Gustaveson will be watching the lake's forage fish very closely this summer. As noted, the threadfin shad population, the main food source over the years, is down a little in the southern half of the lake. This drop in shad numbers could well be supplemented by a second forage fish — the gizzard shad — that was accidentally introduced into the lake several years back.

A federal hatchery in Texas mistakenly mixed the shad with game fish and released them into a lake in New Mexico. Those fish eventually made it into the San Juan River, which empties into Lake Powell.

The gizzard shad has now moved into the southern reaches of Lake Powell.

"This will be a good test year," explained Gustaveson. "The high numbers of striped bass has reduced the number of threadfin shad. Now the gizzard shad has a chance to shine. The gizzard shad are larger and therefore produce more eggs, so they could be a benefit."

If all goes as Gustaveson expects, Lake Powell will not be short of fish or fishermen to catch them this summer, which could well, as he predicted, make it the No. 1 hot spot in the country.

---

E-mail: grass@desnews.com