I think Moveon is right about that. Algae feeds the critters that the big critters eat. That aside, I do hope for good ice on my home lake of Barren, and some of the other lakes I like to fish. It is my understanding that ice alone can help diminish large baitfish populations. Not sure if that is due to decreases in phytoplankton and algae, or just more cold than the little buggers can survive. I do know, that piles of dead shad on the bank mean hungrier fish that are more apt to eat my lure!!!!!!!!!