Heartbreaking -- Grass Carp Stocking in Briery Creek 2024

5-20 reply :

I grew up in Virginia but have lived in Texas and California for the last 10+ years. I recently became curious about how Briery Creek was doing because it kept on knocking on the door for the Virginia largemouth bass state record and falling just slightly short with two 16 pounders that needed an ounce or two to break the old record of 16.4 pounds from Lake Conner.

And I simply.... simply could not believe my eyes when I read that the Va. DGIF stocked 4,800 grass carp in the lake in 2008 and then followed that up with 7,000 more grass carp last year.

Report: https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/2008-Briery-Creek-Biologist-Report.pdf

Why? Why? There has never, ever been anything good to come out of stocking grass carp in a lake. Never.

The report in the link states that 75% of the fishermen fish Briery Creek for bass.

Then it explains that they think that by stocking grass carp they hope to increase the amount of phytoplankton in the lake and control macrophytes which might stimulate bait fish growth.

No, no... this is just unbelievable. There are so many, many case studies to use as evidence. Every time grass carp is stocked in a lake, all of the grass disappears and the fishing ends up becoming terrible in two or three years. Having as much grass as possible in a lake is never a bad thing. It's just tons of oxygen and cover, especially with hydrilla which is probably the #1 thing you could hope for in a lake.

This is just unbelievable... it's not a lake in a huge metropolitan area with folks in huge lake front homes and huge wake board boats that are complaining about the grass getting in the way of boating and wakeboarding. Briery Creek is a remote lake that was designed to be a trophy bass destination. Grass is a fantastic thing to have in that lake. Grass is so much fun to fish. Grass produces giant bass.

The first stocking in 2008 was bad enough. Grass carp usually live around 8-12 years. They would've started dying off soon, but to restock the lake with even more grass carp... Why?

Really heartbreaking. I feel bad for all of you guys that live near the lake.

Turtle135 reply :

I hate to hear that. I have never fished Briery but I was planning to next season. They put grass carp in Lake Frederick in Virginia and from what I have seen the grass was pretty much wiped out and the big largemouth are now few and far between.

scaleface reply :

They stocked grass carp in a local lake and the big bass got rarer .The last couple of years they sprayed the grass and the big bass got skinny . I like grass carp a lot better than herbicides .

flyfisher reply :

Each year they shock up big bass at briery so I am not sure that the stocking of grass carp has made that much of an impact on the fishery. My anecdotal evidence hasn't seen any difference in my catching since carp were stocked.

I want to say that last year or the year before they shocked up a state record sized fish. lakes go through cycles and it was hit pretty hard by the LMBV (according to reports i have read).

Sandy is another great fishery too that seems to be on the upswing.

I do also wonder if the big bass got rarer or they are harder to catch and become more wary with fewer places to hide.

BuzzHudson19c reply :

Terrible. I can't speak to grass carp specifically, but for the most part where there are a lot of carp there isn't much of anything else. The only exception I have found is in rivers with good current it doesn't seem to effect the smallmouth much. I hate carp.

68camaro reply :

That stinks, they put grass carp in our local ponds and vegetation is much less while fishing is tougher.

I fished Briery today, water temps 47'ish and off and on wind. In 15' of water I caught a 5.45LB LM jigging a Binsky Blade bait on finesse setup with 6lb mono. I saw two on sonar and caught one on 2 or 3rd twitch.

This is my second time there, first was 3weeks ago and fish are still 15" and above. I did catch a 8" one today though.

DINK WHISPERER reply :

Can anyone explain why carp make for these negative conditions? I fish some old phosphate pits with some monster size carp and bass as well. Does it vary from one body of water to another?

Scarborough817 reply :

On 12/12/2017 at 10:37 AM, DINK WHISPERER said:

Can anyone explain why carp make for these negative conditions? I fish some old phosphate pits with some monster size carp and bass as well. Does it vary from one body of water to another?

this is my thinking and someone please tell me if im wrong. the carp eat the grass which includes all the plankton in the grass, this slowly kills off the bluegill or baitfish population since they now have nothing to eat, this in turn kills off the bass because they now have less to eat

5-20 reply :

On 12/12/2017 at 10:37 AM, DINK WHISPERER said:

Can anyone explain why carp make for these negative conditions? I fish some old phosphate pits with some monster size carp and bass as well. Does it vary from one body of water to another?

You're probably seeing common carp in your lakes which are very different from grass carp. Common carp are not a nuisance at all. They don't uproot and eat every shred of vegetation in the water system.

With grass in the ecosystem, everything thrives. From the bottom of the food chain, the small baitfish have increased cover to hide in. The water becomes more filtered and clearer, which allows bass to hunt more effectively, by sight instead of just by sound or their lateral lines. The bass end up having tons of ambush points all along grass lines which makes them very efficient predators. The water has increased oxygen content. Barren mile long mud flats become prime hunting grounds.

Once grass carp are stocked, they're just giant bullies in the water, plowing through everything, stirring mud up, eating everything in sight. Once the grass disappears, they'll eat whatever else's in the water, regardless of whether that's the lily pads, reeds or tules, or whatever you call them, until the water's completely devoid of cover.

This has happened in every body of water grass carp has been stocked in. From Lake Conroe in Texas, to Lake Austin, which was the #4 fishery in the Bassmaster Rankings in 2012 or right around that. People were catching 30-35 lb. limits regularly during the summer time 3 hour long evening tourneys, (key words: summer time three hour long tourneys) it would almost always take 28-35 lbs to win. At least one or two 10-11 lb. fish would always be brought in, too. The lake record was set during that time with a 16.03 lb giant. Now, people are lucky to catch 12-15 lb bags. A 5-6 lb fish is now considered a good catch.

Funny... Va DGIF did this to Lake Anna, too. Any of you remember the massive fish and bags that used to come out of Anna in the 80s and early 90s. People thought Anna was going to produce the next state record. I think the biggest fish that came out of Anna was a very respectable 14.4 lbs and that was when Anna was a very young fishery, too. And then they stocked grass carp that ate all of the hydrilla. And now 12-15 lb limits with a 5-6 lb. kicker is something to get excited about.

Does anyone want to share this thread with anyone in Va. DGIF. This is just tragic. Absolutely tragic. Roughly 12,000 grass carp in that tiny 800 acre reservoir... It's never going to be a trophy fishery again. Just unbelievable they would want to do this to a small and remote body of water that once drew people from hundreds of miles away for the chance to catch a giant.

