I know it's probably a lost cause but I found a stocky little bluegill laying on it's side in a few inches of water on the shallow side of some dense filamentous algae today. I expected it to be dead but it still had a little life to it -- albeit not much -- when I scooped it up.

I had nothing to lose by trying to save it so I placed it in a five gallon bucket at a 0.5 percent solution of salt and it seems to have revived a little more although it's having trouble keeping it's equilibrium.

Not a mark on it but there are a few copepod parasites on one of the pec fins. Pretty sure a salt dip will take care of them if it makes it which I have my doubts.

Anyway, anybody ever find a fish like this in late winter or early spring? I've found them later in the spring but not this early. Maybe with the constant freezing and thawing and cold winds with no ice they are stressed?

My theory is it got disoriented by the thick filamentous algae and ended up on the shallow side and wore itself out trying to get back to the other side. This time of year they don't have a lot of energy reserves.

Cecil, you big softie.

yeah and then there's cha ching since I get $50.00 each for them when they are over a pound.

Every year around this time I find 1 or 2 apparently healthy 6-8 inch BG in good condition just like you describe. I take a look and leave them. Never seen one recover.

The Taxidermist With A Big Heart. That was going to be the title of the book Cecil. Now I'm back to square one.

Isn't a fish taxidermist that feels sorry for fish like Colonel Sanders having a soft spot for chickens?

Truthfully though I do hate to see things die. Only thing I have no pity for is flies. I'll swat them all day long!

The Taxidermist: Enemy of Flies has a nice ring to it too. We should get together and get this going.

I think I'll stick to my own titles.

I gave it a shot.

Cecil, you ever grind up plain old aspirin and put in 1 pill per gallon of water? Not clue what the reasons are, but it seems to bring fish back to life with all different kinds of ailments. Maybe worth giving a try...

Interesting. Never heard of that. I may try that sometime. I know salt in considered the "aspirin of aquaculture."

Last year, for the first time, I found about 5-6 BG on the shore in Feb. and March either dead or dying with in seemingly good condition with no marks indicating struggle, sickness, or preditor damage.

The marine biologists in Mississipi suspected this was likely the first BG stocking in 2005 that had reached old age. They told me that the early springtime is the hardest for BG as they haven't eaten much and the water is starting to warm and they are using energy and other resources that their bodies don't have.

BTW... I saw no more dead BG the remainder of the year.

Makes sense.

Mine didn't make it. He is destined for immortality though. He will be posed in the mouth of a 7 lb. bass I am dong for a customer.