Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Fish Deaths

Found a few bluegill dead at two tanks in south Tx, this weekend. This was two days after a three inch rain. Saw some bluegill coming to the top so it may have been an oxygen problem. Also fish were not very lively. Caught a few in a throw net and put them out as bail and they seemed to die fairly quickly. One 5 lb. cat came up within 3 feet of us and appeared to be just watching us. He would not go away even when we threw shrimp at him. A minnow swam right in front of him, no response. decided to take him to see if there was any physical damage so we caught him with a 22 bullet. He appeared to be in good shape. There are tons of fathead minnows and blugill in this tank. No bass in this one which is about 1 acre, but there are bass in the other tank which is about 2 acres. I have read about oxygen problems but I thought the larger fish were the first to die. There were no fatheads dead, no bass, and no cats. Just about 12-15 blugill at each tank. The tanks have been drawn down a bit so that there is not much vegetation in the water at this time. just wondering how concerned I should be? By the way all the bluegill were about 3 inches long. No larger nor smaller tho I caught all sizes with the net. Thanks for the sight.

these fish could have died from something that washed into the pond when it rained. In one post written a few months back said that they had bluegill die from eating fireants. Anyway, I from south texas also! I got some pretty good rain over here too. In one part of the ranch i got 5inches and in the other part i only got a little over a inch. Just wondering where you are located.

We are on that old Clinton Mangold ranch which is now owned by the Killam family. About 12 miles toward Laredo out of Freer. We are in the 10th year of our lease and have about 7500 acres total. I have stocked 6 tnaks there. One more thing about that tank with the dead bluegill is that the bottom mud stinks to high heaven when it is disturbed. i have been thinking about putting in some of these bags of microbes to help break down the muck, but man they are expensive. they must have gold in them. Where are you located?

Lol, it was the Clinton Mangus ranch. Man I'm gettin old.

Well, its a small world. I live in la Salle county about an hour from Freer on 624. Anyway that mud is either decaying plant and animal matter or sulfur from well water run off. Just wandering,Do you have a hunting lease or just for fishing. The hunting should be great this year. Over here we have had a pretty good bean crop and been supplementing with protien. Anyway good luck with things.

casa,
An areater will cure the foul smell. The microbes won't work if they can't breathe! The odor is comming from toxic gasses forming due to lack of 02 on the bottom.
You might try RidX instead of the high priced stuff. I've heard it works too!
Ric

Thx for the reply guys. Zach, it is both deer and fishin, and yes it should be a good year for horns. As far as the aereator goes there is no way I can see. Way away from power source. When u said ridx, are u talkin bout the same toilet stuff? I will give it a try if that is what you were thinkin? I think a lot of people have trouble with that muck forming and could use some help.

Zach, years ago my first had an uncle that managed the Dobie-Welder ranches off 624. Could never hunt there but saw some tremendous deer on the Dobie and Cammaron (sp) ranches that the Welders owned. His name was Herman Schliesing and was a crothcety old fart but knew his cattle and deer. Later.

Like I say its a small world. I was a young boy when the Welders split that ranch up. Your uncle should know my dad or grandpa. We are over here on the La Mota Ranch. Our ranch borders the western side of the Dobie. I don't remeber Mr. Schlieing but i know Herb Post. That was one big ranch. It was to bad to see it break up. There is still some monsters hiding over there.