Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Corrective stocking Revive big LMB?

hey guys,
I haven't been on here in a couple years and only have time for a quick question which I'm sure has been covered at length already but here goes.
Yesterday afternoon an eagle drug a large LMB out of my pond of which I happened to see soon afterwards. I ran over to it before it did much physical damage and tried reviving the fish. It can't regain its buoyancy, is weak, and kind of halfway swims on side. It is possible it was already struggling when the bird got it, but assuming it was healthy before is there anything at all that can be done to revive it? She is well over 8lbs and is 8 yrs old. I hate to lose her but I'm afraid her fate has been set. Any ideas?
Thank you

nhc2002,

While I wish you the best in helping the LMB recover and encourage you to try, I think your hunch that its fate is sealed is probably a correct one. The talons of an eagle are formidable weapons and the damage is more severe than what may seem apparent.

If she tried to swim off then watch and see. Good point is she has spawned in prior years and her offspring are there ready to grow.

I pulled the plug on her this evening. She was not improving. Maybe I'll have her mounted and have an interesting story to go along. I will say that it was extremely encouraging to have a fish of that quality in my pond. Lots of time & money have went into it and I promise it wouldn't have happened without this community and the PB magazine teaching me. I just hope next time I catch one on an eagle claw hook instead of an actual eagle claw... Thanks to all.