05-20-2018, 11:47 AM
[#0000FF]Judging by the size and shape I would guess walleye. Walleye began spawning in May and the eggs hatch quickly...and they young grow quickly too. There are no redside shiners in Willard. There are a few residual "log perch" from a long ago DWR planting but never enough to provide a glut for predators. (See attached pic)[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]These young of the year walleyes are also showing up in large schools around the edges of Utah Lake right now. That is one of the reasons all the white bass and catfish are hanging out close to shoreline vegetation.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]There will not be any edible size carplets or shad in the Willard food chain for at least another month. So all the hungry mouths slurp up the only food available...that includes crawdads and the young of all species...including their own. With the newly hatched walleyes being at the top of the food list for several weeks/months, is it any wonder that there is seemingly such a low rate for spawning success and recruitment?...or so few walleyes left for anglers throughout the rest of the year?
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[#0000FF]These young of the year walleyes are also showing up in large schools around the edges of Utah Lake right now. That is one of the reasons all the white bass and catfish are hanging out close to shoreline vegetation.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]There will not be any edible size carplets or shad in the Willard food chain for at least another month. So all the hungry mouths slurp up the only food available...that includes crawdads and the young of all species...including their own. With the newly hatched walleyes being at the top of the food list for several weeks/months, is it any wonder that there is seemingly such a low rate for spawning success and recruitment?...or so few walleyes left for anglers throughout the rest of the year?
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