12-25-2014, 08:30 PM
Here's the low down....
I have been fishing Mohave more than Mead lately. Been working too much to get out often, but I get out when I can. About once a week is all I can manage if all goes well.
I have been hitting Willow mostly, with a few trips down to Cottonwood.
There has been a dramatic change in the fishery around Willow Beach since the trout program ended. The stripers didn't just leave, like many assumed would happen. They are still there looking for food. I have seen a good number of fish that are reallllyy hungry; big heads, good length, but skinny bodies.
90% of the fish we have gutted down there have stomachs full of the tiny freshwater shrimp (Gammarus fasciatus) that inhabits Mohave. They grow to about a half inch in length.
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We have found hundreds in the stomach of some individual fish. So, obviously, there is a lack of appropriate forage fish for the stripers to eat. It seems that the further south you go, you find more fish that actually have baitfish in their gut.
Conclusion being, The upper stretch of the river portion of Mohave is not supporting a healthy striper population due to a lack of available forage. That's not to say the stripers aren't still there, but their habits have changed, and their weight is suffering.
Fishing out of Cottonwood hasn't been great for me, but I am still trying to figure that lake out. It can be very tough down there.
The project manager at the hatchery told me that there is a chance that the trout program could start back up eventually, because the feds may re-classify the hatchery. Ultimately, that would change the person who is in charge of deciding which projects the hatchery undertakes. If this happens (and this is a big IF) Then the hatchery could decide to start the trout program again if desired.
Now, all of that is a big maybe. And I'm not 100% positive that all of that info is even correct, it is just how I interpreted the conversation, so take it with a grain of salt.
Only time will tell how the fishery will ultimately be affected. It has certainly been an interesting year.
[signature]
I have been fishing Mohave more than Mead lately. Been working too much to get out often, but I get out when I can. About once a week is all I can manage if all goes well.
I have been hitting Willow mostly, with a few trips down to Cottonwood.
There has been a dramatic change in the fishery around Willow Beach since the trout program ended. The stripers didn't just leave, like many assumed would happen. They are still there looking for food. I have seen a good number of fish that are reallllyy hungry; big heads, good length, but skinny bodies.
90% of the fish we have gutted down there have stomachs full of the tiny freshwater shrimp (Gammarus fasciatus) that inhabits Mohave. They grow to about a half inch in length.
[inline 01.jpg]
We have found hundreds in the stomach of some individual fish. So, obviously, there is a lack of appropriate forage fish for the stripers to eat. It seems that the further south you go, you find more fish that actually have baitfish in their gut.
Conclusion being, The upper stretch of the river portion of Mohave is not supporting a healthy striper population due to a lack of available forage. That's not to say the stripers aren't still there, but their habits have changed, and their weight is suffering.
Fishing out of Cottonwood hasn't been great for me, but I am still trying to figure that lake out. It can be very tough down there.
The project manager at the hatchery told me that there is a chance that the trout program could start back up eventually, because the feds may re-classify the hatchery. Ultimately, that would change the person who is in charge of deciding which projects the hatchery undertakes. If this happens (and this is a big IF) Then the hatchery could decide to start the trout program again if desired.
Now, all of that is a big maybe. And I'm not 100% positive that all of that info is even correct, it is just how I interpreted the conversation, so take it with a grain of salt.
Only time will tell how the fishery will ultimately be affected. It has certainly been an interesting year.
[signature]