04-30-2011, 12:39 PM
[cool][#0000ff]Cats have traditionally done very well in Yuba. But it all has to do with the food chain. There is a difference between just surviving and being "top cat". [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Channel cats are the apex predators in the Bear River...with a few walleyes in the mix. And they have plenty of minnows and other forage...plus lots of brush and holes for spawning and structure.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Yuba Res. cats are almost at the bottom of the food chain...being subservient to pike and walleyes...and even perch and carp. The fish that don't eat the cats themselves prey heavily on unprotected eggs and young. There just ain't the kind of structure in Yuba that it takes to keep kitties happy.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]In Yuba the cats run up the Sevier River to spawn in the brush and the few rocks when water levels are high enough. Like perch they do not have good spawns if there is not suitable spawning area. They have to spawn out in the open instead of back inside rocks or brush where the males can protect the eggs and young until they are ready to get out on their own. The carp in Yuba make short work of any nests...of any species...if they are left unprotected.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There are a few cats that survive the buglemouth brigade each year and there is a small population in Yuba. And there are some big cats in there. But the overall population is not enough to make it worthwhile for someone to make a special trip for them. The cats are like the walleyes in many spots...they are caught by accident by people fishing for other species.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Let's all get together and install a giant flush handle on Yuba Dam. But, the
thing is that no matter how successful the flush it will only be temporary. The history of Yuba is boom and bust...and much of that is because of the water situation. One or two bad water years in every 10 will ruin whatever fishing has developed during good water years and it will be back to square one. It takes several years for the lake to recover and then WHAMMO. Dead again.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]DWR does not have any minimum pool agreements so the downstream water users can suck the lake dry whenever they want to. Gotta have more control than that to maintain a fishery.[/#0000ff]
[signature]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Channel cats are the apex predators in the Bear River...with a few walleyes in the mix. And they have plenty of minnows and other forage...plus lots of brush and holes for spawning and structure.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Yuba Res. cats are almost at the bottom of the food chain...being subservient to pike and walleyes...and even perch and carp. The fish that don't eat the cats themselves prey heavily on unprotected eggs and young. There just ain't the kind of structure in Yuba that it takes to keep kitties happy.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]In Yuba the cats run up the Sevier River to spawn in the brush and the few rocks when water levels are high enough. Like perch they do not have good spawns if there is not suitable spawning area. They have to spawn out in the open instead of back inside rocks or brush where the males can protect the eggs and young until they are ready to get out on their own. The carp in Yuba make short work of any nests...of any species...if they are left unprotected.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There are a few cats that survive the buglemouth brigade each year and there is a small population in Yuba. And there are some big cats in there. But the overall population is not enough to make it worthwhile for someone to make a special trip for them. The cats are like the walleyes in many spots...they are caught by accident by people fishing for other species.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Let's all get together and install a giant flush handle on Yuba Dam. But, the
thing is that no matter how successful the flush it will only be temporary. The history of Yuba is boom and bust...and much of that is because of the water situation. One or two bad water years in every 10 will ruin whatever fishing has developed during good water years and it will be back to square one. It takes several years for the lake to recover and then WHAMMO. Dead again.[/#0000ff][#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]DWR does not have any minimum pool agreements so the downstream water users can suck the lake dry whenever they want to. Gotta have more control than that to maintain a fishery.[/#0000ff]
[signature]