LAKE OAHE 2010 FISHING FORECAST

Click Here to Access PDF File of 2010 Lake Oahe Forecast

Each year, biologists working on Lake Oahe collect information on fish populations from netting surveys and information on angler use and harvest of those populations from creel surveys.  By looking at trends in fish populations and anglers use and harvest, predictions can be made about fishing on Lake Oahe for 2010.

Key Issues for Lake Oahe in 2010     

• Water levels increased to normal pool levels during 2009 and depending on mountain snowpacks, should remain normal.
•  As water levels increased in 2008 and 2009, the flooded shoreline vegetation increased the productivity of the lake.
• Many species of fish increased in abundance by using the newly flooded vegetation as spawning habitat, including northern pike and yellow perch.  Yellow perch will become an important prey fish, again.
• Rainbow smelt numbers have been increasing since 2002, but are not back to levels observed during the mid 1990’s.
• Gizzard shad are found throughout Lake Oahe and serve as an additional food source for many species of fish, including walleye and Chinook salmon.
• Lake Oahe should have good fishing for many species of fish during 2010.