Any theories about a random floating prespawn bass

[johnsmith]

The last 2 out of 4 trips to this same lake, I have seen at least one bass floating on the surface. On one trip, the bass looked dead and the other one, bass was still alive but it was struggling around. I've never seen this before in any other season but I have seen this twice already. It was also early in the spring so I doubt it was due to another angler. I couldn't see any external injuries so I've assumed it has something to do with the season change. Any theories? 

[garroyo130]

They get worn out after doing the dirty ... I see it more with bluegills than with bass but im guessing thats what it is. You can even nudge them with the tip of your rod and they don't swim away.

[RDB]

1 hour ago, johnsmith said:

The last 2 out of 4 trips to this same lake, I have seen at least one bass floating on the surface. On one trip, the bass looked dead and the other one, bass was still alive but it was struggling around. I've never seen this before in any other season but I have seen this twice already. It was also early in the spring so I doubt it was due to another angler. I couldn't see any external injuries so I've assumed it has something to do with the season change. Any theories? 

Though you said you didn’t think it was other anglers, my guess is that it probably was.  Some folks just don’t take care of their released fish.

[Scott F]

About 30% of adult bass die from natural causes every year. It is likely that the floating bass you saw were just part of that 30%. There also might be a problem with low oxygen levels or some other poison in that part of the lake. 

[HaydenS]

Here's a quick solution:  Hold up the fish for picture! 

 

 

 

 

 

No one will know...

[johnsmith]

2 minutes ago, HaydenS said:

Here's a quick solution:  Hold up the fish for picture! 

No one will know...

One of that bass was at least 5 lb and I'm not exaggerating. Trust me, I had my phone ready but conscious said no.

 

[HaydenS]

Just flick the "off switch", conscious gets pretty quiet then. 

[TnRiver46]

Are there any tournaments nearby? 

[johnsmith]

Just now, TnRiver46 said:

Are there any tournaments nearby? 

Been fishing there for almost 2 years and half of it is located on a college campus so I doubt it. There also no boat launch

[TnRiver46]

2 minutes ago, johnsmith said:

Been fishing there for almost 2 years and half of it is located on a college campus so I doubt it. There also no boat launch

Gotcha. I’ve seen some bass floating around after tournaments but it’s usually near the boat launch . Sounds like yours may have been struggling from natural causes like @Scott F mentioned but it’s hard to say 

[johnsmith]

3 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Gotcha. I’ve seen some bass floating around after tournaments but it’s usually near the boat launch . Sounds like yours may have been struggling from natural causes like @Scott F mentioned but it’s hard to say

Yeah it's not a giant lake, just 200 acres and limited access so I highly doubt it was from another angler not to mention it was like the first week of spring

[Bluebasser86]

living things die, happens all the time.

 

[Deleted account]

8 hours ago, Scott F said:

About 30% of adult bass die from natural causes every year.

Source? The numbers don't support that.

OP, I also think they are dead or dying from being caught. Really good anglers fish year round and are very stealthy.

[Scott F]

10 minutes ago, BassWhole! said:

Source? The numbers don't support that.

OP, I also think they are dead or dying from being caught. Really good anglers fish year round and are very stealthy.

https://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/life-of-bass-size-factors/358997

[the reel ess]

I caught one the other day 4.5 lb. that was not yet spawned out. It looked like it had a 6 lb. head and a 3 lb. body. And it was pretty banged up. When I released it, it just stayed right where I placed it for probably 30 seconds before slowly swimming off. I think the entire spawn season is rough on them. Some don't eat for a couple weeks.

[Deleted account]

10 minutes ago, Scott F said:

https://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/life-of-bass-size-factors/358997

So cause we read it on the InterWeb in (a really poorly written) article? 

"mortality of adult fish reach 100%" duh!

"teenage bass learn to..."

"mid sized bass are the most abundant" contradicts his own previous paragraph.

 

Very few animals in the wild die of old age or natural causes.

[CrankFate]

Had an underground sewage leak into a lake around here once. Started out with a few fish like that. Eventually almost everything in the water died. 20-25 years ago. Still never recovered all these years later. Except for the giant carp that people later added to the water.

[Catt]

10 hours ago, RDB said:

Though you said you didn’t think it was other anglers, my guess is that it probably was.  Some folks just don’t take care of their released fish.

 

Agreed ?

 

Given the time of year I would say it's a product of catch-and-release. Spring brings forth a multitude of anglers who have little or no knowledge of fish handling nor do they care.