I mean.... the lake kicked out two 16 pound bass. That's amazing for Virginia. A lot of amazing and historic lakes in Texas don't even have a 16 pound bass as the lake record.

Briery Creek was obviously on the right track. Why would Va. DGIF disregard all of the evidence that shows stocking grass carp absolutely destroys the bass fishing in that body of water. It's absolutely incomprehensible...

Johnbt reply :

"Any of you remember the massive fish and bags that used to come out of Anna in the 80s and early 90s."

I remember my buddy talking about them back before he got me seriously interested in bass fishing. He never had any of them mounted; only the giants he caught in Florida.

Here's a 10.5 he caught earlier this year at Sandy River Reservoir. I weighed it.

Well, let me try that pic again. The file size it too big I suppose since the upload failed. My pc says it's 25 kb.

CroakHunter reply :

Grass carp will eat every egg of bass and bluegill. They are terrible. That's why I shoot them in the face with my bow where legal. We've shot them up to 65lbs. Good thing is they rarely reproduce in non flowing waters

DINK WHISPERER reply :

Wow! I had no idea it was that serious. Now that I think about it, i think I've seen a few signs around lakes I fish prohibiting the release of grass carp if caught. I'm going to pay close attention next time out.

Johnbt reply :

At least they're sterile.

"Accordingly, the VDGIF stocked triploid (sterile) grass carp (N = 4,900) in May 2008 to reduce plant coverage (estimated at 40%). Grass carp generally take 2- 3 years to be effective in controlling macrophytes."

www.dgif.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/2008-Briery-Creek-Biologist-Report.pdf

5-20 reply :

The behavior of those giant grass disrupts the entire ecosystem. They swim everywhere and continually push fish out of areas they’re comfortable with. They don’t have any predators.

Think about it. Giant bass and other fish and animals, bears for example, become huge because they find comfortable feeding zones and coexist with the other fish or animals easily.

Those grass carp eventually grow to z 40-50-60 pounds and bull through everything, eating everything they can suck into their throats after the grass is long gone.

12,000 grass carp in tiny 800 acre Briery creek which was at 40% vegetation before the most recent stocking of 7,000 additional grass carp is just unbelievable. 40% vegetation is an extremely healthy number. Tons of feeding zones and hiding places for bass. Now that’s gone. Bass fishing just became a lot easier for a lot of people especially during the spring when they’re in predictable and vulnerable positions.

75% of the fishermen were going there for Bass. The lake grew two 16 pound bass and there are many fabled Texan reservoirs that only have a 15 pound bass as their lake record like Choke Canyon, Ivie, Falcon and many others Briery Creek was a thriving lake. It probably just needed to cycle through a few years of low fishing pressure and two or three years of low and rising water levels and then we might be surprised to find that we have someone that finally got a 17-18 pound bass out of that lake.

How was this plan approved? It’s really sort of unbelievable. A tiny farm and nutrient rich lake in aptly named Farmville designed for trophy bass is on its way towards being destroyed by our fisheries department.

I think all of you guys that that are involved with bass clubs in Virginia need to take a stand against this. So it doesn’t keep on happening to other lakes.

soflabasser reply :

Interesting subject. I fish many bodies of water that are stocked with triploid carp(grass carp) and these carp do not seem to be affecting the bass fishing. I catch plenty of big bass in these waters, as well as big triploid carp. Seems like these fish are coexisting well with each other in South Florida.

flyfisher reply :

You also have to remember that florida strain bass are notoriously more difficult to catch on artificial when they get larger and that may also be impacting the perceived large bass decline as well.

Spawning bass are more accessible grass or not so i find that argument to be invalid form my anecdotal experience.

Pro Logcatcher reply :

I feel sorry for you... A pond I used to catch fish on all the time got grass carp put in there and now you're lucky to catch one every four hours fishing super finesse.

5-20 reply :

On 12/13/2017 at 9:27 AM, flyfisher said:

You also have to remember that florida strain bass are notoriously more difficult to catch on artificial when they get larger and that may also be impacting the perceived large bass decline as well.

Spawning bass are more accessible grass or not so i find that argument to be invalid form my anecdotal experience.

I think grass enhances spawning flats considerably and in some years with heavy rains, the nests aren’t as visible or easy to pinpoint because they’re so scattered along the vast grass flats instead of being next to wood. That gives all of those big fish an extra spawning cycle or two or three before they MIGHT be caught and possibly taken out of the lake or injured to the point they end up having a shorter lifespan. Maybe I am reaching a little on this but I stand by all of my comments about the destructive nature of grass carp.

The entire Colorado River fishery beginning in the Austin, Texas area, all the way down to the gulf may be at risk now. The 40,000 grass carp stocked in Lake Austin beginning in 2013, I believe, have spilled over to the adjacent downstream lake, Lake Lady Bird and in one year or a little more than that, they completely ate all of the vegetation. The fishery has quickly become terrible. The next dam is the last one on the Colorado river, I believe. That’s a 90-100 mile long beautiful and pristine fishery that ends at the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico that has fantastic bass fishing. It may not be the same for a long time if history is any indication of what massive grass carp stockings can bring about.

Sam reply :

I fish Lake Cherokee off Cherokee Road in the city of Richmond and have caught some beautiful bass.

Two years ago the homeowners on the lake installed an aerator system to help put more oxygen in the lake. I was told that they had to do this to help keep the lake clean.

Last year the grass went wild with all the oxygen being pumped in the lake. Grass everywhere.

So what did the homeowners do? They put grass carp in the lake this past spring. And guess what? The grass is gone.

The homeowners I know say they put in only 15 grass carp but there is no way 15 grass carp could eat all that grass in the lake in one summer.

Of course, I will go back next year and fish again but the bite was very slow and the bass smaller than in past years.

soflabasser reply :

On 12/13/2017 at 9:27 AM, flyfisher said:

You also have to remember that florida strain bass are notoriously more difficult to catch on artificial when they get larger and that may also be impacting the perceived large bass decline as well.

Spawning bass are more accessible grass or not so i find that argument to be invalid form my anecdotal experience.

