08-24-2008, 09:19 PM
[cool][#0000ff]Great report and pics. Hope you didn't lose too much weight to the hungry bugs. They can be fearsome in that mini swamp.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have heard several reports of peacock bass in Blue Lake. Divers seem to enjoy dumping aquarium fish in there for there viewing enjoyment. Probably no harm in it. It is a "closed system" and the exotics have no shot at escaping and getting into any other waters. Even if they did, they could not survive in colder water. For the present they offer an interesting opportunity to catch something unique...even if they are in competition with the poor largies for the minimum food supply. DWR is interested in what is going on there, but seems to have no plans to manage it for any particular kind of fishery. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It is good to hear that the bass are turning the tables on the tilapia and munching THEIR young too. Tilapia are notorious nest raiders and have been seen wiping out bass and bluegill nests, as well as slurping up the exposed and vulnerable fry after hatching.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The canal that leaves Blue Lake on the east goes for quite a ways out into the desert and into a couple of other shallow ponds. Eventually all the water either seeps back into the ground or evaporates. It does not empty into any other lakes or streams. You can get a good picture of it by looking it up on Google Earth.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Actually, that canal is an important contributor to the food chain for Blue Lake. There are lots of invertebrates that serve as food for both the young and older fish too. Lots of fish leave the main lake and cruise the canal for groceries. The main lake is not very rich in nutrients or aquatic life and if the fish did not get lots of Cheese Whiz and other snacks from the divers they probably would not be as plentiful or as healthy.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have heard several reports of peacock bass in Blue Lake. Divers seem to enjoy dumping aquarium fish in there for there viewing enjoyment. Probably no harm in it. It is a "closed system" and the exotics have no shot at escaping and getting into any other waters. Even if they did, they could not survive in colder water. For the present they offer an interesting opportunity to catch something unique...even if they are in competition with the poor largies for the minimum food supply. DWR is interested in what is going on there, but seems to have no plans to manage it for any particular kind of fishery. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]It is good to hear that the bass are turning the tables on the tilapia and munching THEIR young too. Tilapia are notorious nest raiders and have been seen wiping out bass and bluegill nests, as well as slurping up the exposed and vulnerable fry after hatching.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The canal that leaves Blue Lake on the east goes for quite a ways out into the desert and into a couple of other shallow ponds. Eventually all the water either seeps back into the ground or evaporates. It does not empty into any other lakes or streams. You can get a good picture of it by looking it up on Google Earth.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Actually, that canal is an important contributor to the food chain for Blue Lake. There are lots of invertebrates that serve as food for both the young and older fish too. Lots of fish leave the main lake and cruise the canal for groceries. The main lake is not very rich in nutrients or aquatic life and if the fish did not get lots of Cheese Whiz and other snacks from the divers they probably would not be as plentiful or as healthy.[/#0000ff]
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