![]() ![]() In fact, predators are at the mercy of their prey. Why is that?Īt first look, it seems that the walleye have the most control of this situation. This means to find the walleye, you need to find where the bugs are. These small perch they are keying on will often be a predator to aquatic bugs. The walleye are generally going to be keying on those small perch. When you’re trying to use these relationships to your advantage, you need to consider all aspects involved.įor our example, let’s take a look at a fishery that features a strong walleye and yellow perch fishery. Largemouth bass and bluegill are one of the most famous predator/prey relationships in the fisheries world. Generally, walleye and yellow perch will have a predator/prey relationship. The specific relationships are going to vary based on the aquatic community within each lake. Other species such as frogs, salamanders, and other juvenile aquatic organisms can all be a part of a fish’s diet as well. However, the same small aquatic bugs stated above can still be an important part of a fish’s diet. Many of these species targeted are piscivorous, meaning they eat other fish. ![]() Obviously, regardless what species they are targeting anglers are looking to catch adult fish. Now, let’s focus on how this impacts angling. Depending on the species, their diet may also begin to incorporate minnows, fry and other juvenile aquatic life. These are the “aquatic bugs” we are used to referring to, especially when we are talking ice fishing in the Dakotas. As these fish grow, their diets will continue to change, but early on in their lives these zooplankton are critical.Īs fish grow larger, their diet will begin to shift to larger invertebrates, called macroinvertebrates. Whether we are talking walleye, yellow perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and even northern pike and muskie zooplankton are a critical part of their diet when they are still in the fry stage. These zooplankton play a major role in the lives of all fish species. Zooplankton are slightly larger invertebrates that feed on these phytoplankton. These microscopic organisms drift on their own and rely on sunlight to produce their own food for themselves via photosynthesis. Phytoplankton sit at the bottom of the food chain. ![]() To understand this, let’s breakdown how the food chain works in the standard Midwest lake. In fact, yellow perch, bluegill and crappie all are predators as well. However, they aren’t the only predators in the water. When you say the word “predator” to an angler, they’ll often immediately think of species like northern pike, muskie, lake trout, walleye and probably bass as well. Today, we’ll discuss the dynamics of predator/prey relationships and how they impact our fishing. In fact, predator and prey relationships impact our fishing every time we are on the water. Predator and prey relationships are not just something you see when the lion is chasing the gazelle on Animal Planet or National Geographic-they are all across the landscape. ![]()
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