A great deal of this information is still being collected and analyzed by the IDNR fisheries biologists. There is no way that I know of to accurately estimate the percentage of the shad population killed from visual observation. I can tell that the shad kill results are different from year to year, and that is primarily weather dependant. Last winter, for example, saw a very light kill in terms of the number of dead shad observable. The winter of 02-03 was produced a mind boggling kill, and gave a very scary view of just how many of the little rascals are actually out there. To say they died in the millions would be an understatement I think.

I’m also sure that the exact targets and results would be different for different lakes, due to different depths, climates, total acreage, etc. I assume Waveland is working with IDNR on the project like we are, and if so they will have the best information that is available for such a venture. It’s not an exact science.

We do not have a large predator fish here other than Largemouth Bass. That could change someday, but the plan for now is to utilize the bass fishery to the best advantage while it lasts. When the inevitable Bass decline from shad problems dictates, there is some consideration for trying other things before we get to the point of doing another total fishery renovation. Our hope is that the winter kill project will put that off for a long time yet, but nobody really knows.