08-12-2003, 04:55 PM
[cool]The other factor is the clarity of the water. For sight feeders like stripers, wipers, white bass, LMB and smallies, they do much better where the water is clear. Without good visibility, they cannot see to herd schools of baitfish together for a community feed.
There is another good reason why shad are not a part of the forage base in Utah Lake. It is too shallow. Most shad species need water deep enough to escape the cold of winter. The gizzard shad in Willard is hardier to cold temps than the threadfin, but still would not likely survive the Utah Lake conditions, even without predators.
Utah Lake is a tough one to manage for everybody. Several species have proven capable of sustaining populations by cannibalizing their own young and the young of others. But, as cat_man observed, some of these youngsters grow fast enough that they are only available as a food source for a brief part of the year.
I have always been amazed at the biomass that exists in that shallow and murky pond. In almost any other part of the country, it would be a lifeless scumhole. But, strangely enough, the carp that made it the muddy mess it is today are also one of the main items on the grocery list of the other fishes. Go figure.
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There is another good reason why shad are not a part of the forage base in Utah Lake. It is too shallow. Most shad species need water deep enough to escape the cold of winter. The gizzard shad in Willard is hardier to cold temps than the threadfin, but still would not likely survive the Utah Lake conditions, even without predators.
Utah Lake is a tough one to manage for everybody. Several species have proven capable of sustaining populations by cannibalizing their own young and the young of others. But, as cat_man observed, some of these youngsters grow fast enough that they are only available as a food source for a brief part of the year.
I have always been amazed at the biomass that exists in that shallow and murky pond. In almost any other part of the country, it would be a lifeless scumhole. But, strangely enough, the carp that made it the muddy mess it is today are also one of the main items on the grocery list of the other fishes. Go figure.
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