Wayne, any subtle conclusions you can come to with that shad from Mead regarding mussels? Seeing a 7" shad surprise you at all? Mean nothing etc.?
There is very little difference between gizzard shad growth in Powell and Mead. Mead is a bit warmer so shad will grow slightly faster there.
Both gizzard and threadfin shad grow very fast in both Lake Powell and Mead. Young threadfin and gizzard shad are the small shad targets of the slurping process stripers go through in June-July. By late fall or early spring
all young gizzard shad grow to about 5- 7 inches while threadfin stop at 2-3 inches. Stripers like the smaller forage fish but if threadfin are not available then gizzard shad are eaten.
No - seeing a 7 inch gizzard shad is part of the annual growth process of forage fish in both lakes.
We have not confirmed either shad species eating mussels. Threadfin eat plankton their whole life while the 7 inch gizzards transition to eating algae on the bottom. It is possible for gizzards to eat mussels at this point - but it is not confirmed. That would be great if it would happen but it is not expected. UT DWR will do another food habits study on gizzard shad in November during our annual gill netting operation.