Skinny Bass - A good read

[J-Doc]

For the bass anglers, who complain about the size of fish at Beaver.

Read up.

http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/skinny-fish.html

[zarraspook]

Good information !!!! As an X-bass tournament fisherman, I thought I had seen it all but, that is a real eye opener !!

Stating as a tournament fisherman ( and exceptionally poor-2 striper in the Air Force) we saved all our plastic and melted it to make new baits..

[JohnF52]

Some states have tried unsuccessfully to ban plastics. New York and Maine. No concern for us here, as least not for a long time.

[jeb]

I've seen that also, in fish I'd caught. Caught one in Wisc a few years back that had large senko worm about half way pooped out. She was not looking healthy. All the plastics that we replace during a day of fishing stays in the boat. Then gets dumped when I get home.

[Stump bumper]

Has anyone opened the stomach on any of those skinny walleye that seem to be all over Beaver?

[J-Doc]

If I can ever get one long enough.....

I sure will. :-)

[Amery]

I had a 21 1/2" 'eye last night below beaver. Wasn't too skinny though.

[NWAfishbiologist]

We have been netting for walleye in Beaver Lake for the last couple of years and found that walleye are in great shape. We do our netting in the winter (January-March) before the spawn. We take weights and lengths on the walleye to get a condition factor (Wr or Relative Weight). If fish populations have a condition factor of 95 to 100, the fish are very fat and healthy. Condition of Beaver Lake walleye in 2014 was 98 and 2015 was 103. We only took weights on 20 walleye this winter due to our scales malfunctioning, but the ones we did weigh were very healthy. Keep in mind we collected these fish pre-spawn and many had eggs, which will lead to better relative weights.

As you all know, the walleye caught this time of year are post-spawn and will not be as big as pre-spawn fish. Also, this is the time of year fish are skinny for a few reasons:

1. They just finished spawning and do not have the extra mass due to eggs.

2. The spawn can be stressful on fish that move long distances to spawn; as some walleye in Beaver Lake do when they run up the rivers.

3. Fish may be slimmer in May-June because forage species (threadfin shad, gizzard shad, etc.) have not spawned yet. There are not as many prey items available before the shad spawn and once shad do spawn walleye will be focusing more on shad for food.

Also, keep in mind that many walleye harvested are males and they do not grow as large as the females. We have seen a male walleye that was 8 years old and was only 22" long. The males also are more active during the spawn (looking for females) and are prone to losing some weight at this time of year.

We are very active in managing Beaver Lakes fish populations and have been sampling the walleye population since 2010 using gill nets. Based on our sampling and high condition factors in the last 2 samples, the walleye population looks to be in great health. We will continually monitor their population this winter.

The big thing Beaver Lake needs to have good sportfish populations is HIGH WATER (If the lake is up during and after the spawn)!! Good inflows bring in nutrients that are vital for the forage species and good forage leads to bigger sportfish. Thanks for all your comments and good luck fishing this spring and summer.

Jon Stein

AGFC

[YAKFM]

We have been netting for walleye in Beaver Lake for the last couple of years and found that walleye are in great shape. We do our netting in the winter (January-March) before the spawn. We take weights and lengths on the walleye to get a condition factor (Wr or Relative Weight). If fish populations have a condition factor of 95 to 100, the fish are very fat and healthy. Condition of Beaver Lake walleye in 2014 was 98 and 2015 was 103. We only took weights on 20 walleye this winter due to our scales malfunctioning, but the ones we did weigh were very healthy. Keep in mind we collected these fish pre-spawn and many had eggs, which will lead to better relative weights.

As you all know, the walleye caught this time of year are post-spawn and will not be as big as pre-spawn fish. Also, this is the time of year fish are skinny for a few reasons:

1. They just finished spawning and do not have the extra mass due to eggs.

2. The spawn can be stressful on fish that move long distances to spawn; as some walleye in Beaver Lake do when they run up the rivers.

3. Fish may be slimmer in May-June because forage species (threadfin shad, gizzard shad, etc.) have not spawned yet. There are not as many prey items available before the shad spawn and once shad do spawn walleye will be focusing more on shad for food.

Also, keep in mind that many walleye harvested are males and they do not grow as large as the females. We have seen a male walleye that was 8 years old and was only 22" long. The males also are more active during the spawn (looking for females) and are prone to losing some weight at this time of year.

We are very active in managing Beaver Lakes fish populations and have been sampling the walleye population since 2010 using gill nets. Based on our sampling and high condition factors in the last 2 samples, the walleye population looks to be in great health. We will continually monitor their population this winter.

The big thing Beaver Lake needs to have good sportfish populations is HIGH WATER (If the lake is up during and after the spawn)!! Good inflows bring in nutrients that are vital for the forage species and good forage leads to bigger sportfish. Thanks for all your comments and good luck fishing this spring and summer.

Jon Stein

AGFC

Great information. Thank you Jon!

[Ron Burgundy]

Thanks Jon!