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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,973 Likes: 276
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
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Here are the visible results of the partial fishkill I discovered in my main pond yesterday at the beginning of ice out. The totals of dead Lepomids were 46 BG and 7 RES, all between 8" and 10.5" long. Most were in very good shape and a couple were the biggest BG I have ever seen from this pond.  There were also about a half-dozen small, 3" or so BG morts as well, but NO LMB, CC, GC, or HSB were found dead. I am assuming I had a low O2 event during the 6 weeks of ice cover that occurred during January and the first part of February, even there WAS a (sometimes small) hole kept open by my windmill aerator 95+% of the time. My new pond, with 200 fingerling YP and 75 fingerling SMB, plus 40-some adult BG and RES in the same size range that died in the old pond, exhibited absolutely no large fish morts during this period (I did find 2 dead Gams and one dead FHM in it).  1) I'm on my way to becoming a full fledged aquaculturist ("Kill a million fish"). 2) Bruce Condello was right, I DID have 10" BG in this pond. 
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling ![[Linked Image from i.pinimg.com]](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/ed/b5/e7/edb5e7f935843b996cf52be593c9ebd2--smoothie-smooth-collie.jpg)
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,435
Ambassador Hall of Fame 2014  Lunker
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Ambassador Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Dang, sorry to see that - you had some nice fish.
I'm serious with this question - what did you do with these morts?
Just do it...
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 325
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 325 |
Theo, condolences. I have that nightmare. You still have large BG in the pond, right? Some of the 10" are still there....? You've got to put that on deadbluegill.com.. er, bigbluegill...
What's the plan to change things next year to make sure this doesn't happen?
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Ambassador
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Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Wow! That would have been one fine fish fry! Sorry for your loss...
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Joined: Aug 2004
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Holding a redear sunfish is like running with scissors.
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Joined: Jun 2007
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Sorry to see that Theo. Using them in the garden?
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Joined: Jun 2007
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Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jun 2007
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Theo, I feel your pain - it took me 4 weeks before I would return to the pond and the dead fish had been cleaned up by then.
Welcome to the club that no one wants to join:
"I'm on my way to becoming a full fledged aquaculturist ("Kill a million fish").
Take my word for it, there are more suvivors than you now think, and believe it or not, it's fun starting over - after the lump in your stomach goes away.
N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds
Original george #173 (22 June 2002)
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,748 Likes: 295
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Flags flying at half mast over here.
If we were all sailing on Captain Ahab's ship, this would be a bad omen indeed.
They always come in threes. We have yours and wivells already.
Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:"
"She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 709
Ambassador Lunker
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Ambassador Lunker
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Sorry Theo. It was such a harsh winter, I'm sure there were a lot of winter kills this year! We all share your pain.
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Joined: Aug 2006
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Oh! Serious bummer!
I feel pretty fortunate. I was able to walk an ice-free pond yesterday for the first time since sometime back in early December. No evidence of any mortality.
The thing that probably helped me this winter was that we kept getting snow melts that brought a lot of aerated water into the pond through a culvert that is well under the ice. There was also enough runoff and melting that the snow on top of the ice kept melting and turning the top of my ice relatively clear.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,973 Likes: 276
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: May 2004
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If this is the worst bad news I have in 2009, it will be a good year. Randy: After netting out the ones above (there were a half-dozen or so that were mostly eaten already, those I left alone) to measure and photograph, I kicked them off them the dock for Mother Nature's Cleanup Crew. Aaron: I sure hope so. AT LEAST there are plenty of 6"-7" BG (and RES, I hope) remaining to spawn this year. I hope to have electric aeration hooked up to both ponds before next Winter. Based on an idea from Cecil, I want to have shallow water diffusers for non-supercooling Winter aeration in addition to the regular deepwater diffusers for Summertime. I plan on switching (and adjusting airflows) between all the diffusers in both ponds with ball valves. I will also continue removing large CC with extreme prejudice. (They didn't die, but they HAD to use up some of the O2, right?) Rainman: It is too easy for me to haul horse manure to the garden to salvage any dead fish for it. Our dogs would probably not leave the fish there anyway.  george: I think your experience and example are one of the reasons I made it through this calmly.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,499 Likes: 266
Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,499 Likes: 266 |
- -  From reports it sounds like this will be a common problem for many this year. Its not just the ice and snow but also rapid water temp changes. In large water bodies temps change slowly but in ponds it can be much more rapid and fish just can't acclimate in time. The good news is growth should be rapid for the survivors.
