Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Any others losing fish?

Board,

I was wondering if any of you, particularly in the NE Indiana and West Central Ohio areas have experienced a loss of fish in the last few days.

We have a 2 acre pond and I've raked out about 20 mature BG and a couple of mature LMB in the last 2 days. I hope it's nothing bad but I haven't had this many go at once before.

Maybe it's temperature related since summer has finally started here. We have about a 30 degree difference in temperature over two weeks ago.

Is it normal to lose some after a spawn?

Could these be older fish just expiring normally?

What gets me is we don't use any kind of chemicals in the pond and all the fish appear to be about the same size 6 to 8" for the BG and 12 to 14" for the LMB.

I did add HSB about 4 weeks ago but haven't seen any problems with them.

Thanks for any input,

Chip

No unexplained fish losses here (just a gill-hooked LMB I kicked myself for not going ahead and keeping to eat), but you're right, it really has warmed up a LOT in 3 weeks or so. I got a surface temp of 92 deg yesterday!

Could you be on the edge of DO problems? That's supposed to hit larger fish first - are the 6"-8" BG and 12"-14" LMB dying the largest in the pond? Any signs of fish "gasping" at the surface?

What is your plant/algae load like?

Not that I can tell. Both aerators are going and all appears normal. I have seen some BG that have lips which appear lighter than the others.

There are much bigger fish in the pond including the carp and channel cats along with some big crappie.

The plant and algae load is light; very little filamentous algae at the edges. I was just thinking about adding some dye.

I have seen my fish at the surface quite a bit here lately and was also conserned. Auburn Indiana area. I saw my triploid carp surface for the first time since I bought them 2 months ago. I also have low amounts of rooted weed and algea. I do live in the woods with hills all around. No wind. My pond is covered with leaves and cottonwood debris, I cannot keep up. My pond is the lowest by far I have seen it since I bought the place. I do run an aerator though, and have a bigger better one on the way. Hope it gets here soon! The answer anyways is no, I have not had dead fish here yet, but while fishing on Adams Lake in noble county we saw tons of dead gills and rockbass 11"+ floating the banks. The Conservation Officer there said that this was the first time he had seen that many dead there. Pray that this rain gets here soon! Good luck

We were lucky enough to get about 8/10" rain just before the fish popped up. I walked the shoreline this morning and didn't find any new fish. I was thinking that since school is out and our boys and others have been using the pond that they may have been "basket fish" that someone put back into the pond after they were stressed beyond recovery; that could explain why they were all mature (keepers).

I'd still like to have a DO check if there is anyone nearby that can help with a meter.

Chip

Chip,

I wouldn't be overly concerned. It should peak out if it has not already. It's probably post spawning stress coupled with rapidly warming temps. Bacteria has attacked your weakend fish due to bacteria flourishing in warmer waters.

If you do not have any other stressors you should be fine. Catch and release fishing at spawning time could be stressful too.

(I'm in northeastern Indiana)

Hi Cecil,
How long ago did your gills spawn (bed)? Mine just started on beds this past week. Not sure why so late here.

Thanks Cecil,

I hope all is well; things seem OK today and the fish seem happy enough. Feeding normally and looking well enough. I think that the sudden rise in temperature had something to do with it and once things settle down it will be back to normal. As with any community,a few will wind up in the obit's.

Chip

My bluegills are still bedding. My smallmouth were late too. Most of my dead bluegills were females full of eggs.

I'd guess your 'gills are on their second or third nest of the season at least. Maybe you haven't noticed them on the bed?

KC,

No they were just late. We had unseasonably cold temps up till about the beginning of June, and then it became unseasonably hot which really got them going. To early for a second or third spawn.

I have had a fish kill here in NY. See my post under aeration "Emergency fish kill as I type"
We have had 90 degree weather for 6 days this month,very humid, and thunder storms. My BG have been spawning for about 2 weeks.