Mendo recon 5/7 (non-yak)

 I havnt been able to contribute much lately to the reports, due to a modified work schedule. So here is a photo report on the current water levels at Lake Mendo. Normality returns next week and ill be back on the water.

Way to be resourceful...

   Nice shots...........Danglin

A local fishing store employee told me the other day that the prediction for lake Mendo this fall was for VERY low water levels and very high water temps (doesn't this happen almost every year). He stated that the striper population would experience a massive die-off and that it would take years for the striper population to return to todays numbers. It makes sense but I have lived and fished in the area for many years and have never seen or heard of a massive striper depletion at the lake.

If anybody could shed some light on this subject I would appreciate it.

THANKS, Matt

Nice aerial photo's Terry! I think I may have heard you when you were overhead. I'm planning on hitting the lake around 0530 hours tomorrow. I've heard of some boils in the evenings on the north end, but I haven't seen any.

About the water level, yep it's going down, like it does every year. Except this year, with the real low rainfall, it was going to be real bad, like bad bad, but the water outflow has been reduced by a bunch, like half or less, so it's won't be that bad.

As far as the striper die off, I kind of don't think that will happen. Even when the water level is real low, there is still a bunch of water left. Wait until Sean gets back.....he's the expert.

Sorry to jack your thread Terry.

CHEERS!

That doesn't look much lower than last year....

MolBasser

Nice pics, Terry.

The red circle is the area where the LM were on the chew last time I was up there.

Will probably head back this evening, but hit the north side of the lake.

Thanks for the pics Terry. I actually thought it was going to be lower than that...looks like I'll need to hit this place soon! I miss mendo!

Way to go on the recon photos Terry, the water looks great, and no PBs?!

Terry,

Those are some great photos.  Thanks.

A local fishing store employee told me the other day that the prediction for lake Mendo this fall was for VERY low water levels and very high water temps (doesn't this happen almost every year). He stated that the striper population would experience a massive die-off and that it would take years for the striper population to return to todays numbers. It makes sense but I have lived and fished in the area for many years and have never seen or heard of a massive striper depletion at the lake.

I wouldn't doubt a striper die off if the water gets low enough.  Low water means that the overall temperature of the lake will increase.  Warm water means an increased oxygen demand from the fish.   Lower water also means more fish per remaining volume of lake which will also increase the oxygen demand.  This depletion in oxygen could easily result in a fish kill.

Most often in lakes, fish kills occur after a large plankton bloom brought on by something like a bunch of fertilizer getting dumped into the lake.  The plankton itself doesn't kill the fish, rather all the oxygen that the plankton uses up at night kills the fish.

Now the question is how low will Lake Mendocino go?  Sean "SCWAFish" probably has a better sense of this right now, but I believe that the prediction is that it will be the lowest it has been since the 1970s!  I'm guessing that the striper population right now (thanks to the CSBA) is probably the highest it's been as well.  Lot's of fish and a lack of water isn't going to be good.  Hopefully the CSBA has saved their money this year and skipped stocking until after this drought.

Brian

The lowest I've ever seen the lake was last November. You can see the exposed island behind me in the picture.

That island is a good 7' or 8' under water still.

I caught five stripers that day slow trolling the edge of the island.

The lowest I've ever seen the lake was last November. You can see the exposed island behind me in the picture.

That island is a good 7' or 8' under water still.

I caught five stripers that day slow trolling the edge of the island.

Actually, that's boater's beach, and it starting to push it's way out of the water. I was on the water this morning. It was HOT by 0830 hours!

One SMB was all I had.

Ben,
there were quite a few PBs on the lake. I just tried to keep them out of the shots, but you can see the wakes in some of the pictures.

 You can also see that stump has breached the surface at the northwest edge of Crappie cove.  I dont know this lake well enough to know how much vs little of that stump should be visible this time of year, but last nov it was a easy 10' up on the shoreline.