Pike?

[wayne gustaveson]

Here is some information on pike spawning from the internet:

"Northern pike spawn immediately after the ice leaves the water in spring, typically when water temperature is around 40 F. lay their eggs on submerged vegetation in shallow water in the bays of large lakes, or at the mouth of a tributary or creek."

Lake Powell does not match the spawning environment needed for an effective spawn. 1st, no ice and water temp holds at about 46F. That is not a deal breaker until combined with spawning habitat. Pike need aquatic weeds to hold their adhesive eggs. The Colorado River and other inflow floodplain areas are silty and sandy from the muddy runoff. Aquatic weeds are not common.

If Pike could lay their eggs on rock structure like walleye then they would have a chance. No reproduction in Lake Powell means Pike numbers depend entirely on downstream migrants. We have never caught a northern pike in a gill net. Their numbers are very small.

 

[linnell]

I was going to mention the spawning problem, Wayne beat me to it, he's definitely more qualified. I've only seen a couple pike there and never seen a pike under 2ft. long in Powell

 

[PFD]

Here is some information on pike spawning from the internet:

"Northern pike spawn immediately after the ice leaves the water in spring, typically when water temperature is around 40 F. lay their eggs on submerged vegetation in shallow water in the bays of large lakes, or at the mouth of a tributary or creek."

Lake Powell does not match the spawning environment needed for an effective spawn. 1st, no ice and water temp holds at about 46F. That is not a deal breaker until combined with spawning habitat. Pike need aquatic weeds to hold their adhesive eggs. The Colorado River and other inflow floodplain areas are silty and sandy from the muddy runoff. Aquatic weeds are not common.

If Pike could lay their eggs on rock structure like walleye then they would have a chance. No reproduction in Lake Powell means Pike numbers depend entirely on downstream migrants. We have never caught a northern pike in a gill net. Their numbers are very small.

Thanks, figured there must be a scientific explanation.

 

[PFD]

Thanks, figured there must be a scientific explanation.

While we’re on this topic I’ve been worried that the burbot in Flaming Gorge might make it down to Powell. Please tell me there’s a biological/scientific block for them as well.

 

[wayne gustaveson]

Burbot are a cold water fish. Some may make it down river to Lake Powell but the likelihood of them spawning successfully in Lake Powell is small. They also feed in very deep water which has only limited forage available (except for this year). So my guess is burbot will really struggle to find a home in Lake Powell.

 

[PFD]

Burbot are a cold water fish. Some may make it down river to Lake Powell but the likelihood of them spawning successfully in Lake Powell is small. They also feed in very deep water which has only limited forage available (except for this year). So my guess is burbot will really struggle to find a home in Lake Powell.

You’re on a roll. Now we just need a solution for mussels. Thanks for the replies.

 

[treetop]

You’re on a roll. Now we just need a solution for mussels. Thanks for the replies.

4 pound bluegill????

 

[wayne gustaveson]

We have a lot of wildlife at the lake that eat mussels. Some of the eaters are catfish, carp, green sunfish, mallards, coots and bluegills. Stripers have tried eating mussels but I need to convince them to crush the shell when they bite down. If not, they end up with a stomach full of rocks (shells) that cannot be digested. I hope bluegill and green sunfish get bigger and eat more mussels. Yes Redear Sunfish would do a better job of eating more mussels, but there is not a fish species that can eliminate or control mussels. They are just way too productive. Each tiny mussel can produce a million veligers each year and almost as many young mussels.

I am really surprised that mussels seem to be fitting into the ecosystem and not overwhelming everything else. When the lake goes down we will see more visible mussels on the walls. Lake fluctuation has some impact on the mussel population. We have had them for 7 years now and the fish populations all rebounded this year due to high runoff and favorable water temperatures. We can see that again in the future. It will be a continual battle for fish to compete with mussels but in some years fish will win as they did in 2019. In other years, mussels will be overabundant.

Let's do our best to keep mussels out of waters that are now clean. Do your best when you visit Lake Powell to take no mussels home with you. Let's win the battle by not letting mussels spread any further.

 

[PBH]

no worries on stripers crushing mussel shells -- as long as shad and other small fish continue eating mussel larvae! It seems as if the one thing that nobody expected may be happening: that mussels are positively affecting fishing. Time will tell, but nobody can argue that we're experiencing the best shad population in November ever -- with an explosion of mussels. Who wudda thunk it?

 

[Havalina]

I really appreciate all of the responses. I was just thinking water temp, but in the spring I am fishing in 3 ft or less of water. That goes along with what the oracle of powell explained about the vegetation. There is nothing better than learning about something new when it comes to fishing.

Thanks all

 

[Cliff]

At Castaic Lake north of Los Angeles when they stock trout it is a striper feeding frenzy.

 

[coachk]

I caught a 25" pike up in Tracyte a few years ago. Was very fat and surprised the heck out of me. It was in February and was one of two fish caught over 3 days. I am glad they are rare since we already have way too many mouths too feed in Powell.