Mississippi & Illinois Rivers

[Pooch]

With all the record high water the past week on both these rivers, what does this do to the spawn or the fish themselves?

Just curious.

Pooch

[Heidicke]

When this happened a few years ago on the illinois near spring valley the spawn was remarkable....the fish all spawned in the cornfields which resulted in a really strong year class....it probably depends on what stage of spawning the fish are in when the rivers rage....the effects could be devastating....it does help that not all fish spawn at the same time....mother natures way of compensating for such events

[Pooch]

That's interesting that they spawned in the cornfields and hatched before the water went down. How long after spawn before the eggs hatch?

It had to be really murky water. Was this Sauger, Saugeye?

Thanks,
Pooch

[Johnboy]

The barges hitting and being stranded on the Marseilles Dam may have a profound effect on the Illinois River fish and fishing. Two gates in the dam cannot be closed at this time. The upper pool may be lowered to a historic low of 8 feet. Here is a link to a newspaper article describing what is , and is going to happen. http://mywebtimes.com/archives/ottaw....php?id=474565

[Heidicke]

Not sure if the fished spawned in the cornfields....or the fry hatched and took refuge in the cornfields. This is primarily sauger fishery. I saw it on a fishing show where they were talking about it so I do not have all of the details.

[eagle19eye]

You can get quite a bit of info from the commercial fisherman. I tend to run into these guys here and there. One guy told me he was getting some large walleye in his nets in the backwaters on the Mississippi River.