I agree with you @flyfisher that Florida strain largemouth bass are much more difficult to catch than northern strain largemouth bass and that might be why so many Florida fishermen think there are no big bass in a body of water with grass carp. I fish many public waters with big grass carp and still catch big bass on a consistent basis.Most people that fish these same waters think there are no big bass in those places and find something to blame their failure in catching big bass on with no credible evidence to do so.

hawgenvy reply :

All the artificial lakes and ponds I fish have been stocked with sterile grass carp. In south Florida all freshwater areas are prone to choking overgrowth, especially of algae, hydrilla and hyacinth. I catch plenty of bass in places with grass carp, but have seen tremendous bass declines in areas where the weeds are controlled chemically.

I think the key is to balance weed control judiciously, which should be possible by controlling the quantity of the carp released, since they do not reproduce. Unfortunately, many homeowners near the lakes and ponds want no weeds at all and couldn't care less about fish.

I am also concerned about whether mosquito control measures have adversely impacted bass populations, in areas where mosquito larvae are important in the the diet of forage species. When bass fishing in an area declines the cause may not be obvious, and it is too easy to attribute the cause to contemporaneous circumstances and anecdotal evidence.

We probably should ask the pond boss guy what he thinks of grass carp. By the way, many years ago Louisiana considered the importation and introduction of African hippopotamuses to clear waterways in the state that were choked up with hyacinth. The measure failed in the state legislature by one vote.

5-20 reply :

On 12/14/2017 at 8:46 AM, soflabasser said:

I agree with you @flyfisher that Florida strain largemouth bass are much more difficult to catch than northern strain largemouth bass and that might be why so many Florida fishermen think there are no big bass in a body of water with grass carp. I fish many public waters with big grass carp and still catch big bass on a consistent basis.Most people that fish these same waters think there are no big bass in those places and find something to blame their failure in catching big bass on with no credible evidence to do so.

I hate saying this but I'm not really sure you're entirely aware about what overstocking a fishery with grass carp can do to the fishery. I'm not sure if you're just trolling or really oblivious to what has happened to several large lakes in Texas. The fishing was magnificent in all of those lakes and fell off a cliff a year or two after the grass carp were stocked and ate all of the vegetation.

Maybe you could take the time to read the examples I've posted about what happened to the bass fishing on some of these lakes I've mentioned. I lived fifteen minutes away from Lake Austin at the time it was #4 on the Bassmaster Top 100 lakes (if you're familiar with that list) and people (including myself) were catching giant fish left and right until these grass carp were stocked. People were catching 8-11 pound fish every week and huge limits from 30-35 lbs regularly even in the summer time. There was a new lake record set at 16+ lbs. And now, a five or six pound fish is a significant catch. People only catch 10-15 pound limits.

Knowing how destructive grass carp can be and now that there are 12,000 grass carp in tiny Briery Creek Lake, I am going to say that I will not be surprised if there is absolutely zero vegetation in briery creek at all in roughly a year to two years. Those extra 7k carp are small right now but once they mature and grow a little bit, those fish will eventually eat the lily pads and everything else. It takes a lot of grass and food to sustain a 40+ pound fish. Those fish are going to eat everything they can in order to survive. People at Lake Austin have caught them on minnows!

The decline with fishing has absolutely nothing to do with these fish being florida strain bass. Those fish were caught regularly before the grass carp were stocked. The carp and the disappearance of vegetation and then the rapid decline in the quality of bass fishing are the only possible answers because that is the exact same situation that has played out on so many other lakes.

Nice troll, though!

soflabasser reply :

You might want to do some research before you comment about what grass carp do in the state of Florida.Grass carp might be a big problem in states with less than ideal fisheries, but not in Florida.Florida purposely stocks grass carp(triploid grass carp) in our waters to control the aquatic vegetation in the canals and lakes.These grass carp are thriving in our waters, as well as our bass.Every state is different, so you have take this in consideration.I am in South Florida, and we have a amazing fishery that people from all across the USA come to visit to fish our waters. It is quite common to find bodies of water down here that loaded with +5 pound bass and +20 pound grass carp.Thats nothing out of the ordinary for us, and many Florida fishermen have +10 pound largemouth PB's. We also have well over 20 species of exotic freshwater fish in South Florida, yet we still have a very healthy population of bass.

5-20 reply :

On 12/14/2017 at 12:51 PM, soflabasser said:

You might want to do some research before you comment about what grass carp do in the state of Florida.

I have no idea what you're talking about. I've never commented on grass carp in Florida. If you want to go and make a separate thread about how happy you are to have grass carp in Florida, by all means, feel free to do so.

You, on the other hand, have disparaged my comments which are based on my first hand experiences and observations of what fishing is like before and after grass carp are stocked, both in Virginia and Texas.

Again, I would be shocked if there's any vegetation at all left in Briery Creek Lake in two years.

Twelve thousand 20 to 40+ pound fish are going to need to eat an awful lot to sustain their body weight.

Virginia does not have a year round vegetation growing season. Once the vegetation dies off in the winter or stops growing, there's going to be even less for the carp to eat. And the result is Briery Creek becomes a muddy mess with poor to mediocre fishing for the next 10-20 years.

I honestly.... think it's amazing how the original architects of the lake and their vision for how to produce trophy bass which was clearly successful, evidenced by these two 16 pound bass Briery Creek kicked out (and this is absolutely remarkable for a fairly "northern" lake) could have their successful vision and plan so carelessly discarded.

Stock 12k grass carp in Briery Creek? Really?! Why?! There's such a tiny, tiny, such a minuscule chance the lake could see any upside from that all. Those grass carp are huge, slimy vegetation eating beasts that just swarm around the lake in massive schools eating everything, often occupying the same shallows and cover that bass use.

5-20 reply :

Take a look at one of the posts I pulled up from the Texas Fishing Forum.

Funny, there's also a reference in this thread about studies done in Texas that say the recommended amount of grass carp for lakes with less than 50% vegetation should be 5 per acre.

For a 800 acre lake like Briery Creek, that means 4,000 carp at most. VDGIF decided to completely disregard these studies and recommendations done in a state that takes their bass fishing very seriously and stock three times as much?!?

There are many threads in the TexasFishingForum site and AustinBassFishing forum that clearly describe the horrendous impact the grass carp have had on Lake Conroe, Lake Austin and other fisheries in Texas.

Those grass carp ate all of the reeds and tules in lake austin. I have no idea how they did that. Even if I was super starving, I doubt I could have choked down a single one of those tough and sinewy reeds or tules. There are pictures in some of the threads in the AustinBassFishing site that show the drastic difference in reeds all along the lake in just one year.

