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| Hi Jason,
I have a follow up/parallel question for you (or anybody else), based on your open water thread. My question is... Have you considered the "shallow water digestion theory", and how that may relate to your first question? I tend to believe that some muskies feed in shallow water and other muskies feed in deep (or open) water, but that regardless of where the feeding behavior occurs, the digestion behavior ALWAYS occurs in shallow (i.e. warm) water. (Similar to how crocodiles climb onto sandy beaches for digestion after feeding, or snakes/reptiles lay in the sun after eating also, don't they?). Doesn't a cold blooded creature always seek the warmest available place for digestion? And wouldn't that occur in the shallowest possible water, where the sun's rays would be bouncing off the bottom?
And if that's the case, it may explain the "shallow water sunbathers" that Dick Pearson described in the Trout Water chapter of "Muskies on the Shield" (page 21) I personally have seen many GIANT muskies in shallow water on Rowan Lake Ontario, for example, but they were never in a feeding mood. I'm wondering if they were shallow for the sole purpose of digestion and had no interest in feeding?
I guess what I'm saying is that if the shallow digestion theory is true, and if you see a HUGE muskie in shallow water, you CAN'T AUTOMATICALLY ASSUME that the fish is a shallow water feeder. It may just be laying up shallow for 3 or 4 hours to complete the digestion process before moving back deep to feed (if in fact it's a deep water feeder). And the fact that you saw it shallow may just reinforce a misconception that it's a shallow water fish.
Sorry if I'm rambling and I hope that makes sense to you. Looking for your feedback on this as well, because after reading Pearson's book about shallow sunbathers, I'm wondering why I've had the same experience.
We often hear that big muskies "need" access to deep (or open) water. That's probably true to some extent (for feeding on high fat content forage). But in my opinion, they also "need" shallow water (for digestion). Looking for your feedback Jason (or anybody) on this theory. Would you agree or disagree?
Very Curious,
"Jackpot" John Schroeder
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| I guess I would agree but dont hold me to it!I think there are some big fish you never see that stay down deep and feed and digest in deep water,the only time they come shallow is for spawning in the spring.I could also be wrong on this!It brings up a good point. | |
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Jason Long's "open water" question (A follow up q