A major lake I fish (LG) has frozen over 98 of the last 100 winters, this year might not be one of them.

Wondering what effect (if any) this might have on a fishery the next season because of any changes in weed growth, forage fish, fishing pressure, etc? When it freezes it's usually for 3 months. Sometimes 24+ inches thick.

The lake in question is oligotrophic- deep, clear, rocky, has good cold + warm-water fish species.

It's early, winter will come!

For warm water species like bass it's all good if the lake doesn't freeze over. Keep in mind only the surface water is colder then 39.4 degrees, the temp water get less dense and moves upward toward the surface.

Tom

 

 

Winter could be longer?

This has happened where winter lasted all summer it's on the record books.

Anyway my firewood guy is bringing me more wood just in case. We could go from record warmth to record cold. I don't trust the weather.

I have never not seen my home lake not  freeze. One year the middle of the lake stayed open, but we had safe ice on the north and south ends..........I do know this, bass fishing seems to be better in the years that we have had mild winters with late freeze ups and early ice outs, and not much snow on the ice when it's here. I have several theory's:

#1 more feeding goes on in mild winters, which "thins" baitfish populations, in turn making more catchable bass in spring/summer/fall the preceding year after a mild. They are all not "fat and happy" during the open water season, and easier to catch.

#2 Less snow on the ice leads to healthier weeds, and a better starting point in the spring to providing the cover that bass hold and feed in.

More than likely, the lake will experience early weed growth.  If weed beds normally appear after the spawn, it could affect the fish's choice of spawning location.  I've seen it with largemouth, though I don't believe it will alter the smallies habits as much.

1 hour ago, bigbill said:

Winter could be longer?

This has happened where winter lasted all summer it's on the record books.

Anyway my firewood guy is bringing me more wood just in case. We could go from record warmth to record cold. I don't trust the weather.

It's just El Nino. Nothing out of the norm. Knew it was gonna be this way, because we weren't sure if we were going to get to go skiing due to El Nino this year.

Can't be all bad, at best it'll keep the fishes metabolism high and they'll keep eating and keep growing faster than if the water was colder. Lakes in the south never freeze and those fish get twice as big as the ones up north. At worst it'll affect the vegetation growth and maybe the spawn will come a little earlier. So spring fishing might be a little more tricky.

2 hours ago, HoosierHawgs said:

It's just El Nino. Nothing out of the norm. Knew it was gonna be this way, because we weren't sure if we were going to get to go skiing due to El Nino this year.

I say just enjoy the rare treat of being able to fish all winter without ice fishing

Well for me it means I can get a line wet instead of just looking at ice.

20 hours ago, ww2farmer said:

I have never not seen my home lake not  freeze. One year the middle of the lake stayed open, but we had safe ice on the north and south ends..........I do know this, bass fishing seems to be better in the years that we have had mild winters with late freeze ups and early ice outs, and not much snow on the ice when it's here. I have several theory's:

#1 more feeding goes on in mild winters, which "thins" baitfish populations, in turn making more catchable bass in spring/summer/fall the preceding year after a mild. They are all not "fat and happy" during the open water season, and easier to catch.

#2 Less snow on the ice leads to healthier weeds, and a better starting point in the spring to providing the cover that bass hold and feed in.

And to Piggyback off of this #3 less run off washing sediments into the ponds/lakes smothering weeds.  Lake Champlain had this in 2011(?) with crazy run off and record high water levels in the spring.  Then we got whacked by a Hurricane in the Fall and had more near record flooding.  The weeds have still not comeback to what they were before, big sandy sloppy stretches of no or sparse weeds in areas that used to be jungles.  Granted that's extreme, it happens on a lesser scale every year though.

My home lake (Simcoe) receives a TON of ice fishing pressure.  3 or 4 seasons ago, the main lake didnt freeze.  What we found the following season was more fish, bigger fish and fish much more willing to feed.  It sucks at the time, but I think it's good for the lake.

If anything, it will help the fish grow a little bit more over the winter. It could also lead to an earlier spawn in the spring. 

 

I'm starting to wonder the same thing here in PA. 

I live in SW. PA and was just thinking the same thing fishballer.

Dude I live on LG too, Idrc bc I don't ice fish. Funny you said this, I was thinking about it the other day... I wonder if it messes with spawns or maybe it will be good bc they will see less action from ice fisherman

It's really not plausible to evaluate winter conditions on the '1st day' of winter 
In any case, a mild winter typically results in a jump-start on weed growth,
which is always a welcome scenario in oligotrophic lakes.

Roger

 The Effect of a lake not freezing over for a season will prevent something that plagues my winter fishing constantly.  Your baits won't Bounce ~

A-Jay

3 hours ago, RoLo said:

It's really not plausible to evaluate winter conditions on the '1st day' of winter 
In any case, a mild winter typically results in a jump-start on weed growth,
which is always a welcome scenario in oligotrophic lakes.

Roger

Roger, 

Doesn't oligotrophic relate to natural lakes? 

The vast majority of "bass" lakes north of Mason-Dixon Line,  where water freezes, are either man made reservoirs or natural meso lakes or rivers.  This conversation is way out of my experiences, only fish 1 bass lake that freezes, Big Bear lake,  do to high altitude. Ice or no ice has little affect on Big Bears weed growth, could be because the ice over time period is short, less than 2 months usually Jan & Feb.

SoCal climate is similar to Florida's temps, less rain and lower humidity.

Tom

 

 

14 minutes ago, WRB said:

Roger, 

Doesn't oligotrophic relate to natural lakes?

Tom

Yes. 

Natural lakes are normally classified by age, while artificial lakes are typically classed by elevation.

However, the original poster stated: "The lake in question is oligotrophic- deep, clear, rocky ~ ~ ~"

Roger  

 

 

Im a strong believer that we will have a late winter.. If that happens, fishing patterns will be postponed. If for some reason we stay with "warmer" weather, fishing patterns will come early. What the other guys said about the vegetation coming on earlier makes sense, and if that holds true, fishing in the spring could become tricky. The only advice I could give is to fish as much as possible, and try to put yourself where you believe the fish are going, not where they are at, based on the conditions. This will put you ahead of other anglers. Tight Lines

9 hours ago, RoLo said:

Yes. 

Natural lakes are normally classified by age, while artificial lakes are typically classed by elevation.

However, the original poster stated: "The lake in question is oligotrophic- deep, clear, rocky ~ ~ ~"

Roger  

I see said the blind man.

Merry Christmas to you and yours,

Tom