68camaro reply :

On 12/14/2017 at 2:18 PM, 5-20 said:

Again, I would be shocked if there's any vegetation at all left in Briery Creek Lake in two years.

I only starting fishing Briery a few weeks ago, launching yak at Landing Road access, but during my first outing there I was surprised there was so little vegetation, I chalked it up to being late November but had no idea of its history and the grass carp issue.

I usually fish Swift Creek Res. which is shallow & choked with hydrilla so Briery being deep (relatively for us) with so much standing timber is nice different type of fishery.

5-20 reply :

The Board of Game and Inland Fisheries is meeting on Wednesday, January 17th at 9:00am at 7870 Villa Park Dr. Suite 400 in Henrico, VA if any of you might be interested in trying to make a difference.

68camaro reply :

So, here is what I found out about Briery after talking to one of the conservation officers in charge of managing it plus several others:

Every year they do a spring electric shock

Spring of 2017 they noticed # of bass is up, most bass in size of 18 - 20", however trophy bass population is down.

Last shock they got one 24" (8-9lbs), and a lot of 18-20" in 4-6lb range...quantity up, trophy sizes down.

Trophy sized bass in Briery are down for following reasons:

1st stocking in 80's and those bass got huge because little competition

1st stocking started dying out in 2000's

2nd stocking group was in 90's, again these grew big due to lack of competition

2nd group started dying off recently

Subsequent stockings did not get as large and chances are will not grow as big as first two stockings due to increased competition and maturity of lake. As lake ages fish normally are smaller for reasons stated.

Grass Carp & Hydrilla

Hydrilla is invasive vegetation and chokes out spawning areas, natural grasses/weeds and uses lots of nutrients that will normally fuel plankton which is imoprtant to baitfish food chain.

Fisherman loved hydrilla because they can catch alot of LM fishing its edges, but it comes at big cost to fisheries ecosystem and health.

There was more bass when they had tons of hydrilla but the fishery was less healthy and was not sustainable.

Grass carp were introduced 10 years ago to control the hydrilla which was choking out natural grass and weeds.

The grass carp have done their job and the conservation folks are concerned about lack of vegetation.

The grass carp are starting to die out.

1/3 of 1st stocking of grass carp are dead and rest are aging so not as threatening as younger carp.

Helping Briery

With hydrilla under control they have noticed an increase in natural pond grasses and weeds.

They also have a plan to reintroduce natural grasses shortly.

The lake is stocked with 250,000 1" - 4" bluegill each year and they have reported increases in natural bluegill which is very positive for the lake and bass - Looks like I am switching to Blugill patterns from shad:)

Bottom line is they are aware of anglers complaining about less trophy fish but they are increasing the numbers of fish in 18-20" range.

Of the local lakes:

Briery has most quality fish

Sandy River - most trophy size

Lake Burton - most huge fish but are reportably very difficult to catch - sounds like a challenge:)

flyfisher reply :

great post and very informative, thank you for posting.

5-20 reply :

68Camaro, thanks for talking with these people.

It's just sort of bizarre that these fisheries biologists we have in Virginia are saying hydrilla is bad for the health of water systems. Just sort of unbelievable.

EVERY lake that has hydrilla it ends up producing not only giant bass but also many healthy and fat bass. Fishing isn't "easier" because people fish the grass edge. Fishing becomes BETTER because there's so many bass, thanks to the increased amount of baitfish and feeding opportunities.

Water clarity always improves. There's decreased erosion in the lake because of the grass growth. The entire food chain benefits from hydrilla.

Hydrilla is just a huge canopy with tons of room to swim underneath the canopy. It grows in small clumps and then branches out on top of the water.

Anyone familiar with the last 30 years of bass fishing has seen this played out at so many reservoirs.

a. A lake has typical fair to decent bass fishing, maybe even good fishing.

b. Hydrilla's found in the lake. For the next 5-10 years bass fishing becomes increasingly better until its possibly off the charts, producing new lake and state record fish.

b. People have a problem with hydrilla for whatever reason and either kill it off with grass carp or chemical spraying.

c. Bass fishing ends up becoming poor to mediocre for as long as the grass carp is in the lake and there's no vegetation.

Amazing how some fisheries biologists can disregard all of the evidence that comes from tournament results, websites and other readily available information.

Two recent examples include Lake Austin and Lake Chickamauga in Tennessee. Lake Chickamauga was never known as a giant bass fishery until hydrilla was found in the lake several years ago. Now it's an absolutely amazing fishery kicking out many 10-14 pound bass including a NEW STATE RECORD 15.3 pound bass in 2015. The previous state record was set in 1954. More than fifty years ago.

This is what the fisheries biologist in Tennessee said:

Chickamauga has been producing giant fish in the last several years due in part to TWRA stocking programs and the return of aquatic vegetation.

"Chickamauga Lake is kind of the perfect storm right now," says TWRA Biologist Mike Jolley. "The habitat aquatic vegetation has done well, and you've got a good forage base. It's a rich environment right now and there's no doubt that the current TWRA stocking program levels out some poor year classes,"

Link to the article the quote came from: http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/28105648/pending-state-record-bass-caught-on-chickamauga-lake

68camaro reply :

5-20, you bring up good counter points and clearly well versed on the lake and the subject matter. I guess at this point we can only hope the VDIF knows what they are doing and their plan works out.

We'll have to see what happens now that grass carp are dying out and natural vegetation comes back naturally and through human reintroduction, but your overall concern seems correct as it seems the VDIF has accepted more 4-6lb fish at the expense of trophy size numbers.

flyfisher reply :

On 12/19/2017 at 10:48 AM, 5-20 said:

68Camaro, thanks for talking with these people.

It's just sort of bizarre that these fisheries biologists we have in Virginia are saying hydrilla is bad for the health of water systems. Just sort of unbelievable.

EVERY lake that has hydrilla it ends up producing not only giant bass but also many healthy and fat bass. Fishing isn't "easier" because people fish the grass edge. Fishing becomes BETTER because there's so many bass, thanks to the increased amount of baitfish and feeding opportunities.

Water clarity always improves. There's decreased erosion in the lake because of the grass growth. The entire food chain benefits from hydrilla.

Hydrilla is just a huge canopy with tons of room to swim underneath the canopy. It grows in small clumps and then branches out on top of the water.

