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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,461
Campfire Regular
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Joined: Mar 2007
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Went out to a small lake/large pond today to see if we could catch some bass. When we got there the first thing I noticed was a nasty smell to the air. The water was murkier than usual and when I got to the shoreline I noticed a bunch of dead fish washed up on the bank. All the fish weren't dead as I did see 1 catfish swimming kind of sickly like on the surface. Anybody ever see anything like this?
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 8,184 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 8,184 Likes: 1 |
Yes. Both when we'd been in a drought and the oxygen content of the water was way low and once when a COOP spray truck got too close to a pond while the wind was blowing. I'm not sure what he was spraying on the pasture but it killed the heck out of the bass and perch. Some of the fish it didn't kill were blinded, I picked up a big bluegill that was sitting on a bed in the shallows and his eyes were a milky even though he seemed healthy otherwise.
I've heard of guys who farm fish backing a brushhog into the pond and letting it run to aerate the water during long hot dry spells. Don't know if it works but I don't think it would hurt anything to try.
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,461
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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It's a State Wildlife Area or I would probably haul my tractor out there and do that. Most of the dead fish I saw were green sunfish (100+), plus 1 bass and a catfish on about 75 meters of shoreline. I called DOW to let them know.
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 43,758
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 43,758 |
I was fishing our 50'ish acre lease back in July when dozens of crappie floated up dead on the shore the same evening. Had been hot out recently, but no real idea what happened. Bass and bluegill didn't seem affected.
Plenty of fish left, so no real harm. But there was a lot of worry at the time that it was going to expand to all species.
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Joined: Mar 2007
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2007
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We were wondering if maybe it was methane from rotted vegetation or something. A few weeks earlier we'd seen a bunch of bubbles coming up in the water and when we paddled close enough it smelled nasty. Sucks because it was the only place reasonably close to catch bass.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 19,108
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 19,108 |
It is a common occurrence here where a lot of fish are raised, both catfish and minnows for bait. They keep a close watch and have tractors with paddle wheels to stir the water. Most of these are home made using old car rear ends and then welding paddles on them. They also add slaked lime at times. It is worse on hot cloudy days, but can happen at any time. miles
Look out for number 1, don't step in number 2.
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,514
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2006
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usually lack of oxygen in hot weather.
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