? On shad population

[Bub]

Hey guys it's been awhile since I have been to the lake. Went last Thursday through Saturday caught tons of stipers up in good hope bay spooning my? Is we got a lot of skinny fish 25 or so and very few shad balls on the graphs is there another die off in the future?

 

[wayne gustaveson]

Shad need cover to avoid all the predators, that really need them and can't live without them. Last spring the lake did not come up and cover the weeds/brush growing on the shoreline. Without brushy cover the young shad were consumed early when they were less than an inch long. Those that found a place to hide, grew to adult size and will spawn next spring and if the lake comes up 20 feet they will survive well and fishing conditions will be back on track. If it doesn't come up more than 3 feet, then fishing conditions will take another detour. Fortunately gizzard shad adults spawn every year and provide forage to keep the fishery going until threadfin can come back and have a banner year. Right now we need snow in the mountains feeding the Colorado, Green and San Juan rivers.