Anyone familiar with the last 30 years of bass fishing has seen this played out at so many reservoirs.

a. A lake has typical fair to decent bass fishing, maybe even good fishing.

b. Hydrilla's found in the lake. For the next 5-10 years bass fishing becomes increasingly better until its possibly off the charts, producing new lake and state record fish.

b. People have a problem with hydrilla for whatever reason and either kill it off with grass carp or chemical spraying.

c. Bass fishing ends up becoming poor to mediocre for as long as the grass carp is in the lake and there's no vegetation.

Amazing how some fisheries biologists can disregard all of the evidence that comes from tournament results, websites and other readily available information.

Two recent examples include Lake Austin and Lake Chickamauga in Tennessee. Lake Chickamauga was never known as a giant bass fishery until hydrilla was found in the lake several years ago. Now it's an absolutely amazing fishery kicking out many 10-14 pound bass including a NEW STATE RECORD 15.3 pound bass in 2015. The previous state record was set in 1954. More than fifty years ago.

This is what the fisheries biologist in Tennessee said:

Chickamauga has been producing giant fish in the last several years due in part to TWRA stocking programs and the return of aquatic vegetation.

"Chickamauga Lake is kind of the perfect storm right now," says TWRA Biologist Mike Jolley. "The habitat aquatic vegetation has done well, and you've got a good forage base. It's a rich environment right now and there's no doubt that the current TWRA stocking program levels out some poor year classes,"

Link to the article the quote came from: http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/28105648/pending-state-record-bass-caught-on-chickamauga-lake

Are you a fisheries biologist? I'd also venture a guess that the Fisheries biologist who is responsible for managing the lake knows a lot more than you do about the health of the lake. Everything you posted is anecdotal "evidence" at best and using tournament results isn't always the most scientific approach to answering a problem. I also noticed that the article you quoted mentioned aquatic vegetation, not specifically hydrilla.

5-20 reply :

On 12/19/2017 at 11:42 AM, flyfisher said:

Are you a fisheries biologist? I'd also venture a guess that the Fisheries biologist who is responsible for managing the lake knows a lot more than you do about the health of the lake. Everything you posted is anecdotal "evidence" at best and using tournament results isn't always the most scientific approach to answering a problem. I also noticed that the article you quoted mentioned aquatic vegetation, not specifically hydrilla.

Kinda seems like you skipped over much of what I've written in this entire thread.

The vegetation in chickamauga is definitely hydrilla. A simple internet search turned up this article from 2011.

State and Tennessee Valley Authority officials say non-native aquatic plants, particularly hydrilla, have spread dramatically on Nickajack and Chickamauga lakes. A delay on a new federal permit that would allow the use of herbicides to kill the plants is complicating matters.

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/news/story/2011/may/31/waging-war-water-weeds/50893/

And haha, no, fisheries biologists don't know more about me when it comes to hydrilla and bass. It's so simple. Where there's hydrilla, there's many bass of all sizes, from small, happy and fat ones to those absolutely giant sized fish and the entire lake absolutely thrives. Like I said, this has played out exactly in this way on so many lakes, it's beyond being a simple coincidence now.

Hydrilla has never made a lake worse for bass fishing.

Hydrilla is great. Long live hydrilla.

But you know, I'll look forward to seeing some of your trout pictures on this site sometime later on, flyfisher.

Here's a link to an austinbassfishing.com thread that shows "before and after" pictures of the damage the grass carp have done in Lake Austin. These pictures show how much of the reeds the grass carp ate after they ate all of the hydrilla and other grasses in the lake.

This is the damage grass carp can do to any lake. This is why Briery Creek has poor vegetation now, because those grass carp can and will eat anything they can get into their mouths.

http://www.austinbassfishing.com/forum/conservation-ethics/56522-lake-austin-grass-carp-before-after-photos.html

Swbass15 reply :

Sad to hear they are stocking a non-native but hypothetically sterile fish for this problem. Though hydrilla is a non-native invasive as well. Reading the above comments regarding your game and fish officer sounds like they are on track. I think it is important for bass fisherman to remember they are not in the business of managing a lake just for us and our fishing opportunities but for the public and for all game species. So while weights or quality fishing for some has declined the opportunities for the public might have increased.

flyfisher reply :

On 12/19/2017 at 12:26 PM, 5-20 said:

Kinda seems like you skipped over much of what I've written in this entire thread.

The vegetation in chickamauga is definitely hydrilla. A simple internet search turned up this article from 2011.

State and Tennessee Valley Authority officials say non-native aquatic plants, particularly hydrilla, have spread dramatically on Nickajack and Chickamauga lakes. A delay on a new federal permit that would allow the use of herbicides to kill the plants is complicating matters.

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/news/story/2011/may/31/waging-war-water-weeds/50893/

And haha, no, fisheries biologists don't know more about me when it comes to hydrilla and bass. It's so simple. Where there's hydrilla, there's many bass of all sizes, from small, happy and fat ones to those absolutely giant sized fish and the entire lake absolutely thrives. Like I said, this has played out exactly in this way on so many lakes, it's beyond being a simple coincidence now.

Hydrilla has never made a lake worse for bass fishing.

Hydrilla is great. Long live hydrilla.

But you know, I'll look forward to seeing some of your trout pictures on this site sometime later on, flyfisher.

Here's a link to an austinbassfishing.com thread that shows "before and after" pictures of the damage the grass carp have done in Lake Austin. These pictures show how much of the reeds the grass carp ate after they ate all of the hydrilla and other grasses in the lake.

This is the damage grass carp can do to any lake. This is why Briery Creek has poor vegetation now, because those grass carp can and will eat anything they can get into their mouths.

http://www.austinbassfishing.com/forum/conservation-ethics/56522-lake-austin-grass-carp-before-after-photos.html

I did read the entire thread and your commentary which again is based on anecdotal evidence not actual facts.

I also appreciate your ignorance to fly fishing as well, just goes to your lack of knowledge on subjects you are willing to talk about. A simple internet search for flyfishing and bass could clear this lack of knowledge up though.

Oh and there are lakes that I fish that the fishing has been harmed but the introduction of Hydrilla and other aquatic vegetation and they stocked some grass carp and miraculously the fishing has improved. See, anecdotal evidence that goes against what you are preaching as fact.

TnRiver46 reply :

On 12/19/2017 at 10:48 AM, 5-20 said:

68Camaro, thanks for talking with these people.

It's just sort of bizarre that these fisheries biologists we have in Virginia are saying hydrilla is bad for the health of water systems. Just sort of unbelievable.

