10-08-2007, 04:03 PM
Hey Wyobraz. Just for comparison, I look at Lake Powell and how much the smallmouth population has changed from only 5 years ago. Similar to the Gorge, there is a abundant habitat (rocks) and crayfish forage allowing smallmouth to prosper. When Lake Powell dropped dramatically in 2003 and held at a lower level, the fishery component changed. At low lake levels, tamarisk groves popped up along the shoreline. When re-submerged, these invasive trees provide cover and habitat for many species, including bass, bluegill, and crappie. Nutrients that were tied up in the lake bottom, were also redistributed into the water column by wind and currents, providing food for plankton and in turn forage for planktivorous species like shad. Threadfin and newly introduced gizzard shad populations boomed, providing smallmouth with another forage opportunity. The limit on smallmouth is also 20 fish at Lake Powell, and the DWR promotes harvest of smaller smallmouth to allow fish to achieve greater sizes. As a result of these changes, smallmouth size increased. Tournaments in 2000-2002, had 5-fish winning weights as low as 5-10 lbs. Now winning weights are over 15 lbs. The changes were rapid and somewhat at the mercy of mother nature. Good forage, good habitat, increasing harvest on smallmouth all played a role.
Population cycles can change as a result of fluctuations in forage and habitat, and on such big reservoir it can take a dramatic influence like the weather to get it done. Habitat projects like christmas tree pilings, can make an impact, but they are usually pretty localized on big reservoirs. I know the Forest Service still puts out trees in the back of Linwood Bay, and Wyoming G&F has also done some work in the past. I've assisted with some habitat projects and they take a lot of effort, from gathering up the trees and hauling them to the site to anchoring them in the lake.
Sure, the water temps and growing season on the Gorge is shorter compared to many other productive smallmouth waters in the Intermountain West. I also believe abundant habitat and changes in preferred forage play a huge role in the success of smallies on the reservoir. I still love to fish for them on the Gorge and as many anglers state "There's lots of them and they're small, but it's hard to pull a jig through them without getting a hit!" Smallmouths at the Gorge are a great way to get kids excited about fishing. It's hard to predict changes but I tend to believe the smallmouth population on the Gorge could change as a result of any of the above variables.
Anglers have seen the Gorge change in many ways, and brown trout used to be a big component. You're right, stocking 3-inch browns may not make an impact if the habitat or forage they need is lacking. It's something though, and if a small percentage of those fish make it through the "gauntlet", maybe we'll catch some trolling in a few years.
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Population cycles can change as a result of fluctuations in forage and habitat, and on such big reservoir it can take a dramatic influence like the weather to get it done. Habitat projects like christmas tree pilings, can make an impact, but they are usually pretty localized on big reservoirs. I know the Forest Service still puts out trees in the back of Linwood Bay, and Wyoming G&F has also done some work in the past. I've assisted with some habitat projects and they take a lot of effort, from gathering up the trees and hauling them to the site to anchoring them in the lake.
Sure, the water temps and growing season on the Gorge is shorter compared to many other productive smallmouth waters in the Intermountain West. I also believe abundant habitat and changes in preferred forage play a huge role in the success of smallies on the reservoir. I still love to fish for them on the Gorge and as many anglers state "There's lots of them and they're small, but it's hard to pull a jig through them without getting a hit!" Smallmouths at the Gorge are a great way to get kids excited about fishing. It's hard to predict changes but I tend to believe the smallmouth population on the Gorge could change as a result of any of the above variables.
Anglers have seen the Gorge change in many ways, and brown trout used to be a big component. You're right, stocking 3-inch browns may not make an impact if the habitat or forage they need is lacking. It's something though, and if a small percentage of those fish make it through the "gauntlet", maybe we'll catch some trolling in a few years.
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