Well Bob, this was just an observation I see almost every spring, the number of dead male BG is usually pretty small when the waters temps are "almost" there yet but not quite for spawning activity. A few male BG start "popping" up 4-5 days after the latest full/new moon. I'm guessing that they just spent a great deal of energy making a nest, defending the nest, and then don't eat much while they are waiting, thus adding to the stress factor when their blind date is a no show. If this occurs right after the full or new moon then they are always 100% males that pop up. The number is usually small, 1-2 dozen big BG males in our 10 acre pond which is pretty insignificant IMO.

One of the other things I see earlier in the year a are an even smaller number of BG with a fungus infection that did them in shortly after ice out.