I currently have big mats of ugly thick filamentous algae extending from the shore out 8' to 20' into my lake. The mats are the biggest and thickest in all my shallow coves. These same gravel bottom coves are where I have seen most of my bluegill spawning over the years. My question is does the big floating mats of filamentous algae prevent my bluegill from spawning on the shallow gravel beds? The stuff is thick! In the last few days we have been using a rake to pull it ashore. The lake is 100 acres - so there is only so much we can pull ashore. The algae has in the last 2 weeks floated and still is attached to a lot of my hard wood in the shallows down to 5'. I also note that I find 1" fingerling bass spawn stuck in the algae. This is the first year we have ever had such a crop of this scum algae so I am concerned it will impact our bluegill spawn.
Thanks!
Dave
P.S. - I am planting 500 lbs. of 3/4 - 1 lb. Mozambique tilapia in the lake this week. Will tilapia eat up these thick mats?
Dave
