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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 2
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OP
Joined: Jun 2015
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Hello everyone. I've been on here in the past and have had no need to ask questions for some time. Here's my info. We are on our 5th season of a 3.5 acre pond here in Iowa. It has Vertex aeration, we do supplemental feeding from 3 feeders. Water clarity has been pretty clear this spring. Not a lot of rain but enough to keep full pool. We had warmer than average temps in April and we started feeding early. We had good feeding going. May has been cool. We had Black Crappies spawn in April. As the water temps in the shallows got closer to the 70 mark our larger bluegills stopped coming to the feeder for the most part. We have seen a few beds but usually don't see many with the clear water they tend to spawn out of our sight. They tend to leave the feeder for a while as well. As the spawn started we had cool temps and lows over night drop into the 40's and a few 30's. Water temps were really swinging in the shallows. Surface from 78 down to low 60's in some cases then back in the low 70's a week later. I'm not in any panic as I've seen fish die off during the spawn....especially transplant older fish. We have been seeing mostly larger bluegill and a handful of crappies dying off. Fish appear close to shore lathargic and some with large white patches. We condition these fish well with food but I'm wondering if at times the stress is just too much when combined with large weather change. We continue to loose a few every day. Probably around 30 now in about 10 days with about 5 crappies. A few maybe mortality by hook....we had some kids fishing...but most would not be. Am I guessing right for the most part.....?
Thanks
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 977 Likes: 1
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 977 Likes: 1 |
Thinkeyes13, Welcome to Pond Boss...sorry to hear about your fish die-off. You didn't mention the depth of your pond. Here in SE Texas, at certain times of the year we have pretty aggressive temperature changes, but with a pond averaging 8' deep, I don't get too concerned about that. Have you checked water quality recently (pH)? Is it mostly big (adult) fish dying? You mentioned "white patches" on the lethargic fish...I think that would concern me most. Can you post pics of fish with these white spots? Has any kind of fertilizers or insecticides been sprayed nearby? Could it be something in the watershed? Just a few things to think about. I'm sure one of the resident pros will be along soon.
...when in doubt...set the hook...
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36 |
I am thinking ich or a fungus. Sometimes fish can acquire a fungus from rough handling, possibly the kids that were out recently.
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,099 Likes: 22
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,099 Likes: 22 |
Bluegill died off en mass in many areas this past winter at many large fish farms. The farms I have spoken with are not 100% certain of the causes, yet feeds are the primary suspect. The thoughts are... the feeds are growing the fish, but in ways that are shortening life spans considerably. IDK if feeds are the cause or not, but what I have seen is die off's have been far more prevalent this year in supplementally fed ponds than unfed ones.
Coupled with large numbers of pond owners that waited till this spring to re-stock ponds that had major winter kills in 2013's deep freeze, demand for the most common fish like Golden Shiners, Fatheads and Bluegill has been huge, leaving many species very hard to find and in short supply for stocking.
Last edited by Rainman; 06/03/15 03:21 PM.
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,318 Likes: 6
Ambassador Lunker
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Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,318 Likes: 6 |
Or could it be something in the food!! Just playing. I feed my BG going on five years now but I don't feed very much each year. Maybe some folks are over feeding them?? From mid March until Mid October I might go though 6 bags of 50 pound AM. I use it more as a treat for them not as a staple food! I have not had any issues. Knock on wood!!
RC
The only difference between a rut and a Grave is the depth. So get up get out of that rut and get moving!! Time to work!!
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,414 Likes: 792 |
My SWAG is a combination of things. Possibly the food (fish growing fast, etc., fatty livers, etc.) but without a necropsy we'll never know. But, I'd put my money on stress.
Fungus is growing because of stress, either from spawning or handling from angling. Removing the slime coat allows an open door for the fungus. Healthy, non-stressed fish replenish slime coats fast, stressed fish are slower.
Dragging the fish on the ground, dry hands, etc. all help to remove the slime coat.
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 2
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OP
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 2 |
Thanks all. I figure stress as well. Year before we had a normal spring and had no die off. This has been one extreme to another. I appreciate all the feedback. We have fed a little more this year...early. You feel like you are doing them good but maybe too much. LOL. I'm sure with the temps coming up and more stable temps and the end of the spawn this will all come to an end. Just wanted to share. I'm not worried.....but I know a lot of new owners would be flipping out.
Travis
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