With more discharge from the tributaries the river runs clearer. A key importance of clearer water is that there is more underwater light penetration, and thus an increase in the submerged vegetation population. Underwater vegetation is key for macro invertebrate, the forage species primary food source. Underwater vegetation provides cover to the macro invertebrate, as well as utilizing nutrients that may other wise be used by water clouding algae. The river s forage base population is dynamic and dependant on the rivers changing system.
Shorter winters produce a higher forage specie winter survival ratio.
Further more, when they do hatch at high populations into a large population of macro invertebrate, it s easy to see why the shad and other forage species have been thriving. It s easy to understand why shad and shiners have abundantly appeared up and down the St. Croix and Old Man River, it s just a cycle. After this typical winter we are currently enjoying, many of these surviving shad will die off. The die off should produce a more angler minded cupboard, one that is hopefully slightly bare. With less food on the shelf, hopefully the white tips will be more than willing to accept a slightly different version of a wafer thin after dinner mint.