Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations LMB Fishkill Question

I could use some input on this.

If you've had a LMB fishkill, would the dead LMB be floating, or could they sink to the bottom?

I would guess that depending on the cause of the fishkill, you could have either situation, but truly, I have no idea.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

Thanks.

No direct knowledge here, but unless their guts were ripped open, like by a turtle I would think they eventually would float to the top once decomposition sets in and those nasty gasses start forming. Not sure how long that would take before they bloated up.

I had someone add a couple of LMB while I was away, they floated. The guy told me a few days later he added two 2 lb'rs and I told him they didn't make it and to please ask permission before adding or taking out.

Good question I have been trying to get that answared for a long time. We have put in 170 LMBs over the last 2 yrs yet cant catch them, some think the very low visibility water is the problem, but most think there gone yet we have never seen one floating??

From my experience some fish float and some stay on the bottom. I was also told by an experienced trout farmer that trout have a tendency to mostly lay on the bottom after death. May have something to do with the density of the fish. Trout are a denser more solid fish than LMB. However, it seems that once gaes build up most fish should eventually float. Could it be if a fish lays on the bottom long enough and decomposition has progressed far enough that that an opening is made that allows the gas to escape and infiltrate with water keeping the fish on the bottom?

I also have a hunch it depends on where the fish dies in the water column. If a fish like a trout died below the thermocline, or in the thermocline, this denser water could make the fish less likely to rise into the epilimnion layer?

Good questions. It would be interesting to see a definitive study on this.

Thanks all for the comments so far.

My 6-7 acre pond "was?" full of an existing LMB population that I last saw in the late fall of '03.

Now, I'm not sure what the hell is going on. I've only seen a few small LMB (6" to 9" range) over the past month, and they're the same ones that I see each weekend in the same area of the pond.

Water temp yesterday was 71 degrees. I've been catching crappies & bullhead cats, and some of those same small LMB that I mentioned. There's plenty of bluegill around also.

As of last fall, I know I had in excess of 400 LMB from fingerlings all the way to 22" long.

The other odd thing about my pond is that any fish could come and go as they please due to the unique inflow and outflow. But the existing LMBs have been in there for at least the past five years that I've owned the place, and maybe since the 1970's as some locals say.

I do get some old coal mine run off in certain areas of the pond. You can see some orange dirt on the shore in these areas. But that's always been there.

Thanks again.

Just to add to the mystery, I put in about 10 LMB averaging 2lbs each about 8 weeks ago. I haven't seem them since either.

Later today, I'm adding about 50 more LMB's in the 2lb range as well as about 50-75 SMB and about 7,000 crayfish as well as about 200 bluegill.

I have three holding ponds and have up to 800 bass 8- 16 inches at a time. I wish it did not happen from time to time I kill fish from ahuling stress, etc. The water is clear and I can see the fish on the bottom. THe bass usually float up within a day or two. Trout in my upper holding pond will die soon ( I have 3 left to se how long they can make it b.f temp get them). Based on past observations Cecil is right the trout sink and stay on bottom for awhile but eventually they float but are really decomposed before doing so. Hope that helps.

Sunil,

From my experience ponds can hold a lot more fish than it appears. Fish also adapt to certiain lure presentations and learn to avoid that lure in the future. Have you tried live bait specifically large shiners? Could be your bass are so well fed they are difficult to catch also. Doesn't sound like you've had a fish kill you would observe at least some of the bass on the surface.

Any possibilties of two legged poachers? Some folks can really fish down a bass population of the eager biters. They can come in at night when you don't have a clue too.

Cecil,
Your questions of where a fish is in the water column when it dies gave me a thought.
I just drained my small pond to clean out undesirable fish & muck. I found on the bottom a beaver carcass which had been thrown in the pond a year before. It had not decomposed. The pond was not aerated. If the lowest point in a pond is devoid of oxygen & the fish settle to that area, they may never decompose?

Sunil,
Our wildlife comm. introduced river otters to several western streams a few years ago.
They have faired very well! Unfortunately they can clean out a pond of esp. larger fish, in quick order! Look for slides going into the water & for dog sized droppings on the bank with fish scales in them.
May not be a concern but something to look for esp if you're not too far from a major waterway.

Thanks again for the comments.

Cecil, I mostly fish w/ shiners of good size. In the past, they've always hit the shiners. When I said 400+ LMBs, I was being conservative; I'm sure the number could be 600 or more. But I'm just not even seeing them. As far as them being fed so well, that is very much a possibility. Starting last fall '03, I've been adding pounds and pounds of shiners and fatheads.
Total to date is something like 60ish pounds of shiners and 80-100 pounds of fatheads. Good point.

As far as two legged poachers, there are a few, but they couldn't clean the place out (I think).

Ric, in another thread, you told me about the otters. I've been on the lookout for the slides and sh*t w/ scales in 'em. Nothing to report there.

I just got back from putting in some beautiful fish. LMBS, SMBS, Bluegill, and about 8,000 crayfish.

Can't wait to get back there late this week and see what's happening.

Thanks all.