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 94
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Apr 2008
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If this is the worst bad news I have in 2009, it will be a good year. Randy: After netting out the ones above (there were a half-dozen or so that were mostly eaten already, those I left alone) to measure and photograph, I kicked them off them the dock for Mother Nature's Cleanup Crew. Aaron: I sure hope so. AT LEAST there are plenty of 6"-7" BG (and RES, I hope) remaining to spawn this year. I hope to have electric aeration hooked up to both ponds before next Winter. Based on an idea from Cecil, I want to have shallow water diffusers for non-supercooling Winter aeration in addition to the regular deepwater diffusers for Summertime. I plan on switching (and adjusting airflows) between all the diffusers in both ponds with ball valves. I will also continue removing large CC with extreme prejudice. (They didn't die, but they HAD to use up some of the O2, right?) Rainman: It is too easy for me to haul horse manure to the garden to salvage any dead fish for it. Our dogs would probably not leave the fish there anyway. george: I think your experience and example are one of the reasons I made it through this calmly. It seemed as though it was only the larger RES in our pond that were affected. No sightings of dead YP or SMB - hope to keep it that way
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,973
Ambassador
Field Correspondent Lunker
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Ambassador
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Joined: May 2002
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Man bummer. Did you find the RES with the tag in it? The remaining fish will put on serious weight with the diminshed competetion.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,973 Likes: 276
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,973 Likes: 276 |
I double checked all the RES, Greg, and none of them had tags or apparent tag scars. Maybe my 6 pet RES in this pond are still OK.
Yes, the silver lining will be increased food supplies for remaining sunfish.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1
Hall of Fame Lunker
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Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Aug 2002
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Theo,
I'm sorry to hear about your loss. Just like Bruce and the others we can all share in what a disappointment this is for you. When I found I may have lost my fish, not only was I bummed about that, but the federal government had already put me 2 years behind in my goal of consistently producing large perch for Bass Pro Shops. My former supplier used to supply me with 10 to 12 inch female perch annually for a $1.00 each and thank you very much APHIS, that is now history due to VHS testing costs. If I would have had a massive fish kill I would have been put back another two years.
I'm glad to see you have a plan as I do to prevent any future fish losses.
Last edited by Cecil Baird1; 02/13/09 01:31 PM.
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 939
Hall of Fame Lunker
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Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 939 |
Theo- Sorry to hear about your fish. I truely feel your loss. I lost my whole 1 acre pond last winter. I don't know if I could handle that disappointment again this year.
PS I know my liver couldn't handle it again
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 8
Fingerling
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Fingerling
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 8 |
I feel your pain. I just returned from my pond and found a similar situation. Haven't completed an inventory yet but found many dead BG, HGG, LMB, CC and RES. Hoping I don't have a 100% loss but it is not looking good. Pond was built in 2006 and stocked in spring 2007. Thought this would be the first summer I'd have some real decent fishing. Looks like I'll be restocking instead. Would like any tips anyone has to offer.
Gary Franks
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1
Hall of Fame Lunker
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Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1 |
I feel your pain. I just returned from my pond and found a similar situation. Haven't completed an inventory yet but found many dead BG, HGG, LMB, CC and RES. Hoping I don't have a 100% loss but it is not looking good. Pond was built in 2006 and stocked in spring 2007. Thought this would be the first summer I'd have some real decent fishing. Looks like I'll be restocking instead. Would like any tips anyone has to offer. Shallow water diffuser next winter! I think we need to discuss this at the fall convention. Ted and Susan are you listening?
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,499 Likes: 266
Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,499 Likes: 266 |
Make sure you get a good assessment of what is left before you restock.
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,748 Likes: 295
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,748 Likes: 295 |
glfranks, is a 'Welcome Aboard!' warranted or have you been with us for a while?
Welcome aboard anyways!
That makes the third omen, and all from OH/PA to boot.
Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:"
"She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 8
Fingerling
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Fingerling
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 8 |
Thanks for the welcome. I've been reading this forum for a while but just posted for the first time. It always has a wealth of info and I generally can get all of my questions answered just by reading. Needed to vent a little after the kill though.
Gary Franks
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,973 Likes: 276
Moderator Lunker
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OP
Moderator Lunker
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,973 Likes: 276 |
Needed to vent a little after the kill though. Next time, we vent first and hopefully avoid a kill.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 343
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 343 |
First off sorry about the fish kill. Seen it a few times and don't wish to again. It does bring up a lot of questions in my mind. Do you have any theories as to why you didn't lose any of your predator fish? I remember that you manage your pond to keep the predators lean and mean so that the bluegill reach large sizes. Can a skinny bass get by on less O2 than a fat BG? How about HSB? I thought they would be even less tolerant of a low O2 event than your other fish. I don't know how old your GC are but it don't take them long to get big so how did they make it?  BTW at what depth is your diffuser?
Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,973 Likes: 276
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,973 Likes: 276 |
Airstone is at 3' -4' for the Winter. Do you have any theories as to why you didn't lose any of your predator fish? No, I was kind of hoping I'd hear some here. 
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
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