03-14-2004, 12:52 AM
Very interesting.
Your info sounds like a shad spawn, but the circumstance goes against what I know about gizzard shad.
Heres a quote from my research for you.
"Gizzard shad are random, nocturnal, group spawners in shallow bays, coves, or sloughs with no care given to the young. Eggs are released near the surface of the water from late april or early may to early august at 50 to 70 degrees F. The eggs are adhesive and sink. The females are prolific, producing up to 400,000 eggs that are about .03 inch in diameter."
I have seen where gizzard shad spawn in mid march, but its usually in southern waters where the temp reaches 50 degrees much sooner than here in utah.
Our shad spawning season should be a shorter one due to the water temo taking longer to reach 50 degrees, and also due to the water temp reaching over 70 very quickly in summer. gizzard shad will spawn into august if the water temp and situation allow for it, but in willard bay specifically, it shouldnt last that long.
So, its very interesting to see shad in the shallows in groups, behaving like spawners, but with the water temp only being 43 degrees, and knowing they will have a lot of time to spawn in the coming months, its very interesting.
If you want info on the only way I have been able to get wipers at this time of year, send me a pm. Its not very productive, you wont have a 25 fish day, but I have been able to get a few while theres still ice on the lake in years past.
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Your info sounds like a shad spawn, but the circumstance goes against what I know about gizzard shad.
Heres a quote from my research for you.
"Gizzard shad are random, nocturnal, group spawners in shallow bays, coves, or sloughs with no care given to the young. Eggs are released near the surface of the water from late april or early may to early august at 50 to 70 degrees F. The eggs are adhesive and sink. The females are prolific, producing up to 400,000 eggs that are about .03 inch in diameter."
I have seen where gizzard shad spawn in mid march, but its usually in southern waters where the temp reaches 50 degrees much sooner than here in utah.
Our shad spawning season should be a shorter one due to the water temo taking longer to reach 50 degrees, and also due to the water temp reaching over 70 very quickly in summer. gizzard shad will spawn into august if the water temp and situation allow for it, but in willard bay specifically, it shouldnt last that long.
So, its very interesting to see shad in the shallows in groups, behaving like spawners, but with the water temp only being 43 degrees, and knowing they will have a lot of time to spawn in the coming months, its very interesting.
If you want info on the only way I have been able to get wipers at this time of year, send me a pm. Its not very productive, you wont have a 25 fish day, but I have been able to get a few while theres still ice on the lake in years past.
[signature]