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<br />While serious anglers were using the hotline all visitors <br />were not being contacted. The fishing report was printed on <br />letterhead by the Marina concessionaire and made available to <br />every lake user as an information item. The report could be <br />picked up at gas stations, marina stores, and boat rental <br />facilities and many other places where those visiting the lake <br />for other reason may be made aware of the angling opportunities <br />and perhaps include angling in their vacation plans. The report <br />continues to be available at all lake access areas. <br />Most recently the fishing report has been given wider <br />distribution through the internet on the Lake Powell home page <br />(www.nr.state.ut.us/dwr/lakpowl.htm). More information can be <br />given at the web site about licenses, bag limits, access, fishing <br />forecasts, and many other items. The fishing report is there <br />along with a bulletin board where other anglers can report their <br />success. Anglers can contact us by email with specific questions <br />and receive timely answers to their queries. The program has <br />been successful in providing positive public relations benefits <br />and an increased harvest of striped bass. <br />Despite these efforts the shad/striped bass populations <br />still cycle. Currently the expected dominance of the 1996 <br />striped bass year class has apparently been neutralized at least <br />in part by anglers harvesting large numbers of striped bass. <br /> <br />SUMMARY AND MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS <br /> <br />Striped bass are capable of great growth in Lake Powell when <br />pelagic clupeid forage is adequate. They spawn successfully in <br />the lake without turbulent currents to suspend eggs yet these <br />eggs hatch. The overabundant young fish survive and may exceed <br />the number of shad available as forage. When shad disappear from <br />the pelagic zone due to striped bass predation all striped bass <br />suffer malnutrition. Adult fish eventual starve and are <br />eliminated from the population. Juvenile fish eat zooplankton, <br />grow modestly, and do not gain sexual maturity until shad forage <br /> <br />41 <br />