Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations fish jumping out of water

I went to the lake last night and when my headlights hit the water, a 1/2 dozen fish took off jumping out of the water. Then some more did this and then just a couple. The last ones made it all the way out of the water. These fish looked like mini porpoises scooting across the water. Looked to me about 6 to 8 inches long. I have seen shad do this when they were being chased but have no shad in the lake. What other kind of fish would do this?

nehunter, My spotfin shiners do this exact thing. I have a big overhead parking lot style LED light set on a 25 foot pole for night time ice skating and pond shoveling activities. When I hit the switch in the summer the shiners all near the top and the ones all in the 'boil' of my aerator all go crazy and launch themselves out of the water. They will often do the porpoise thing to try to get out of the light.

My spotfins top out at about 5" long. If you have golden shiners (I have a few adults left at around 6-8" long) I imagine they might do the same but I can't confirm that. I'm not aware that any of the other fish in your signature line (catfish, bass, crappie, walleye, RES or BG) would do that. Maybe HSB might do that if they are surface creatures but I imagine your HSB are probably bigger than 6-8".

What shiner types do you have?

Only what was in the creek before they put a dam in. There were chubs in the creek, but looked too big for that.

Could it be small black bass.

Heck, it could even just be some young carp.

Sometimes I used to see them at sundown near the surface in the reservoirs this time of year. I would then subsequently hear fish jumping in the dark when we went out to run trot lines. I assumed it was the carp we saw earlier - but never put a light to them.

I'm going to say Gizzard shad are there... I've seen this a lot at night in the boat while moving in towards shore and flipping the spotlight on. Pretty common really.

I never put any shad in. The creek or stream was ankle deep everywhere but the holes they were waist deep. Also 10 miles from a larger creek and that one is 30 miles from a small river. Fish will swim a long way though. I used to sein the creek for bait a lot never caught a shad. There are close to 30 ponds up stream so I guess they could have come down stream from another pond.
As for carp bow hunters use really bright likes to shoot them as they sleep near bank at night, so light might not bother them.

nehunter,

I just saw that you have a 61 acre watershed lake!

However, I am confused about how the creek ties to your lake. Our local watershed ponds all have drop structures for the normal flow, so I believe they are 100% cut off from any fish transfer possibilities from the creek downstream of the dam.

However, floodwaters from any of the ponds upstream would almost certainly contribute fish species to your lake. The creek on our property frequently falls from "ankle deep" to "big toe deep" and I am always amazed at the diversity and size of fish in our tiny creek.

Basically, you COULD have any fish that lives in Nebraska in your lake.

Yes 12 foot straight drop to drain tube, then 6 foot drop to stream. No fish could get up the drain tube. The creek above dam is 1.5 miles long only to dry ground. They started to build it in 2011. In 2012 there was no rain so most of the creek dried up for that year all but the deepest holes. So only fish that can take rough conditions would of made it threw that year. ( carp, bullheads, and green sunfish ) also minnow type fish.

When my fish jump like that they are looking for air. My O2 is always low when the fish are jumping.

I went to the lake last night and when my headlights hit the water, a 1/2 dozen fish took off jumping out of the water.

Again, this is gizzard shad.
I'm willing to bet my fish farm on this. Whether they were put there or not, they are there now.
I'm sure enough I'm willing to bring the equipment to prove it.

Snipe (and all others),

1.) What is the easiest way for the average pond owner to sample for gizzard shad?

2.) Is there something to be done by an active pond manager for a large pond/lake that is even feasible, if you determine that gizzard shad are a negative species for that body of water?

P.S. +1 for a "bet the farm" reference in a Pond Boss post!

I will have to get the cast net out and try to catch them, The size and shape fit Gshad. I was thinking of putting them in anyway. Just wanted to wait till the bass ate all or most of the bullheads. Had a friend send me a pic of a 2 lb, bass with 4 inches of a bullhead tail sticking out of it's throat.

nehunter, let me know what you find. Seriously, I will come help if needed. I know it burns inside not knowing for sure-I've been there.
Good thing is you have 6 predator species that will benefit from and help control them.

Thanks for the offer, wont be anytime soon, harvest 1/2 done and started a house for the daughter for this fall.