Bring back Flatheads in ND

[CrappieHunter]

Is there any reason stocking some flatheads in the Missouri would be bad? They’re cool fish with growing popularity around the country.

 

[MSA]

Water temps are too cold

 

[CrappieHunter]

Water temps are too cold

They’re native to the upper Missouri and were prevalent before the dams were constructed. I think the dams are the problem not the temps but I may be wrong

 

[CatDaddy]

I saw a G&F trailer with a bunch of flathead tails sticking through the door. The trailer was labeled "Mountain Lions" but I'm not buying the story....

 

[Trip McNeely]

I’d be good with flatheads in upper Missouri or red, lake trout attempted again in sakakawea, and Zander in spirit wood. We have plenty of Walleye destinations in ND. Might make for better attempt to sell tourism for destination species. Look at the draw ft peck has for lakers. Could be something to consider for sak or spiritwood for Zander….

 

[Allen]

Is there any reason stocking some flatheads in the Missouri would be bad? They’re cool fish with growing popularity around the country.

While not opposed to flatheads, their pre-dam extent was up to about the Cannonball. At least, those are the maps I've seen of their distribution. If they liked the current setup with the dams (water temp, travel obstructions, etc) they would be a bit more prevalent already. This means they would have to be routinely stocked.

Hell, the paddlefish is native to the entire Missouri River corridor through ND, and NDGF just absolutely refuses to support them through anything other than increased regulations on enjoying them.

 

[MSA]

They’re native to the upper Missouri and were prevalent before the dams were constructed. I think the dams are the problem not the temps but I may be wrong

Now with the reservoirs releasing cold water from the deep end of the dams, it never reaches optimal temps for flathead to thrive and spawn. Flatheads need 70-80+ degree water.

 

[MSA]

While not opposed to flatheads, their pre-dam extent was up to about the Cannonball. At least, those are the maps I've seen of their distribution. If they liked the current setup with the dams (water temp, travel obstructions, etc) they would be a bit more prevalent already. This means they would have to be routinely stocked.

Hell, the paddlefish is native to the entire Missouri River corridor through ND, and NDGF just absolutely refuses to support them through anything other than increased regulations on enjoying them.

There's paddlefish in the trinity river in texas, and in several other rivers along the gulf coast. Im convinced they enter the gulf and live in saltwater because there's no other way they can make it up some of the small gulf tributaries I've fished, but the ndgf has us convinced they're rare and endangered, as I see guys catching them in pensacola, calling them spoonbill catfish

 

[CrappieHunter]

While not opposed to flatheads, their pre-dam extent was up to about the Cannonball. At least, those are the maps I've seen of their distribution. If they liked the current setup with the dams (water temp, travel obstructions, etc) they would be a bit more prevalent already. This means they would have to be routinely stocked.

Hell, the paddlefish is native to the entire Missouri River corridor through ND, and NDGF just absolutely refuses to support them through anything other than increased regulations on enjoying them.

I think even if they have to be routinely stocked it’s worth a try. Game and fish dumps 1000s of walleye into lakes that winter kill every year so they must have the stocking budget

 

[CrappieHunter]

Now with the reservoirs releasing cold water from the deep end of the dams, it never reaches optimal temps for flathead to thrive and spawn. Flatheads need 70-80+ degree water.

It can’t be much warmer below Fort Randall dam in SD but they’re thriving, maybe flatheads are picky

 

[MSA]

It can’t be much warmer below Fort Randall dam in SD but they’re thriving, maybe flatheads are picky

Same reason lake trout thrive in Ft Peck, but not Sakakawea, just a few degrees difference

 

[CrappieHunter]

Same reason lake trout thrive in Ft Peck, but not Sakakawea, just a few degrees difference

There’s gotta be some areas that are warm enough, the state record was caught 30 years after the dams were constructed so they still spawn and eat with the colder water

 

[CrappieHunter]

I’d be good with flatheads in upper Missouri or red, lake trout attempted again in sakakawea, and Zander in spirit wood. We have plenty of Walleye destinations in ND. Might make for better attempt to sell tourism for destination species. Look at the draw ft peck has for lakers. Could be something to consider for sak or spiritwood for Zander….

I say keep them out of the red, we already have a trophy channel cat fishery there, and I don’t think it’s worth replacing with a mediocre flathead one, they would be fun in the large reservoirs though

 

[Trip McNeely]

Same reason lake trout thrive in Ft Peck, but not Sakakawea, just a few degrees difference

Part of me thinks a good reason they thrive is the forage differences…..Cisco vs smelt. Same reason they get 30lb kings out there opposed to our dumpy 7-8lbs here….. my gut tells me it isn’t so much about water temps as it is the gnf worried lakers would put a strain on the smelt population or the forage isnt there now to support another species and hurt salmon/walleye in sak.

 

[Trip McNeely]

I think even if they have to be routinely stocked it’s worth a try. Game and fish dumps 1000s of walleye into lakes that winter kill every year so they must have the stocking budget

I agree with you here. The cost excuse is a moot point…. Winterkill, put and take trout, stocking 50k walleyes and 5k northerns into the same lake…… Im not calling it money wasted but they obviously know a lot of fish are gunna die within a year that are taxpayer funded. I do think our fisheries guys do a really good job overall but it would be cool to get some variety or spice thing up a bit…. Fuck throw some bows in sak and call them steelhead shit something….same old crusty ass walleye so guys who pretend to be “semi pro” fishermen can wank off to limits of one of the easiest fish in North America to catch…..

 

[Kurtr]

We catch a fair amount of flat heads down here a couple years ago thought we had a tournament winner was about a 20 pound flat head.

 

[KDM]

Flathead eat TONS of bullheads. I'm all about turning bullheads into catfish, be they channel, blue, or flatheads. Deep fried catfish nuggets coated in MRS KDM'S special seasoned corn flour, egg dipped, coated with corn meal wrap of awesomeness will give you a food coma faster than most things I can come up with. I intergalactic very not bad!!! Bring on the FLATTIES!! Though I suspect MSA is correct and factual concerning their viability here in the northland. More's the pity.

 

[1lessdog]

Flathead eat TONS of bullheads. I'm all about turning bullheads into catfish, be they channel, blue, or flatheads. Deep fried catfish nuggets coated in MRS KDM'S special seasoned corn flour, egg dipped, coated with corn meal wrap of awesomeness will give you a food coma faster than most things I can come up with. I intergalactic very not bad!!! Bring on the FLATTIES!! Though I suspect MSA is correct and factual concerning their viability here in the northland. More's the pity.

Yes Cornmeal and Cajun shaker then deep fried and you have some good eating. But it's tough to beat flour and salt and pepper and fried in butter in seasoned cast iron frying pan ( The way my Mom made fish ).

 

[Jiffy]

Now I’m hungry…

 

[1lessdog]

Now I’m hungry…

Me to, thinking of going to Hornbackers and getting Catfish nuggets to deep fry.