Black Bayou Hosston getting drawn down??

[BassmanRudy]

While at the expo stopped at the LWFD booth and they said starting in May the lake will be drawn down, sprayed for grass, and some(don't know which kind) grass carp added. Does anyone else know about this?? Better fish it while we can cus a lot o that water will be gone!! Anybody that knows more or can verify this would be greatly appreciated!!


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[JPick]

Yes sir. I was out there fishing 2 weeks ago and run into a man that is on the water commission board for that lake. There was a meeting about it last Tuesday night. Talks were of lowering it 5 feet and adding carp. I begged him (which I wont call his name just out of respect and hope you understand) to please please not add carp there. He was totally against that idea but was for draining it. It has been done twice in 86 and 94. I haven't called him back to hear the official outcome so I am not really a proper authority figure to say yes or no for certain of what the plans are. I have won multiple tourneys out there including one a 10, 11, and one shy of 13. The grass is the key for that lake without a doubt. Yes there is an issue with it. Yes something prolly needs to be done with a little bit of it, not to much though. Hope the outcome is well. And please nobody stir this pot the wrong way. I am just passing the little bit of info out of a 2 hour conversation I had with this gentleman. I know how things can get twisted on here sometimes and don't want to be in the middle.

[BassmanRudy]

Jpick- thanks for the reply. I am really against the "carp" as they are almost always indiscriminate eaters of all they come into contact with, bass eggs included! I can see spraying the boat lanes and tryin to check it more but like you said- "grass makes that lake" and you are right. I fished in Fl and the lakes that didn't have grass really didn't have much of a fish population. Again thanks and we shall see what happens.


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[Fisher of Men]

I heard the same rumor of draining and adding carp.  I grew up on that body of water and really hate to see carp added to it. Now draining durng the summer months and spraying for vegetation may not be that bad of an idea but i dont agree with the additoin of carp. I can understand the concerns of people with the grass (I'm used to it) and the thought of draining and spraying.  I predict a slot limit having to be added as the extreme vegetation protects the fish in ways.  BB is only fishable about 6 months a year due to the vegetation growing thick to the surface during the late spring to fall months but those of us that have learned to adapt to the grass have grown to love that about it too.  Its what makes that lake special. Blk Bayou is a small lake with tons of bream, crappie and bass and i pray that this wont effect it fish population when its complete. I remember when it was drained in 94' and shortly thereafter it was producing giant bass frequently.  It is a special fishery and i hope everything works out for the better when they're done.
***I know that the fish will adapt to less vegetation and it wont disappear overnight but how do you think it willl effect the fish?

[caddobass]

Don't like the idea of grass carp being planted in any lake. The way I remember is that it has hurt every lake that has had this done. Just my 2 cents

[willthebad]

They are drawing the lake down 5ft and adding 5 grass carp per acre of water. 

[danisfish]

It would be nice to find a formula on carp that reduces the grass and keeps it under control without getting rid of  it all. Maybe five per acre will do just that. I think in the past the ratio used has been higher but I would not swear to that. Anyone know what they have done in the past?


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[BassmanRudy]

Another good question would be- "are the grass carp placed in there STERILE" So the limit is only what they put in, not what breeds later!!!


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[kyle31]

5 carp per acre will be enough to eat all the grass and every new sprout for years to come. I think they put 12000 in caney(4500 acres) when it had about 1000 acres of grass. I think they were put in 94 and were supposed to live 10 years or so. There are still some in there but they've died out enough to where they cant keep up with the grass.

[Fisher of Men]

They are drawing the lake down 5ft and adding 5 grass carp per acre of water.

5,000 acres lake and 5 carp per acre = 25,000 carp give or take some acreage...   

[yak-aholic]

I have been looking at several fish farm sites on line. We're trying to get a small pond stocked up to be half way fishable. The only carp that are legal for sale in Louisiana are triploid carp and you have to get a permit for those, then the seller has to get a permit to sell them to you. Everything I have seen on grass carp say to add 10 per acre. Based on that, I would say that 5 per acre is a conservative number that should allow some of the grass to stay. Also, the triploid carp do not pull the vegetation from the bottom. They actually suck the vegetation into their "teeth" in the back of their mouth. This allows the vegetation to stay rooted and continue to grow. Also, by doing this, they won't muddy up the water which is a concern with other carp species.
Another thing that I'm not 100% sure about is that I think the triploids are supposed to be sterile. This allows them to be stocked and control some vegetation without breeding and they will eventually die off without too much adverse affect to the body of water.

[Fisher of Men]

I have been looking at several fish farm sites on line. We're trying to get a small pond stocked up to be half way fishable. The only carp that are legal for sale in Louisiana are triploid carp and you have to get a permit for those, then the seller has to get a permit to sell them to you. Everything I have seen on grass carp say to add 10 per acre. Based on that, I would say that 5 per acre is a conservative number that should allow some of the grass to stay. Also, the triploid carp do not pull the vegetation from the bottom. They actually suck the vegetation into their "teeth" in the back of their mouth. This allows the vegetation to stay rooted and continue to grow. Also, by doing this, they won't muddy up the water which is a concern with other carp species.
Another thing that I'm not 100% sure about is that I think the triploids are supposed to be sterile. This allows them to be stocked and control some vegetation without breeding and they will eventually die off without too much adverse affect to the body of water.

Good Information... Thanks.  I dont think its possible to remove all the grass in the bayou.  I could be wrong but i highly doubt it.

[BassmanRudy]

I appreciate all the replies fellas! I would hate to see a good fishery be "ruined" by uninformed people and it seems like they are doing it the "right" way!


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[danisfish]

Good info. I thought it was higher than 5 per acre. Hope this formula works. I love that lake.


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