that Devil Creek is obviously good bass habitat and growing fish better than a lot of the other area waters, yet they were considering poisoning it so it can be another lame planter trout lake. I would definitely help move bass from Weston, but I doubt Fish and Game will go for the idea if they were going to poison it to get the bass out.
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this year I went out there to see how many fish were bedding up this year and I would bet just from memory that its half or 2/3rds what it was a few years ago... That place has been getting hammered thou...