Roosevelt - Minnows/bait fish populations

[Anglinarcher]

I have noticed that in the last 5 years I see more and more minnows this time of year in Roosevelt, at least from 7 Bays to the free flowing river.

Two years ago I noticed an increase in sculpin minnows. Three years ago, in the Kettle Arm, I saw what I think was an increase in Chisel Mouth minnows. Four years ago I found an increase of Stickle Back Minnows in the fish I kept. Every year I see an increase of minnows everywhere that are too small for me to catch with my trap or cast net so I cannot identify them. Last Saturday I could not believe how many I saw, and not only near the shore but often out in deeper water.

What are you guys noticing and do you know what the minnows that are about 2 to 2.5 inches long right now are? Have you also noticed that the Walleye see to be bigger then they use to be? Are you guys also seeing more fish over that 16" size like I am?

[soberg]

Anglingarcher I just saw you post here. And yas, yes and I am not sure what they are. Esp up the arm. I fish little falls alot and I have caughg more perch and sculping this yr then I have since the mid 80s. Althought I did fish near bouy 5 in late october and we caught alot of 9" Walleye. I am hoping they are this yrs hatch. We did get in to some nicer Walleyes closer to the North shore there. 18" to 20" before we got blown into a cove where we caught some awsome trout. I dont catch trout quite as fast as on the main body but alot larger.

[Anglinarcher]

Interesting.

[fishinChristian]

Similar to Soberg. I have seen mega-schools of perch minnows the last 2 years, and some kind of silvery looking very small minnows that blanket what seems like acres of shallow bay water.

[Anglinarcher]

I have noticed less winter draw down. Perhaps more cover remains and less fish gets flushed downstream.

[YJ Guide Service]

Fish in the arm are definitely smaller. Pretty bad when there is a tournament and the biggest fish of the tournament is a little over a pound if I remember right. We have been seeing a lot of perch minnow and crawdads in the fish we have been catching...

[Anglinarcher]

Ok, more food but smaller. It will be interesting to see what happens in the future.