Fish dying - why?

[EGbassing]

I went to my favorite pond that I've fished for years and caught a lot 5+ lb bass out of and there were dozens of huge bass and countless shad just floating around the pond. What should I do and what would cause this?

[Scott F]

More than likely, the water got too warm and the oxygen levels dropped. About the only way to fix it, is to put an aerator in the pond.

[TnRiver46]

No oxygen, seen it happen many times. It’ll come back 

[JediAmoeba]

Probably the oxygen but you should take a water sample and get it checked.  

 

Best thing to do is remove all the Dead fish so they don't further pollute the water 

[WRB]

Nothing you can do unless you own the pond. Contact your local State fishery biologist maybe they can help.

Tom

[TnRiver46]

11 minutes ago, JediAmoeba said:

Probably the oxygen but you should take a water sample and get it checked.  

 

Best thing to do is remove all the Dead fish so they don't further pollute the water 

Are you going to volunteer to complete that chore? Haha. A pond where I work had most of the fish die and the grounds crew had to scoop them all out. Most of them puked. Dead fish can not pollute water in any way, especially water that is void of oxygen 

[geo g]

In south florida we have a lot of shallow body of water with deeper centers.  Water temps often get into the 90's this time of year.  With real heavy rains in a short period of time, this can cause an inversion.   Rain water in the 70's sinking to the bottom and and forcing poor quality deep water to the top.  This causes a rapid rush of poor O2 water rushing into areas with concentrations of bass.  This can cause a massive kill off.  The only ones to benefit are the turtles, gar, and gators.

[TnRiver46]

52 minutes ago, geo g said:

I south florida we have a lot of shallow body of water with deeper centers.  Water temps often get into the 90's this time of year.  With real heavy rains in a short period of time, this can cause an inversion.   Rain water in the 70's sinking to the bottom and and forcing poor quality deep water to the top.  This causes a rapid rush of poor O2 water rushing into areas with concentrations of bass.  This can cause a massive kill off.  The only ones to benefit are the turtles, gar, and gators.

That’s exactly what happened where I work 

[EGbassing]

57 minutes ago, geo g said:

I south florida we have a lot of shallow body of water with deeper centers.  Water temps often get into the 90's this time of year.  With real heavy rains in a short period of time, this can cause an inversion.   Rain water in the 70's sinking to the bottom and and forcing poor quality deep water to the top.  This causes a rapid rush of poor O2 water rushing into areas with concentrations of bass.  This can cause a massive kill off.  The only ones to benefit are the turtles, gar, and gators.

It did rain really hard for a while before I went. Sounds like that could be it.

[lo n slo]

1 hour ago, geo g said:

I south florida we have a lot of shallow body of water with deeper centers.  Water temps often get into the 90's this time of year.  With real heavy rains in a short period of time, this can cause an inversion.   Rain water in the 70's sinking to the bottom and and forcing poor quality deep water to the top.  This causes a rapid rush of poor O2 water rushing into areas with concentrations of bass.  This can cause a massive kill off.  The only ones to benefit are the turtles, gar, and gators.

good call

[WRB]

If the pond was stable with good DO levels (dissolved oxygen) and green aquatic growrth that produces DO during day light a rain storm shouldn't cause lower DO levels. Rain is usually followed by wind that mixes surface DO preventing summer turn over.

If the rain was colder then 10 degrees then the pond water a thermal shock condition occurs, mid summer that is rare. Both catfish and carp have higher tolerance to low DO (less then 3 mLg) and water temp changes then bass, bluegill and Shad. If all types of fish were floating then a chemical like fertilizer from local fields could be the problem from rain run off.

The bottom line is we don't know enough to suggest a cause to this event.

Tom

[Glenn]

A couple of articles here that will help solve the puzzle:

https://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/fish-kill.html

https://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/diagnosing-fish-kills.html

https://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/aerating_ponds_fishkill.html

[OkobojiEagle]

20 hours ago, JediAmoeba said:

Best thing to do is remove all the Dead fish so they don't further pollute the water 

How far over the daily possession limit will that put him?...

 

oe