Clearlake Hitch Minnow decimated.

[Darth-Baiter]

i've been reading about the hitch minnow.  back in the day they were an important food source for the Pomo tribes.  today, only a few thousand fish migrate into TWO creeks to spawn.  back in the day, i figured not only did they provide sustenance for the local people, the big bass probably grubbed them as well.  what a bummer!!

 

that hitch minnow doesnt look delicious.    

 

i wonder if this is affecting the BIGger bass?  

[Fishing_Rod]

Greetings @Darth-Baiter and et al.,

 

They say no part of a production is insignificant. I believe this to be true in pretty much every aspect of our world. I took a moment to see what you were referencing with the hitch minnow. So a search showed this article for me to reference.

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2022-12-06/a-minnow-sacred-to-some-native-americans-nears-extinction

 

Wow, with everything going on in the SW region, from weather, fire, drought, developments (construction and other related changes) are all factors that affect all. It is is unfortunate to see just how the water conditions are leading to a severe threat in reproduction for the hitch minnows. Most certainly there will be some level of influence to bass and other species that forage on the previously abundant hitch minnows. I will hope for a timely return to more favorable conditions.

 

I got a first hand example this weekend of how important each part of a system is. I was working an area of a city park where there is an input flow (overflow channel from an upper elevation lake) was providing churn for minnows who were in turn being foraged on by bass and crappie. I was not the only angler making use of this concentrating feature. Adjacent to me were a larger blue heron and a smaller youthful white crane. Both seeking an easy meal from the abundant collection of minnows. Since I had my ultra-lite rig I could easily yield the optimum location to them as I'm only recreating they are foraging.

 

There are always going to be a variation in any system. Most systems tolerate the skew and eventually recover. Let's hope the future holds some level of recovery from these critical conditions. Be well and Cheers!

[WRB]

The biggest factor threatening the Hitch is weed abatement chemicals. The residents around the lake that aren’t anglers demand the algae blooms be controlled and every year fish die offs results. The answer remove the residents?

Tom

[Darth-Baiter]

ahhhh.. I was wondering where the grass went.  I'll never eat a fish out of there.  nope.