What historical correlation in Clear Lake linked faster growth in yellow bass to diet?

Answer

A diet high in small fish.

The relationship between diet and growth rate in yellow bass is heavily influenced by resource availability relative to population size. In Clear Lake specifically, historical observations revealed a direct link between improved water levels and faster growth rates among the yellow bass population. This observation correlated strongly with dietary intake, where periods exhibiting faster growth were historically associated with the presence of a diet that was high in small fish, indicating that access to energy-dense forage supports quicker development.

What historical correlation in Clear Lake linked faster growth in yellow bass to diet?
dietyellow bass