06-25-2019, 02:16 PM
"I still find it strange how the fish (mostly W and W) seem to mostly disappear in the fall, well before they do in other lakes and well before the water temps drop far enough to really slow their metabolism down. [#FF0000]The shad are mostly too large then[/#FF0000], but they must be feeding somewhere on something."
[#0000FF]Au contraire. Fall is probably the time of greatest abundance of eating sized shad. Most are in the 2-3 inch range. A few are bigger and there are usually some late hatching 2 inchers in the mix. The latter are the ones that usually die out in the late fall, when water temps fall below 55 and the zooplankton thin out. The little ones starve to death because their mouth parts have not changes to allow them to feed on other things.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]If the W & W seem to disappear it is only because they are often glutted. And in times of abundance they sometimes only feed for a short time each day, getting all they need with a few quick gulps. The rest of the day they just lay on the bottom or hang at mid-depth...digesting and watching anglers' lures zip by at mach 3.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]Even in those times of challenges you can bet there are a tight-lipped and chosen few who still go forth upon the waters regularly...and regularly catch good numbers of fat fish. Those who know the lake best stay tuned to the feeding patterns and preferred hangouts of active fish...and pay attention to their changing feeding times. They also keep changing up their presentations to smaller or larger lures, slower or faster speeds, etc. Well-fed fish require specialized tactics to get them to "yawn" in front of your offerings.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]Over the years I have gotten well acquainted with Lady Willard. But as with most of the "fair gender" she can be moody and fickle. Thus, even though I know most of the questions I would not presume to claim that I know all the answers. Of all the waters I fish in Utah, I have smelled skunk more times on Willard than all other waters combined.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]I think a lot of us are thankful that there are other waters to which we can go for ego reinforcement after we have been humiliated by Willard.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]Au contraire. Fall is probably the time of greatest abundance of eating sized shad. Most are in the 2-3 inch range. A few are bigger and there are usually some late hatching 2 inchers in the mix. The latter are the ones that usually die out in the late fall, when water temps fall below 55 and the zooplankton thin out. The little ones starve to death because their mouth parts have not changes to allow them to feed on other things.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]If the W & W seem to disappear it is only because they are often glutted. And in times of abundance they sometimes only feed for a short time each day, getting all they need with a few quick gulps. The rest of the day they just lay on the bottom or hang at mid-depth...digesting and watching anglers' lures zip by at mach 3.[/#0000FF]
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[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]Even in those times of challenges you can bet there are a tight-lipped and chosen few who still go forth upon the waters regularly...and regularly catch good numbers of fat fish. Those who know the lake best stay tuned to the feeding patterns and preferred hangouts of active fish...and pay attention to their changing feeding times. They also keep changing up their presentations to smaller or larger lures, slower or faster speeds, etc. Well-fed fish require specialized tactics to get them to "yawn" in front of your offerings.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]Over the years I have gotten well acquainted with Lady Willard. But as with most of the "fair gender" she can be moody and fickle. Thus, even though I know most of the questions I would not presume to claim that I know all the answers. Of all the waters I fish in Utah, I have smelled skunk more times on Willard than all other waters combined.[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]I think a lot of us are thankful that there are other waters to which we can go for ego reinforcement after we have been humiliated by Willard.[/#0000FF]
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