Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations several dead bluegill?

I have a 2.5 acre pond in the upstate of South Carolina that was built in 2008. It is about 20 feet deep at its deepest point, and I stocked it with coppernose bluegill, redears, catfish and largemouth bass. We have removed almost all of the catfish except for a few big ones. I started feeding the fish last year, and am currently giving them about 5-7 lbs/day from a feeder. Up until this year, I was fertilizing the pond, but I backed off on that this year, so the water is very clear.

Yesterday, I went down to the pond to fish, and noticed 8 dead bluegills floating on the edges. These were very big (about a pound), male bluegills; I have never seen this before. No other fish were dead, and there were lots of small fish swimming around. There has been no runoff into the pond during the last month, and everything else seems fine. Could this be due to spawning stress? The bluegills are much larger since I started feeding them last year.

Should I start fertilizing again?
Thanks

Sorry to hear that Ron. What was the condition of the fish (other than dead)? Overall fat and in good shape? Any damage like from a cormorant or other predator? FWIW I read somewhere the average life of a BG is 5 to 8 years.

Bill, the fish were some of the largest fattest ones in the pond. I think a turtle had chewed on a couple, but other than that, I didn't see any signs of a predator. They all appeared to be males though, which is what made me wonder about spawning stress.

Maybe they forgot to check with their doctor before using Viagra. If those fish were from the original stocking, they would be 7-8 years old.

Old age and spawning stress would be my guess, with only eight fish I wouldn't worry about it.