Published DVL flathead catfish study

[kwin]

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/publications/journal/contents.html

The above link has the recently published results of a flathead catfish population estimate/population assessment from Diamond Valley Lake.

[Stormcrow]

Just printed it out....breezed the abstract...looking forward to the read....Thanks man.

[HuskerRod]

Interesting read............................their must be a helluva lot of flatheads in DVL from their data. I knew they were there, but I didn't think their was an overabundance of them as you see them so infrequently. When I targeted catfish I have only ever caught channels and blues...............never a flathead.

[DEVOREFLYER]

Flatheads prefer live bait, caught them in Arizona on the Colorado river and in Texas on live Bluegill. The bigger the bait the bigger the Flathead.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dfZ8OY8PFQ

[Stormcrow]

I only knew they were in there after I came upon a 10-15 lber choking on a dead 12" largie right around the left corner of the East dam during a tournament. She was stuck on the surface...I netted it and it my partner and I pulled the dead fish out...Man it stunk. And for helping her she bit me.

[shinbob]

Kwin, Great stuff, very interesting, thanks for sharing!

So could it be the flatheads that are responsible for the LMB population declines that some on this board report? 7000 of them could gobble up a lot of forage. How does that compare to the estimated population of LMB in that lake? What other lakes in so cal have similar FCF populations?

Also, the size distribution graph is interesting -- if they can grow to such large sizes, and there is no significant predation or fishing pressure, why is the size distribution bell-shaped? What is keeping the population of really big ones down? And I assume on page 655 the mean weight of all tagged fish was 1.066 kg, not g?

Any other similar studies of so cal reservoirs exist or are planned?

[DarkShadow]

Kwin,

While we love to see what the flatheads are doing at DVL, has there been a DFG study published to assess the predation rates that striped bass have on that fishery, and how that affects the populations for other game fish at the lake?

[HawgZWylde]

Flatheads prefer live bait, caught them in Arizona on the Colorado river and in Texas on live Bluegill. The bigger the bait the bigger the Flathead.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dfZ8OY8PFQ

I caught a small one last year while on your boat using a bluegill colored blade.
http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag145/Hawgz_Wylde/20140417_102007_zps97eebdd8.jpg (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/Hawgz_Wylde/media/20140417_102007_zps97eebdd8.jpg.html)

[shinbob]

How does that compare to the estimated population of LMB in that lake?

Ah, never mind, just saw your other study of LMB populations at DVL -- 3-10 times higher, at least in 2008.

[DarkShadow]

...at least in 2008.

Something (fish counts, tournament results) tells me that something has changed since 2008.

[HawgZWylde]

Well, from what I read, between the drawdowns, lake stratification and an abundance of apex predators Stripey and Flatheads, that lake is a pretty crowded place. Poor LMB/SMB and other smaller species of Black Bass and baitfish have a darn rough going...

[kwin]

Kwin, Great stuff, very interesting, thanks for sharing!

So could it be the flatheads that are responsible for the LMB population declines that some on this board report? 7000 of them could gobble up a lot of forage. How does that compare to the estimated population of LMB in that lake? What other lakes in so cal have similar FCF populations?

Also, the size distribution graph is interesting -- if they can grow to such large sizes, and there is no significant predation or fishing pressure, why is the size distribution bell-shaped? What is keeping the population of really big ones down? And I assume on page 655 the mean weight of all tagged fish was 1.066 kg, not g?

Any other similar studies of so cal reservoirs exist or are planned?

Yeah there are a few typo's that I corrected but missed by editors in the rush to get this to the printer...yes it's 1.096 kg. You'll notice the paper was submitted March 2 and accepted March 13, so only had 11 days with 2 field days and 4 days at Long Beach Fred Hall for me to get it to the editors for them to review thoroughly .......spilled milk at this point.

Not enough time has elapsed for there to be a whole lot of large fish. The water increase promoted a population explosion which resulted in a lot of 2-4 yr old fish...which is the asymptote of the bell shaped curve essentially. No other studies for FCF are planned right now.

[kwin]

Kwin,

While we love to see what the flatheads are doing at DVL, has there been a DFG study published to assess the predation rates that striped bass have on that fishery, and how that affects the populations for other game fish at the lake?

No striped bass predation study in print. However, mostly anecdotal data and angler caught data suggests SB numbers crashed since 2010, average size has decreased since 2010 and their relative weights are poorer than 2010. Both FCF and SB compete with other gamefish species and predate upon them and their forage species and will affect their populations as the lake is only so big (and shrinking) and has a limited carrying capacity for all biomass.

[shinbob]

Yeah there are a few typo's that I corrected but missed by editors in the rush to get this to the printer...yes it's 1.096 kg. You'll notice the paper was submitted March 2 and accepted March 13, so only had 11 days with 2 field days and 4 days at Long Beach Fred Hall for me to get it to the editors for them to review thoroughly .......spilled milk at this point.

Not enough time has elapsed for there to be a whole lot of large fish. The water increase promoted a population explosion which resulted in a lot of 2-4 yr old fish...which is the asymptote of the bell shaped curve essentially. No other studies for FCF are planned right now.

Thanks! Makes sense. Bad news for the future as those medium sized fish grow bigger and even hungrier.

