What would you say is the main source of forage on the river? Bluegill/pumpkinseed, shad???
Matt
What would you say is the main source of forage on the river? Bluegill/pumpkinseed, shad???
Matt
It changes throughout the year.
Any chance you want to elaborate Mike? Spring, Summer, Fall. Pre-Spawn, Post, whatever you like.Originally Posted by mikesxpress
Crawfish are a big source year round from what I read
Atlantic Silverside
herring school in open water and the rock fish and bass hammer them during the summer/fall. *The blueback and alewife river herring come in a close 2nd.*We get a few American Shad in the Potomac that are also on the menu.
Later in summer, the bass will find juvenile sunfish, black crappie, and juvenile snakeheads in the mats. I compare the baby heads to gobies up in Lake Erie. The consistency is the same as they have no hard fins or anything protruding on them. Pure protein and no chance of any mouth damage.
We have all found crawfish parts in our livewells so they definitely eat them but based on many studies it's not as frequently as you would think. Dirty water puts more craws on the menu as the scent feeding increases and sight feeding slows. Craws don't really hibernate but they do bury up and become inactive until the water temps get above 50.
Maximum return on investment is always going to be a baitfish. Dissolves in the stomach quickly and most everything on them is protein. No so much with a crawfish that's why you see claws/shell backs in the livewell which didn't dissolve.
Last edited by mikesxpress; 11-23-2017 at 11:36 AM.
I’m always amazed by how red the crawfish get late in the summer
yes and you see them by the thousands on top of the mats fire engine red. Seagulls eating the crap out of them!
Did that address it Matt???
Damn Mike, you are a walking fountain of knowledge on all things on the Potomac.
Hal I keep a trip log and pay attention. Nothing more than that....
banded killifish represent the largest forage species. The Red crawfish comes from the large amount of vitamin A due to abundance of SAV. Mike is correct, there are runs of Herring and other species that can have a large local effect. When the herring run, the mouth of Aquia and Wades Bay offer fantastic topwater fishing opportunities. I've been in Wades when you could count 50+ large schools of Herring....The fishing was stupid...
2017 Triton TRX Patriot w/250 ProXS Optimax
Awesome Mike! Thanks for sharing. Squire thanks for the information as well.
Where you you rank blue Gill?
Way down the list. Even the small ones have fins that can lodge in the mouth/stomach area. They do eat them for sure but better options are available most of the time.
Here is a link with pic's of some of the lesser forage fish in the river.
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/s...cellaneous.htm
I always thought the main forage on the Potomac was a Senko.
2010 BassCat Puma FTD
2010 Mercury 250 Pro XS
I always thought the main forage on the Potomac was a Senko.
Blue lives matter
A green pumpkin one?I always thought the main forage on the Potomac was a Senko.
Reply With Quote