Warm temps coming - how does it affect the fish?

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Biffers said:
The water gets warmer when day light hours are longer. Small Mouth in the Gorge is a different species of Small Mouth than LP.
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Smallmouth bass are a species, there may be different strains or origins of them.
Interesting note, the Smallmouth Bass in Lake Powell originated in Flaming Gorge. There may have been very limited downstream in-migration into lake Powell from Flaming Gorge. The main source for Lake Powell smallmouth as Wayne Gustaveson explains in his book was the Wahweap Hatchery. The Wahweap warm water hatchery obtained Smallmouth bass from Flaming Gorge when they ceased production of stripers, to utilize the hatchery for Smallmouth bass production.
Another interesting note; Studies have shown Flaming Gorge has among the lowest growth rates recorded for Smallmouth bass, and some of the longest life spans for them. Most likely due to the elevation and short growing season. It is also one of the highest elevation lakes if not the highest, to have a self sustaining population of Smallmouth Bass in North America.
 
That’s what published studies from Wyoming and Utah stated. I’m not aware
of others but totally think there may be others. As I mentioned the study said one of the highest, of and or possibly the highest elevation lake, (with self sustaining population of SMB) I certainly think there are others.
I’m wondering where they might be ? I’ll have to do some checking?
 
Mildog said:
That’s what published studies from Wyoming and Utah stated. I’m not aware
of others but totally think there may be others. As I mentioned the study said one of the highest, of and or possibly the highest elevation lake, (with self sustaining population of SMB) I certainly think there are others.
I’m wondering where they might be ? I’ll have to do some checking?
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upthecreek said:
You might want to check that again. I can think of several exceptions to that.
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Just wondering if you can tell me what lakes that are higher with sustaining SMB populations? What exceptions are you thinking of, I’m curious to know myself.
 
Very interesting info! Thanks upthecreek Good stuff.
Navajo and McPhee both list SMB and McPhee is quite a bit higher, near 900 feet higher than the Gorge and has stable population . So it is most likely the highest overall. Navajo is only a few feet lower ( like 10 feet in official elevations) than the gorge, the others don’t list SMB, maybe we’re introduced or illegally but never took? So these and the Gorge are certainly among the highest.
It appears they did not have SMB in those lakes at the time of that study Wyoming and Utah conducted. (About 1993)
Another recent change at the gorge is the size of SMB at the gorge I remember 30 plus years ago you could catch lots of Dink’s in many areas almost every cast. Now far fewer but many are big 5-6 lb tanks up on the Wyoming side! My little brother fishes it in tournaments. He has caught huge ones! Many blame or credit the burbot illegal planting now established in Flaming Gorge in keeping the numbers down but also affecting the increased size?
 
upthecreek said:
Flaming Gorge is 6040 ft at full pool, Navajo is 6085. Vallecito is 7665.
CPW clearly lists smallmouth for Vallecito, and I've caught them in there for years.
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Got ya, elevation that popped up on Navajo was current not full pool. Looks like SMB can sustain at high elevations , when temps are warm enough to overcome it. Good info. SMB Are great fish and fun to catch!
 
Looks like there may be a bunch more high elevation SMB lakes in Colorado now! Some may not sustain and apparently not really wanted or managed. Most no limit on SMB
Blue Mesa has some and it’s really high over 7000 feet! Ridgeway now has sterile walleye as well as kokanee trout , some SMB and more. I’ve always wanted to fish Blue Mesa for Kokes and Lakers. Ridgeway , looks like a cool place, would be fun to go and visit and fish there! Co has so many lakes to fish !
 
Rifle Gap pics @J8tee
Walleye, LMB, SMB, yellow perch, rainbow trout, crappie, bluegill, crayfish...
Also pike and tiger muskee.
 

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Joe Wilson said:
*Sterile walleye.

Also, I didn't think the tigers ever got stocked in Rifle, just Harvery.
And there are also browns in Rifle as well.
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Never caught a tiger heard they were in there though. The pike are hard to keep off the hook sometimes. Had a good bass spring and summer there last year including a 4lb LMB.
 
Dennis GJ said:
Never caught a tiger heard they were in there though. The pike are hard to keep off the hook sometimes. Had a good bass spring and summer there last year including a 4lb LMB.
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The bass are doing awesome, they could be much better if cpw actually managed our lakes for something other than trout...
The walleye are definitely starting to re-establish themselves, just a shame that they have to be constantly stocked nowadays. Rifle was one of the few lakes in CO that the walleye were actually self-sustaining before they went in and shocked the lake to remove them and the pike.
And yes, there are definitely an abundance of hammer handles in Rifle now, Harvey isn't quite as bad, but Rifle is full of them now.
It definitely took several years for Rifle to settle out and become a decent fishery again.
 
jlandon said:
Looking at the 10 day and even monthly forecast for Page, temps are going to get pretty warm for March. I'm curious how it's going to affect the fish when it comes to how active they get in spring and how early. I'm also curious to see if it really causes the bass to spawn way earlier if the temps keep up without an significant cooldowns or wind storms. What are everyone's thoughts?
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This kind of got off track. To answer your original question water temperature has everything to do with how the fishing goes in the spring and fall. As soon as the water temperature hits 62 and you have several warm days in a row you need to be fishing. If the surface temperature is 62 in the morning you can bet that it will hit 65 - 66 by midafternoon. My experience is the first warm day after a storm that the water temperature is 62 to 65 the fishing will be good. The next warm day it will be better and every day after till the next cold front comes through will be great to unforgettable. If it is windy fish the windblown bank. The water on the windblown bank will be 2 or so degrees warmer than the calm bank. 100 to 150 fish per boat days are common.
This works in reverse in the fall. Look for 65-degree water. This is usually around Halloween.
 
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