In a small town known for its pristine lakes, the annual fishing competition draws participants from all over the state. Every year, there is much anticipation as fishermen prepare their best gear and secret bait recipes. Last year, the competition saw an unexpected surge in the number of fish caught, leading some to speculate about changes in local fish populations. Many local fishermen reported better catches than ever before. However, in the month leading up to this year's competition, unforeseen weather conditions caused a substantial rise in water levels, and experts noted that heavy rains might have disturbed fish habitats. Local environmentalists are worried that the changing water levels could potentially alter fish behaviors and distributions.

Given these circumstances, what might be predicted about the outcomes of this year’s fishing competition compared to last year’s?