2003 FISHING

Ok now we are into the new year ,how do you rate the fishing of 2003.Did you see any change in normal size,weight or numbers?

I fish mostly Pool 2 (more specifically above the confluence)-down in numbers but up in size. There was a great pickup in size and numbers of smallies too-nice to see.

That could be because 2002 was OUTSTANDING for numbers of 18″-22″ fish.

Everyone should have had a great year with lots of fish in the 14-17 inch range. I base this on the the fact that 2001 was one of the best years of walleye and sauger reproduction that we have documented on Pools 11 and 13. Those fish were in their 3rd summer of life during 2003 and the faster growing individuals would have reached 15 or 16 inches by middle to late summer. However, there should have been significantly fewer fish in the 12-14 inch range because the 2002 year class was one of the worst ones we have seen since 1992. So – there will be fewer fish in the 15-16 inch range this summer (2004), but great numbers of fish in the 17-20 inch range (2001 year class). This summer (2004)there should be average numbers of fish in the 12-14 inch range since the 2003 year class was slightly above average. How’s that for going out on a limb and trying to predict the future??