I'm seeing significant numbers of an as-yet undetermined species of fry along the banks in the last few days. Normally I'd be quite happy about this, but I'm puzzled for a couple of reasons.
First off, the water temp has yet to go above 51 degrees, and has only reached that level for a couple days at a time between storms/fronts, with an average the last 3 weeks of around 47. To the best of my knowledge, that should be below even crappie spawn temperatures.
I'm presuming these are fry from this year, because they're all 1/2" to 1" in length. I haven't identified the species because every time I bring a dip net down to the bank, they scatter, and I haven't had time to use a better method.
Considering that I have crappie, LMB, bluegill, and catfish in the lake, what are these likely to be and why so early?
