I have a new lake that was constructed in August of this year in East Texas and will be approximately 2.75 ac. when filled. It has already captured about 4-5' of water near the dam and in the creek channel, so I stocked it with 1000 coppernose bluegill and fathead minnows a week ago. During the last couple of days, I have started to notice quite a few dead fish along the shore (40-50 each day).
By the dam where the water has collected is a patch of lignite coal. Is lignite coal toxic to fish and could this be the reason for the fish die off? Any advice on how to deal with this problem?