EVERY lake that has hydrilla it ends up producing not only giant bass but also many healthy and fat bass. Fishing isn't "easier" because people fish the grass edge. Fishing becomes BETTER because there's so many bass, thanks to the increased amount of baitfish and feeding opportunities.

Water clarity always improves. There's decreased erosion in the lake because of the grass growth. The entire food chain benefits from hydrilla.

Hydrilla is just a huge canopy with tons of room to swim underneath the canopy. It grows in small clumps and then branches out on top of the water.

Anyone familiar with the last 30 years of bass fishing has seen this played out at so many reservoirs.

a. A lake has typical fair to decent bass fishing, maybe even good fishing.

b. Hydrilla's found in the lake. For the next 5-10 years bass fishing becomes increasingly better until its possibly off the charts, producing new lake and state record fish.

b. People have a problem with hydrilla for whatever reason and either kill it off with grass carp or chemical spraying.

c. Bass fishing ends up becoming poor to mediocre for as long as the grass carp is in the lake and there's no vegetation.

Amazing how some fisheries biologists can disregard all of the evidence that comes from tournament results, websites and other readily available information.

Two recent examples include Lake Austin and Lake Chickamauga in Tennessee. Lake Chickamauga was never known as a giant bass fishery until hydrilla was found in the lake several years ago. Now it's an absolutely amazing fishery kicking out many 10-14 pound bass including a NEW STATE RECORD 15.3 pound bass in 2015. The previous state record was set in 1954. More than fifty years ago.

This is what the fisheries biologist in Tennessee said:

Chickamauga has been producing giant fish in the last several years due in part to TWRA stocking programs and the return of aquatic vegetation.

"Chickamauga Lake is kind of the perfect storm right now," says TWRA Biologist Mike Jolley. "The habitat aquatic vegetation has done well, and you've got a good forage base. It's a rich environment right now and there's no doubt that the current TWRA stocking program levels out some poor year classes,"

Link to the article the quote came from: http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/28105648/pending-state-record-bass-caught-on-chickamauga-lake

And then they issue permits to let private companies kill grass with granular herbicide......... it's a vicious cycle

soflabasser reply :

On 12/19/2017 at 11:42 AM, flyfisher said:

Are you a fisheries biologist? I'd also venture a guess that the Fisheries biologist who is responsible for managing the lake knows a lot more than you do about the health of the lake. Everything you posted is anecdotal "evidence" at best and using tournament results isn't always the most scientific approach to answering a problem. I also noticed that the article you quoted mentioned aquatic vegetation, not specifically hydrilla.

Well said @flyfisher. I think most bass fishermen agree with what their state fisheries biologist does to improve the fisheries. Hydrilla is a invasive species and it can grow out of control, I have seen it several times in my home waters. The triploid grass carp in Florida help control the hydrilla, and these carp should help control the hydrilla in other bodies of water where they are stocked in. I much prefer having these sterile carp control the aquatic vegetation than having chemicals sprayed in the water to kill aquatic vegetation.

5-20 reply :

On 12/20/2017 at 12:29 AM, flyfisher said:

I did read the entire thread and your commentary which again is based on anecdotal evidence not actual facts.

I also appreciate your ignorance to fly fishing as well, just goes to your lack of knowledge on subjects you are willing to talk about. A simple internet search for flyfishing and bass could clear this lack of knowledge up though.

Oh and there are lakes that I fish that the fishing has been harmed but the introduction of Hydrilla and other aquatic vegetation and they stocked some grass carp and miraculously the fishing has improved. See, anecdotal evidence that goes against what you are preaching as fact.

What anecdotal information? I am the one producing links and other sources of information that show a direct correlation between heavy grass carp stocking and hydrilla eradication and the resulting damage to the bass fishery and body of water. I can produce other reports produced by biologists that say having a presence of hydrilla, around 10-30% is very healthy for the lake.

You’re the one who is saying “lakes that I fish have been harmed by hydrilla...”

What lakes are they?

I am pretty sure I said somewhere in this thread that when grass carp are stocked, it may be a necessary evil in some lakes but should be done at the absolute minimum recommended rates. Many biologists still do not seem to understand how much those carp will eat and how to stock lakes incrementally with small numbers of carp to ensure the continued presence of hydrilla.

I’ll produce some other links tomorrow. Not for you, flyfisher because I think you might be someone that doesn’t really have a dog in this fight — it sort of seems like you’ve put forth very little actual effort to try to understand this situation better, other than by arguing with me using rather empty statements — but for the greater bass fishing community of Virginia so we can all continue to understand this issue better and help our biologists understand how to manage hydrilla in the lakes predominantly used by the bass fishing community.

flyfisher reply :

You have posted links with anecdotal information and i did some research myself and found studies that show the opposite. Correlation also does not equal causation.

If you are this passionate about hydrilla maybe you should make it an actual study for a doctoral dissertation as it sounds like something you are passionate about and all these fisheries biologists are wrong, according to you at least, and this would be your opportunity to prove yourself as the one who is right. Then this information could be utilized to eradicate the grass carp that you are so against.

As far as the lakes I am referring to they are the ones on AP hill.

Logan S reply :

On 12/15/2017 at 11:07 AM, 5-20 said:

The Board of Game and Inland Fisheries is meeting on Wednesday, January 17th at 9:00am at 7870 Villa Park Dr. Suite 400 in Henrico, VA if any of you might be interested in trying to make a difference.

Are YOU going? I get that you think you're helping but it seems a little misplaced from someone that admittedly hasn't even lived in the state for over 10 years.

If hydrilla appears in a lake it's almost guaranteed that the governing body for the lake is going to attempt to eradicate it - they always do. If the plan is to eliminate hydrilla and introduce/encourage native grasses I think it's a good idea. It CAN be a problem to both the lake infrastructure and bass fishing if hydrilla is left to grow unchecked.

I don't know if grass carp are a good idea or not...I generally hate the idea of putting them in anywhere...But normally it's homeowners associations or 'friends of the lake' type groups that push for them for aesthetic/non-fishing reasons and not DNR. If DNR is proposing it themselves I'd trust their judgement.

5-20 reply :

Any of you guys ever fish Santee Cooper? Ever hear about the incredible fishing and the devastating decline.

The decline only came after several hundred thousand grass carp were stocked in the lake.

The impact of the carp was felt by the majority of the fish in the lake and not just the bass. Fishing for bass, Stripers, and cats all fell off the charts.

Its been making a bit a bit of a comeback the last couple of years.

