Douglas 10-7-17

Went to Douglas yesterday (10-7-17) and noticed minners all over the lake surface. Haven't ever seen Douglas like that. I always see alot on the fish finder but not on the surface. Water temp the cause? I don't know. Who can explain it..... the water temp in most locations was 78.4 and I got skunked for the day so my boat probably won't see water again till cooler temps. *Also worth noting if anyone is gonna run at night or in low light conditions, up at the I40 bridge about middle ways of bridge there is a log sticking out of water about a foot so be careful going through there.*

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I'm seeing it on Loudoun as well. It always happens in the fall, but I don't know why. It seems there are more this year, but my memory is not what it once was!

If by "minners" you mean Shad ... then, yes they will be in the first few feet of the water column in water that warm. Partly because there may not be enough oxygen in deeper water, partly because the phytoplankton they feed on is there (and they're feeding up for the cold days ahead, just like the fish are). When the main body of water begins to cool down, they'll head up into the backs of creeks/bays, where the shallower water warms faster & more easily. Many Crappie will follow them, especially the Black Crappie, before they both return to their Winter haunts.