02-27-2011, 01:23 AM
[cool][#0000ff]Water temps are only part of the equation. That also has some effect on the food chain...or lack thereof. Many of the eastern and southern lakes are natural lakes with fairly constant water levels, weed beds and enough rainfall and runoff to keep fertility levels high. Lots more aquatic invertebrates for the new hatchlings until they get large enough to feed on bigger items. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In some lakes in Utah and Idaho the natural production of zooplankton or other small food items shuts down at low temps. If that scarcity of food begins early enough and lasts long enough the young-of-the-year run out of food and starve to death before the food cycle replenishes itself in the spring. That is one of the reasons why some species simply will not survive in high altitude lakes in our mountain states. It is not because they cannot tolerate cold...because they do well in some midwest lakes that are even colder in the winter. It is just that they don't have enough of the right kind of groceries throughout an entire year to sustain them. If the food chain gets a broken link it won't hold the load.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Anyone who has fished truly fertile lakes in other states...after fishing Utah and Idaho...is amazed at the multiple species of forage items available year round, compared to what we have. There is always something in a harvestable cycle to keep the fishies fed throughout the year.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In some lakes in Utah and Idaho the natural production of zooplankton or other small food items shuts down at low temps. If that scarcity of food begins early enough and lasts long enough the young-of-the-year run out of food and starve to death before the food cycle replenishes itself in the spring. That is one of the reasons why some species simply will not survive in high altitude lakes in our mountain states. It is not because they cannot tolerate cold...because they do well in some midwest lakes that are even colder in the winter. It is just that they don't have enough of the right kind of groceries throughout an entire year to sustain them. If the food chain gets a broken link it won't hold the load.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Anyone who has fished truly fertile lakes in other states...after fishing Utah and Idaho...is amazed at the multiple species of forage items available year round, compared to what we have. There is always something in a harvestable cycle to keep the fishies fed throughout the year.[/#0000ff]
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