01-13-2013, 04:32 PM
This is to maybe help answer the pelican question on the tournament post.
[quote flygoddess] Chesterfield is also more shallow.
I would also like to know what the Pelicans had to do with the no decision.[/quote]
F&G do much of their stocking in the fall now hoping to miss the spring migration of the fish eating birds like the cormorants and pelicans. Unfortunately this year we had very low water combined with a warmer fall. The pelicans had not left and the low water provided them with some great feasting this year. Chesterfield was especially at risk because so much of it is shallower. The newly stocked fish seek those shallower areas and are too innocent to realize that the birds swimming over head are herding them into shallower water to be eaten! That may make it so there are fewer big fish when this year class would have been the hold-overs in a year or two.
Condie is one that may take years to recover. It has gotten down to its minimum pool before in years past and the fish have survived. It maybe doubtful this year because of the pelicans. They worked that small pool over hard. If you look at Condie in the Sept 2012 sat picture on Google Earth you can count about 50 pelicans on the water and the shore. They were there for months. You can also count about 25 on Winder. Only a couple on Chesterfield, but it hadn't been stocked yet. After it was stocked I am sure it was hit hard.
The pelicans are Federally protected. Idaho F&G have repeatedly petitioned to be able to reduce their numbers. Maybe some day....
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[quote flygoddess] Chesterfield is also more shallow.
I would also like to know what the Pelicans had to do with the no decision.[/quote]
F&G do much of their stocking in the fall now hoping to miss the spring migration of the fish eating birds like the cormorants and pelicans. Unfortunately this year we had very low water combined with a warmer fall. The pelicans had not left and the low water provided them with some great feasting this year. Chesterfield was especially at risk because so much of it is shallower. The newly stocked fish seek those shallower areas and are too innocent to realize that the birds swimming over head are herding them into shallower water to be eaten! That may make it so there are fewer big fish when this year class would have been the hold-overs in a year or two.
Condie is one that may take years to recover. It has gotten down to its minimum pool before in years past and the fish have survived. It maybe doubtful this year because of the pelicans. They worked that small pool over hard. If you look at Condie in the Sept 2012 sat picture on Google Earth you can count about 50 pelicans on the water and the shore. They were there for months. You can also count about 25 on Winder. Only a couple on Chesterfield, but it hadn't been stocked yet. After it was stocked I am sure it was hit hard.
The pelicans are Federally protected. Idaho F&G have repeatedly petitioned to be able to reduce their numbers. Maybe some day....
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