In a domino effect, neighboring Nee Gronda Reservoir is being drained to provide the lost irrigation water. Levels also are disturbingly low at two other southeastern mainstays, Bonny and John Martin. All this confirms a basic fact of fishing on Colorado's eastern plains. No matter what wonders the Colorado Division of Wildlife achieves with its production of fish, the result can be no better than the water supply in the shallow irrigation bathtubs which contain them. Having dispensed with the annual gloom and doom of water supply, let's get down to the basic of catching fish, which actually promises to be very good.
Biology requires a bit more amplification.
Basically, it has to do with shad, the primary baitfish in every major reservoir. In recent years, a proliferation of shad provided gamefish with an abundant food source, making the fraudulent offerings of anglers much less attractive. Last winter's low water and colder temperatures caused a substantial shad die-off in several reservoirs, most notably Bonny and John Martin. Hungry fish all around. The extended view for sustaining the fishery isn't so encouraging.