Our pond surface water temps are experiencing relatively large daily swings. Most mornings there is skim ice on the edge water. By late afternoon the temp about 5" below the surface, measured by a floating pool thermometer, is often in the mid 50s. Most days I see no fish activity when I hand throw pellets and meal worms. On March 2 many fish came up to eat and a couple grass carp showed. Several days ago I witnessed one sunfish rise to a single pellet and one GC cruising ever so slowly in the warmed surface water. I'm curious if these wide temp swings affect the health of the fish. It is a little surprising that more fish aren't showing up in the warmest water on the north shore. I suppose that the water is not above 50 degrees for more than a few hours in a 24 hour period is keeping them rather sluggish. It appears we've lost the few remaining trout that were around last year. They were getting rather old at 6 and 8 years. Anyone have similar observations as Spring arrives?
4C, I don't have any ice but experiencing exactly the same things as you. I'm a bit south and East of you. I'm sure you are probably experiencing the high winds we've been getting as well.
Glad you asked the question, I'm new to this and was wondering the same thing. I know it is stressful for the fish to experience these temperature swings and can promote things like parasites and fin rot. I have caught 1 HBG with parasites.
Rod addressed that in a previous post as well.
2 Acre, Completed July 2022, CC,BG, Sept. 2022, LMB June 2023, GSF, YBH invasion in 2022. BG, CNBG, RES, 2025, TP seasonal.
