What's all the Talk about the Shad in Erie

[BROWNINGB80]

Seen a couple of post regarding the shad number's this spring in Erie. What effect if any will this have on the Early April fishing? Are the number really that much greater than normal. I know the weather hasn't been the greatest and haven't seen only a couple of reports from the reefs when do you guy's expect them to pick up.

[Buckeye]

From everything I've read and heard, normally 90% (give or take)of the shad in the lake die off each winter. The variables are hard winters vs. mild winters. Here's how I understand what I've been told by a Lake Erie biologist.

If a mild winter equalls less winterkill, that would make for a larger breeding "herd". It makes sense that more surviving adults breeding (given decent weather during the time gizzard shad spawn) there could be a giant crop of baitfish this year. That is great for the fish, not so great for us fishermen (short term on the latter). Competition for appetites (fish may not be as hungry or be able to pick out our baits thru the loads of baitfish) of the fish could be strong.

On the flip side, obviously more bait will mean full bellies for all the predatory fish in the lake, which means faster growth. If what I wrote above holds true, this mild winter may have come at a perfect time with the huge numbers of 3 year old walleyes swimming in the lake. It stands to reason that if there's tons of extra bait, that huge 2003 year class should be able to really gain some weight this summer.

Maybe some of our Sea Grant friends can give us the low down....I more than likely am confused on the matter anyhow!

[gettum]

As I understand it, there is also another consideration. If there are a lot of shad around, that is actually bad because they feed on the small walleye that have just hatched. They can do quite a bit of damage this way.

gettum

[Gizzard Shad]

Gizzard Shad do not eat walleye fry, read up.....
http://www.dnr.ohio.gov/wildlife/fishing/aquanotes-fishid/gizzshad.htm

[kannon]

what should i use to catch a three pounder, i cant seem to keep the micro organisms on my hook?

[GU]

http://www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater/fish/shad/

From above:

At one time, both gizzard and threadfin shad were stocked in manmade impoundments to provide food for desired sport fish. It became apparent that problems caused by introduction of shad could outweigh the benefits, especially in small impoundments. To understand why these problems occur, the habits and life histories have to be taken into account. Shad spawn in the spring or early summer. The first food of shad (and most other game fish species) is microscopic animals called zooplankton and protozoa. Shad quickly supplement their diet with free-floating algae, called phytoplankton, and insect larvae. Shad have a distinct advantage over other fish species because of their ability to filter large amounts of water through long, closely set gill rakers. As the water passes through the gill rakers, free-floating plants and animals are filtered out as food. This enables shad to compete much more effectively for food with other fish that rely on the same diet, such as sunfish and recently hatched bass and crappie. Shad also graze for algae and small insects over logs and other underwater objects, but their main way of feeding is simply swimming and pumping water through their mouths and out their gills.

[Buckeye]

Gizzard Shad you are correct that they don't eat walleye or any other fry but they definitely compete for the same grub (plankton)with them. That could result in poorer survival chances for our favorite toothy fish between the time the hatch until they grow large enough to chase down and eat larger critters.

[Wild Willy]

I think the "catching"is definitely a little tougher after a mild winter because of less baitfish dieoff.

[bob oh]

this would be a good discussion for the folks at Sea Grant?

rod bender bob

[richard nogin]

what we all should be talking about is the TAC and how we need new leadership in the dnr to stop the #### the sportfisherman are getting on both ends of the lake

[bob oh]

I am mad as h### about the new TAC but there ain't a thing in h### ODNR can do about it. Ontario has us over a barrel and they know it and they're gonna rape the lake at their pleasure because they are the GREAT CONSERVATIONISTS. Don't believe me, ask them they'll tell you what great conservationists they are.

rod bender bob

[Mostlymuskies]

I'm glad to see the big schools of Gizzard Shad in the Upper Niagara River,stacked like sardines by the Town of Tonawanda Boat Launch last night.The Northern Pike & Muskies were gorgeing on them as well.This will make for some fat Muskies & Walleyes by June!

Capt. Larry