And yep, typos happen, I just wanted to understand if there wasn't some other significance to the decimal point (sorta like how Europeans reverse decimals and commas in their numbers)

[GdHkSet1]

Jeremy Wade sightings near the inlet

[jd]

Good work, when can we start using Bluegill to target these guys?

[Ifishtoolittle]

Kwin, Great stuff, very interesting, thanks for sharing!

So could it be the flatheads that are responsible for the LMB population declines that some on this board report? 7000 of them could gobble up a lot of forage. How does that compare to the estimated population of LMB in that lake? What other lakes in so cal have similar FCF populations?

Also, the size distribution graph is interesting -- if they can grow to such large sizes, and there is no significant predation or fishing pressure, why is the size distribution bell-shaped? What is keeping the population of really big ones down? And I assume on page 655 the mean weight of all tagged fish was 1.066 kg, not g?

Any other similar studies of so cal reservoirs exist or are planned?

With the mean size being 35cm, 1.1kg sounds about right. If you look at HawgZWylde's pic the girth on that juvi- is at least 2lbs. I'm betting that if this population of flatheads are left unchecked we'll have quite a fishery in the next few years but at the cost of other fisheries. Oh well. Catfish taste better anyways.

[trollmiester]

be fishing cats soon cant wait.

[kwin]

Good work, when can we start using Bluegill to target these guys?

A couple anglers I know have shown me pics of some nice ones caught waking BG swimbaits. No live BG needed.

[Peestick]

does anyone know any good spots to catch bluegill in the 4-6" range?

[DarkShadow]

does anyone know any good spots to catch bluegill in the 4-6" range?

Looks like you'll be doing your own flathead study!

I would recommend any city park lake, but considering how those have already been fished out.....can't help you there.

[Dsrt Tortise]

With the secret now getting out in writing the value of 6 to 8 inch bluegills has just jumped. They are legal to use as bait as long as they come from the same waters as they are caught. NOW lets hear about anyone catching any Tilapia at DVL??? If so than you for sure to know that the lake is sure going down the tube fast!!

DSRT TRTSE:???::???:

[HuskerRod]

Flatheads must be picky critters. Ive thrown chovies, liver, and nightcrawlers all over that lake and got my share of blues and channels......but never a flattie. Is a dang live gill all they will take?? Geesh,

[shinbob]

With the secret now getting out in writing the value of 6 to 8 inch bluegills has just jumped. They are legal to use as bait as long as they come from the same waters as they are caught.

Are you sure about that? I thought only shad was allowed?

[seal]

Bluegill are illegal. How the hell don't people that fish as much as some not know this? Monkey see monkey do deal?

DS is correct shad only and only from the water you are fishing, shiners south county.

Shad are being used at Silverwood, they are not being dip netted from there.

DFG hello anybody out there?

[chompot]

Bluegill are illegal.

Yup. Unless it is the CO river, or it's backwaters. Only exception would be a private lake.

Not sure how people don't get it. No grey area on this one at all.

[HuskerRod]

If i get fined $400 for fishing 20 minutes beyond closing at perris getting caught fishing with a live gill must be serious jail time, right??

I can only imagine the look on everyones face in the joint ad we go around the table at chow saying what we are all in for....armed robbery, attempted murder, homicide, fishing a live gill

[DEVOREFLYER]

If i get fined $400 for fishing 20 minutes beyond closing at perris getting caught fishing with a live gill must be serious jail time, right??

I can only imagine the look on everyones face in the joint ad we go around the table at chow saying what we are all in for....armed robbery, attempted murder, homicide, fishing a live gill

Or staying out past "Curfew"........just had to say it...lol

[Dsrt Tortise]

I stand corrected. I fish in the canals too often and they are legal there down here in the lower desert.

Dsrt Trtse :Embarrassed::Head Bang::Fishing Hole::Fishing Hole:

[muskyman]

Rod, you will be labeled a terrorist by the left wing liberal California standards. Better yet, at DVL try using a live brown trout behind the buoy line. Either way, it's just as bad as driving in the car pool lane with 3 pugs in the front seat of your smart car.........:)

[JigStop]

Flatheads are "invasive"? We never caught any on the Mississippi using LMB. They love hand sized bluegill and sunfish.

[HuskerRod]

Rod, you will be labeled a terrorist by the left wing liberal California standards. Better yet, at DVL try using a live brown trout behind the buoy line. Either way, it's just as bad as driving in the car pool lane with 3 pugs in the front seat of your smart car.........:)

I thought about getting a mannicun to sit next to me so I can drive in the car pool lane when Im alone.


Did someone say pugs
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm209/huskerrod/DSC00374_zpshqjtwvfn.jpg (http://s297.photobucket.com/user/huskerrod/media/DSC00374_zpshqjtwvfn.jpg.html)

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm209/huskerrod/DSC00389_zps5m7tplwk.jpg (http://s297.photobucket.com/user/huskerrod/media/DSC00389_zps5m7tplwk.jpg.html)

[muskyman]

Here is our guy dude, his name is buddha

[HuskerRod]

I like him, muskyman dave. What make and model is that...boston terrier???

[muskyman]

Its a french bulldog