Dead fish

NCYankee · 03-17-06, 12:34 PM

I went fishing yesterday at a state park near my house. The park has three small lakes. The one I fished is about 20 acres. I fished from one end of the lake to the next from the bank and caught nothing. The weather was warm and the sky was Carolina blue, so I figured I wouldn't catch much but at least a couple. I was moving in the direction of the wind. When I got to the side the wind was blowing to, I saw at least forty dead panfish (sunfish, crappie, etc.) floating on the water or just on shore over about a 100 ft. stretch. I immediately called the local park office. Since it was after 5pm, the park employee I spoke to said someone would be out today to take a water sample. The park officials recently lowered the lake a few feet. I'm guessing the lake is probably only 12 ft. deep at the deepest point at full level. The park employee suggested the oxygen levels were probably low because of them lowering the water. She thinks that may be the reason for the dead fish. This could in part explain why I didn't catch anything. Any biologists out there? Is this a reasonable explanation as to why the fish died and others weren't biting?

Rodman_Rob · 03-17-06, 12:43 PM

not sure about the oxegen levels but when the water level is dropping bass tend to hold tight to deep water structure/cover. So if you were fishing from the shore it was likely the fish were way out in the middle of the lake.

Futurepro22 · 03-17-06, 02:07 PM

not yet... but i'll be able to answer your question in 3 year.. I'm majoring in Fisheries Sciences at PSU!

NCYankee · 03-17-06, 02:54 PM

Thanks guys. I'm headed out to one of the other lakes in the park. I caught five and a 1.5lb crappie out of there Monday. The bass were all small. Hopefully, I'll have better luck today. Your degree sounds a lot better than mine (business administration.) My brother has an associates in forestry and a bachelors in geography. He wanted to be a national forest ranger. Currently, he surveys land through out rural eastern Kentucky. Basically, he spends a good part of his day 4X4ing the countryside. You guys make me second guess my choice of a degree.

zooker · 03-17-06, 06:38 PM

nc yankee know the lake/pond you aree refuring to -actually all 3 of them- the bass round here are freaks -some one quote me on this- they rush the SHALLOWS when the water is drawn down. happens all the time on the yadkin chain..
my thought is some one caught a mess of brim and crAppie then decided not to keep them and chunked them back in..again i have seen this numberus times. as infurating as it is we the average fisherperson can do nothing...sad but true..
let me ask you this question how many people do you see catching 50-60 crAppie and keep every one?? knowing full and well the limit is 20- in places less- here in nc..

think about it..

zooker

bass kicker · 03-17-06, 08:27 PM

we keep our whole limit in canada it is 50 and they taste so good

NCYankee · 03-18-06, 04:55 PM

Initially, I thought the same as you Zooker, but on closer inspection, it was obvious some of them had been dead for a couple of days and others probably died that day. I went to one of the other lakes yesterday and caught a handful of dinks (<1.5lbs). Better than nothing.

03-17-06, 12:34 PM	#1
NCYankee BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 188	Dead fish I went fishing yesterday at a state park near my house. The park has three small lakes. The one I fished is about 20 acres. I fished from one end of the lake to the next from the bank and caught nothing. The weather was warm and the sky was Carolina blue, so I figured I wouldn't catch much but at least a couple. I was moving in the direction of the wind. When I got to the side the wind was blowing to, I saw at least forty dead panfish (sunfish, crappie, etc.) floating on the water or just on shore over about a 100 ft. stretch. I immediately called the local park office. Since it was after 5pm, the park employee I spoke to said someone would be out today to take a water sample. The park officials recently lowered the lake a few feet. I'm guessing the lake is probably only 12 ft. deep at the deepest point at full level. The park employee suggested the oxygen levels were probably low because of them lowering the water. She thinks that may be the reason for the dead fish. This could in part explain why I didn't catch anything. Any biologists out there? Is this a reasonable explanation as to why the fish died and others weren't biting?

03-17-06, 12:43 PM	#2
Rodman_Rob BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ocala, FL. 1/2 hour southwest of Rodman Posts: 1,702	not sure about the oxegen levels but when the water level is dropping bass tend to hold tight to deep water structure/cover. So if you were fishing from the shore it was likely the fish were way out in the middle of the lake. __________________ Lizardsrule may not be able to drive a boat, but he can sure put you on the fish!

03-17-06, 02:07 PM	#3
Futurepro22 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: ebensburg,Pa Posts: 208	not yet... but i'll be able to answer your question in 3 year.. I'm majoring in Fisheries Sciences at PSU! __________________ derrickhughes.net

03-17-06, 06:38 PM	#5
zooker BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: denton nc Posts: 13,441	nc yankee know the lake/pond you aree refuring to -actually all 3 of them- the bass round here are freaks -some one quote me on this- they rush the SHALLOWS when the water is drawn down. happens all the time on the yadkin chain.. my thought is some one caught a mess of brim and crAppie then decided not to keep them and chunked them back in..again i have seen this numberus times. as infurating as it is we the average fisherperson can do nothing...sad but true.. let me ask you this question how many people do you see catching 50-60 crAppie and keep every one?? knowing full and well the limit is 20- in places less- here in nc.. think about it.. zooker __________________ the godfather.. aml in remission since 7-20-09

03-17-06, 08:27 PM	#6
bass kicker BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Beamsville,ONTARIO,CANADA Posts: 2,023	we keep our whole limit in canada it is 50 and they taste so good __________________ Rob Downs St. Catharines BASSMASTERS

03-17-06, 02:54 PM	#4
NCYankee BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 188	Thanks guys. I'm headed out to one of the other lakes in the park. I caught five and a 1.5lb crappie out of there Monday. The bass were all small. Hopefully, I'll have better luck today. Your degree sounds a lot better than mine (business administration.) My brother has an associates in forestry and a bachelors in geography. He wanted to be a national forest ranger. Currently, he surveys land through out rural eastern Kentucky. Basically, he spends a good part of his day 4X4ing the countryside. You guys make me second guess my choice of a degree.

03-18-06, 04:55 PM	#7
NCYankee BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 188	Initially, I thought the same as you Zooker, but on closer inspection, it was obvious some of them had been dead for a couple of days and others probably died that day. I went to one of the other lakes yesterday and caught a handful of dinks (<1.5lbs). Better than nothing.

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