Four Advanced Takeaways From Fisheries Surveys
By Nick Simonson
As agencies sample the waters throughout the upper Midwest this summer, the reports they generate show that not only is the government in action for the betterment of the angling public, but it is also helping to provide vital clues which assist anglers in their efforts after the fish that can be found in the various lakes and reservoirs across the map. Getting beyond the numbers of walleyes, bass, or bluegills is what advanced anglers do to find the colors and presentations that work, and help transfer information from other experiences to catch more fish, bigger fish, and the fish they want to keep. What follows are those advanced items that can be gleaned with a little bit of digging into the numbers of any given survey report and how the statistics can translate to success on the water.
Predator and Prey
Looking at a list of fish can easily show what’s in the water and what anglers might expect to catch, but going a bit deeper helps anglers connect those game fish on the report with other species in the water which they might eat throughout the summer. An abundance of small white bass, yellow perch, or even rough fish like bullheads and suckers can provide valuable clues as to what walleyes, pike and largemouth are lunching on. Establishing a predator-and-prey relationship from the survey results is a good thing to know, especially when it comes to catching those bigger species.
