04-29-2011, 08:27 PM
[cool][#0000ff]Yeah, I have fished that lake over several decades and I remember a few glory years. But there have always been cycles...usually because of the combined effects of drought and water user demand. The poor fish (and fishermen) don't have a chance.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The lake was down to mud puddle status at the end of 2004. It was refilled in 2005 and trout were planted to provide a fishery. They grew big and fat until the perch ate all the fathead minnows. The perch were planted from Jordanelle by DWR with the help of Rocky Mountain Anglers. They took off well and like you experienced there were some big ones from the first year class. But then they spawned and died out and since then there have been mostly small perch...and few of those. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Between the pike, the few walleye and the hordes of carp there is little recruitment from an annual perch spawn. Not enough young to supply all the hungry mouths.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are very few walleyes but the ones that are in there are fat. They have lots of baby carp to eat along with whatever perch they can find. But they are not easily caught. Guys who drag crawler rigs all day go through dozens of crawlers but about all they get are carp.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Lots of armchair biologists pointing fingers at DWR, water users and anybody else they can blame. But the situation is that the lake is overrun with carp and there is little chance of turning it around until it is again drained and the biomass eliminated for another cycle.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The lake was down to mud puddle status at the end of 2004. It was refilled in 2005 and trout were planted to provide a fishery. They grew big and fat until the perch ate all the fathead minnows. The perch were planted from Jordanelle by DWR with the help of Rocky Mountain Anglers. They took off well and like you experienced there were some big ones from the first year class. But then they spawned and died out and since then there have been mostly small perch...and few of those. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Between the pike, the few walleye and the hordes of carp there is little recruitment from an annual perch spawn. Not enough young to supply all the hungry mouths.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There are very few walleyes but the ones that are in there are fat. They have lots of baby carp to eat along with whatever perch they can find. But they are not easily caught. Guys who drag crawler rigs all day go through dozens of crawlers but about all they get are carp.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Lots of armchair biologists pointing fingers at DWR, water users and anybody else they can blame. But the situation is that the lake is overrun with carp and there is little chance of turning it around until it is again drained and the biomass eliminated for another cycle.[/#0000ff]
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