Biologist Report - Lake habitat enhancement: felled tree evaluation

[Mike]

http://fishandboat.com/images/reports/2015bio/6x01_30bluemarsh.pdf

 

[Fredrick]

Do they stock this lake with stripped bass ? Thanks as always for the info Mike I will be targeting theses areas more next time I take my yak out.

 

[Fishidiot]

Interesting study that reinforces angler conventional wisdom.

The short version here is that a study was done of fallen tree cover in Blue Marsh Lake and the study revealed larger numbers of fish congregating around trees than shoreline areas without the fallen trees. In particular, crappies and carp were very fond of the trees. Bass were about twice as likely to be in the trees. In my experience in streams and rivers, carp are especially fond of schooling up under the branches of fallen trees.

While I don't often fish BM Lake, I do fish Marburg which has similar structure and felled trees. Many anglers on Marburg, esp those targeting crappies (a very popular fish on PA lakes) focus their entire efforts on these fallen trees.

Anyway, no surprise on the results....but a worthwhile study to quantify the positive aspects of the tree felling program.

 

[Mike]

Blue Marsh has been stocked with stripers and striper hybrids. The combined "striper" fishing is great, but they do not head for the trees. They prefer open water or shorelines with no structure as they prey upon the alewife population.