Why? Maybe it’s just a coincidence but the grass has started to come back too.

Biologists are just like anyone else. They aren’t infallible. They aren’t perfect. The field is just like every other career sector with people in it that make perplexing, unfounded and sometimes just downright terrible decisions.

The bass fishing community in every state should at least try to stay involved and make a difference if possible.

Being able to fish a beautiful lake or reservoir full of hydrilla with the chance to catch a 30-45 pound bag anytime you go out is once in a lifetime experience and I feel so lucky I had that chance for several years when I had lake Austin in my backyard. I may not live in Virginia right now but that doesn’t necessarily mean I won’t come back some day and I still care very much about the fishing in Virginia. Not many states can produce a 16+ lb fish. If I ever move back, I would hope the potential’s still there for that to happen.

Swbass15 reply :

I didn’t see anywhere that people are saying not to stay involved in the post. Are aquatic plants good for bass... yes. Is hydrilla the plant for this most biologist and land management and wildlife management organizations will say no. It’s not native.

If you want to help that lake lake get involved. If not a member already join BASS and talk to the conservation director. I joined to help my home lake that has no vegetation. Are we going to introduce hydrilla no, we are looking to help restore native plant species. I can understand your frustration about the carp, but to battle for a non-native invasive is ludicrous.

5-20 reply :

On 12/21/2017 at 8:38 PM, Swbass15 said:

I didn’t see anywhere that people are saying not to stay involved in the post. Are aquatic plants good for bass... yes. Is hydrilla the plant for this most biologist and land management and wildlife management organizations will say no. It’s not native.

If you want to help that lake lake get involved. If not a member already join BASS and talk to the conservation director. I joined to help my home lake that has no vegetation. Are we going to introduce hydrilla no, we are looking to help restore native plant species. I can understand your frustration about the carp, but to battle for a non-native invasive is ludicrous.

So sad. I really don’t mean to offend you but it almost seems as if you’re just as unaware as a lot of other people about the tremendous benefits of hydrilla.

Take a look at this thread about what hydrilla did for the potomac river. This is coming from a scientist who studied non-native species in the Potomac river for over 30 years.

Do me a favor and read replies #6 and #9, too.

http://scducks.com/forum/showthread.php?8832-Hydrilla-the-Savior

You guys... this is supposed to be a bass fishing site... hydrilla has done so many fantastic, absolutely amazing things for so many waterways.

Lake Austin with hydrilla was a pristine and clear lake with 12-14 feet of visibility.

Now, with zero grass in it, it barely has a foot or two of visibility. It’s a muddy mess. People are saying there’s a really funny odor to the water. And, again, the fishing is terrible.

Hydrilla can be managed correctly.

I’ll post some other threads about how some fisheries biologists are starting to understand and accept the presence of hydrilla and trying to manage it correctly so it has a sustainable presence in whatever body of water it appears in.

You know your last statement is sort of bizarre. You’re not willing to accept that hydrilla is a fantastic resource even if its a non-native plant but you’re willing to stand by idly while biologists introduce a different non-native species that have proven to be an incredibly destructive force, grass carp.

On 12/21/2017 at 8:38 PM, Swbass15 said:

I didn’t see anywhere that people are saying not to stay involved in the post. Are aquatic plants good for bass... yes. Is hydrilla the plant for this most biologist and land management and wildlife management organizations will say no. It’s not native.

If you want to help that lake lake get involved. If not a member already join BASS and talk to the conservation director. I joined to help my home lake that has no vegetation. Are we going to introduce hydrilla no, we are looking to help restore native plant species. I can understand your frustration about the carp, but to battle for a non-native invasive is ludicrous.

So sad. I really don’t mean to offend you but it almost seems as if you’re just as unaware as a lot of other people about the tremendous benefits of hydrilla.

Take a look at this thread about what hydrilla did for the potomac river. This is coming from a scientist who studied non-native species in the Potomac river for over 30 years.

Do me a favor and read replies #6 and #9, too.

http://scducks.com/forum/showthread.php?8832-Hydrilla-the-Savior

You guys... this is supposed to be a bass fishing site... hydrilla has done so many fantastic, absolutely amazing things for so many waterways.

Lake Austin with hydrilla was a pristine and clear lake with 12-14 feet of visibility.

Now, with zero grass in it, it barely has a foot or two of visibility. It’s a muddy mess. People are saying there’s a really funny odor to the water. And, again, the fishing is terrible.

Hydrilla can be managed correctly.

Turtle135 reply :

Full disclosure, I am not a biologist, a fisheries management specialist nor did I stay in a holiday inn express last night.

Typically lakes and reservoirs that have aquatic vegetation carry more pounds of bass per acre that lakes and reservoirs that do not have aquatic vegetation.

I believe part of the reason fisheries management types do not like hydrilla is that it can make it difficult for shore bound anglers to fish. The near shore shallow water can get choked out. Shore anglers complain.

Hydrilla up here in Maryland is generally a good thing in lakes and reservoirs that have significant open deep water where hydrilla can not grow. The lake can not get completely choked out. We also have the cold water period where the hydrilla gets completely knocked back every season.

Swbass15 reply :

I totally understand that hydrilla is a benifit to bass. What you are failing to recognize that hydrilla is a invasive species. Just as you totally dislike the idea of the grass carp, hydrilla wrecks native plants and changes an ecosystem.

So the question I have is are you a conservationist or just a bass angler? Non natives may have some positive effects, but the damage they do to an ecosystem can rarely be made right again. We should try to keep our waters as native as possible as conservationist. Here where I am we are actively trying to eradicate salt cedar. Why it is a non native outcompetes and takes over an environment. We have lost miles of shoreline that used to have willows to this plant.

again I disagree with the stocking of the carp, but I also am a supporter of native fishes and habitat.

https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/ipc/hydrilla/pdfs/why_hydrilla_is_bad.pdf

here is one link showing some negative impacts. On area that stands out is the amount of dissolved oxygen hydrilla uses at night.

https://www.northeastans.org/hydrilla/ecoleconhydrilla.htm

here is another link again showing the negative effects.

5-20 reply :

On 12/22/2017 at 8:49 AM, Swbass15 said:

I totally understand that hydrilla is a benifit to bass. What you are failing to recognize that hydrilla is a invasive species. Just as you totally dislike the idea of the grass carp, hydrilla wrecks native plants and changes an ecosystem.

