Thread: Lake Rathbun predictions

Well I'll be odd man out, I think there's alot of big fish in the lake right now. I also think they had a good spawn last 2 years, so I think there will be some good years in the future. I love it when it gets real high and make finding the beds hard. If it's 6 foot low this year the good fish won't last long.

I think that is what everyone else is eluding to.We had several years of low water plus the fact that we had a major shortage of shad for several years has led to a shortage of those 10 to11 inch fish (3 to 4 year olds). The last 2 springs with high water all year should have had a good spawn but last years temps didnt play very nice with the hatch.What good fish that are still around should be in that 12 inch plus range so there are some real pigs around.Even talking with the biologists it will take another year or two now that the shad have come back as well as some favorable spawning levels before we get spoiled with the 10 to 12 inch fish weve been spoiled with over the years.one thing I am loving is the new possesion limit on them, now if we can get them to put a min. length limit on 'em it would be even better.
Also with the shortage of shad in 05 and 06 the walleyes and whites fed heavily on crappie fry. It sure would be nice to see the numbers and size back like they were in the late 80's.