From yesterday morning at 7:01 am until this evening at 7:01 pm, the International Joint Commission will release phenomenal amounts of water through its dams into our ecosystems.
Due to a glaring lack of rainfall, water levels in Lake Saint-Louis and the Saint-Laurent River are abnormally low, creating countless problems for boaters and fishermen who see their boats dry docked or in dangerous situations.
By pulling back a third of a centimeter from Lake Ontario, it would be possible to increase the flow to 7000-7500 m3/s towards the river corridor and thus temporarily raise the level by 15-30 cm to help boat owners tow them out of the water.
Snowball effect
As the months passed, the beds of the respective watercourses saw their banks open more and more to the open air. All the emerging substrate then dried out and cracked. Many bays have given way to desolation.
The flow of water inevitably slowed down. The current that naturally carries nutrients is less vigorous. If we compare these bodies of water to a rental house, it is as if the various individuals swimming in our waters have changed from 5 1/2 units in the spring to 1 1/2 units this fall.
The water level has been slowly rising since yesterday morning. The blue gold then changes color strangely, because it gradually washes away the dirt and all the debris that has dried on the four winds. The water thickness will inevitably be very turbid and many sediments will be suspended. We will definitely get the same effect as in April and May, during the spring cleaning caused by the spring flood.
habitat
Fish use structures to hide and hunt. New shelters once underwater will likely become attractive again. It's a completely different story for aquatic weeds, which are home to all members of the food chain: usually from September to November, most of them gradually disappear.
However, if the water rises onto the already bare banks and it becomes too late for the reeds to grow, we will find ourselves in areas completely devoid of habitats formed by floral architecture. Right now, the existing algae are simply deeper.
Pike and perch
Ultimately, shallow-water species like pike and smallmouth and largemouth bass will likely dart around in these new conditions, but will return to their cozy quarters, where, unfortunately, the light will be very dim for a few more days.
Tips and tricks
In the coming week, when fishing for predators and perch, give preference to lures that make a lot of noise and vibration. Suggestions with attractive scents will also be productive.
As for the pike perch, they are already moving into the depths or along secondary slopes. Other than the color of the water, there won't be many negative effects on their behavior.
A soft-bodied jig in a highly visible color such as yellow, chartreuse or fluorescent is ideal.