So the question I have is are you a conservationist or just a bass angler? Non natives may have some positive effects, but the damage they do to an ecosystem can rarely be made right again. We should try to keep our waters as native as possible as conservationist. Here where I am we are actively trying to eradicate salt cedar. Why it is a non native outcompetes and takes over an environment. We have lost miles of shoreline that used to have willows to this plant.

again I disagree with the stocking of the carp, but I also am a supporter of native fishes and habitat.

https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/ipc/hydrilla/pdfs/why_hydrilla_is_bad.pdf

here is one link showing some negative impacts. On area that stands out is the amount of dissolved oxygen hydrilla uses at night.

https://www.northeastans.org/hydrilla/ecoleconhydrilla.htm

here is another link again showing the negative effects.

I am not failing to recognize anything. Invasive species are introduced into the United States all of the time, both by accident and on purpose.

So, that said, my response to your question is going to appear in the form of another article.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/relay.nationalgeographic.com/proxy/distribution/public/amp/news/2014/07/140724-invasive-species-conservation-biology-extinction-climate-science

I’m not sure any of us can be a pure conservationist in this day and age of climate change. But yes, actually, come think of it... yeah! I am a bass fisherman through and through many times over again!

Swbass15 reply :

All i will say is a can not adopt the stand point that we should embrace non natives based on an article that is an opinion and does not provide research to show a positive effect for native species.

hope your lake turns out ok

68camaro reply :

The lowland 1700 acre reservoir I mostly fish started noticing a hydrilla problem in 2009, by 2010 it affected 763 acres of the lake. Hydrilla will affect taste and oder of drinking water by messing with waters algae. Since then they created a "Hydrilla Management Team" tasked with managing this problem, their goal is to control hydrilla but maintain 15-20% of aquatic vegetation as a healthy amount for a a reservoir. It seems our county has done a lot of studies and does a monthly hydrilla growth survey so people can compare coverage month over month and year over year, its all pretty interesting.

The hydrilla seems to be concentrated on one side and the thought is someone put first plants in there from an aquarium. When you look at the survey maps its amazing how fast the hydrilla grows and takes over a lake, but it's equally amazing how fast carp eradicate the hyrilla, with negative of everything else along with it.

Our counties first carp stocking was 10,500, since then they have done smaller releases and plan is to do regular releases but on much smaller level. Carp cost $5 - $15 so it is very expensive and since they don't reproduce you need to restock.

One interesting note is we had one cove that was cut off from rest of lake due to bridge repairs, this cutoff nearly all carp from cove except for a few but in two seasons the hydrilla completely covered the 43 acre cove.

5-20 reply :

Swbass15, and the others that are in favor of getting rid of the hydrilla and focusing on the growth of native grasses — I understand and respect your conservationist viewpoint.

However, let me clarify one thing.

Once hydrilla gets into a body of water, it’s more likely than not going to be there for a long, long time. It’s very difficult, maybe even impossible to entirely get rid of hydrilla.

Now the problem is, grass carp are not finicky eaters. They eat pretty much every type of vegetation that’s available to them.

Stocking massive amounts of grass carp does nothing positive for the fishery at all. They will eat everything including all of the native grasses and once the lake is barren and the grass carp die off, the hydrilla will grow back again. And during that long period of time — the fishery and body of water will suffer tremendously.

There are biologists that understand this and work towards figuring out how to maintain a healthy balance of grasses, including hydrilla, with a minimal amount of grass carp.

2,800 grass carp in Briery Creek has left the lake without very much vegetation at all. Hoping this has been an important lesson for VDGIF about stocking rates and maintaining a healthy balance of vegetation in lakes that are used mainly by the fishing community without very much pleasure boating traffic.

Swbass15 reply :

@5-20 that honestly was your best post yet. I understand your concern with how the grass carp will leave your lake. True it will be hard to eradicate hydrilla.

Thereare native plants that can slow slow hydrilla from being able to regain its foothold one it is knocked backed. That’s what needs to take place after the carp are gone. At least they are not using chemicals, I have seen major fish kills here when water temps didn’t stay high enough.

My advice is to get involved maybe not in Virginia but since your in Texas find a way to help lake fork they have there own battle now with giant Salvinia and that will kill your fishery too.

5-20 reply :

To everyone that participated in this conversation, thanks. I appreciate it.

I obviously have really strong feelings about this matter and I’ve probably vented enough.

Part of my frustration comes from the memory of what it was like dealing with the biologists responsible for the grass carp stockings in Lake Austin.

They actually told us stuff like, “The carp will only eat the hydrilla and not the milfoil.”

The best way to describe the experience of fishing Lake Austin.... I guess I can only compare it to the way some people would spend thousands of dollars to fly to Mexico for a once in life time fishing trip at Baccarac or one of those other lakes and then they’d come back and post reports of catching a handful of 6 to 9 pound fish.

And I would just think those people should’ve come to Lake Austin. Because the fishing was absolutely incomparable to anything else during its prime. For both big fish and numbers. And the lake was only fifteen minutes away from me!

Well, I’d like to wish all of you a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year!!!

One last thing, swbass15, oh boy, giant salvinia is an entirely different mess, one that may require the introduction of yet another invasive species to counter the spread of that plant. But that’s an entirely different topic.

Fairtax4me reply :

I've fished Briery fairly often for the last two years.

It's 800 acres of standing trees. I guess I should say it's 750 acres of trees and the other 75 or so are grass fields. There is certainly no shortage of places for a bass to hide in Briery Creek lake.

The water level in Briery was drawn down a few years ago to help kill off the over-abundance of grass that was growing on the banks. Since then there is less vegetation, but still plenty in spring and summer, despite the enormous carp that patrol the shallows. I've seen a handful of 50+ pound monsters swimming feet from the boat, and have seen plenty of other carp floating dead on the surface as well.

Prior to that I don't have much knowledge of vegetation growth there except for a seeing few pictures of piles of hydrilla so thick you could stand on them near the boat ramp at the south end of the lake.

Every bass I've caught there in the last two years has been very healthy and well fed.

5-20 reply :

On 1/26/2018 at 1:15 PM, Fairtax4me said:

The water level in Briery was drawn down a few years ago to help kill off the over-abundance of grass that was growing on the banks.

Umm..... not exactly, actually the water was drawn down to promote shoreline growth that would hopefully make up for the absence of grass.

13610

Heartbreaking -- Grass Carp Stocking in Briery Creek 2024

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