algae bloom

[northgabassfisher]

what is a algae bloom? why and how is it started? we are haveing one right now on my home lake. the only diffrance to me is the water color and the fishing is harder.

[northgabassfisher]

any one know???

[Raul]

It 's the most common occurence in a lake this time of the year, what strted it ? all the nitrogenous compounds that are flushed into the lake with the coming of the rains. Fishing getting harder ? not really, fish it like you would fish muddy water.

[northgabassfisher]

thanks Raul see my home lake is pretty clear so im going to have to change my tactics completly

[OSU_Fisherman]

I recently had the same problem.  It seemed like overnight my normal fishing hole turned from very very clear to being murky with a green film overtop of it for the most part.  

I am glad to see this added info about how to fish the conditions.

[Guest avid]

Algae blooms are serious bad news.

this is from the website of the South Florida Wildlife management district.

Algal blooms represent a significant risk to the Lake Okeechobee ecosystem and the human population that depends on this water resource for drinking water, recreation, fishing, and other uses. Algal blooms occur in a lake when high concentrations of nutrients enter the water and stimulate the growth of microscopic algal cells that naturally occur there. Their growth becomes much more rapid than normal, and under the right conditions (for example, warm water and high sunlight) these algae can reach such high levels that the water turns bright green, and sometimes a floating scum occurs on the water surface. The blooms are caused by a particular type of algae called blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria (see the photographs below). Algal blooms can cause problems with taste and odor in drinking water, they can contribute to the formation of carcinogenic substances (trihalomethanes) in drinking water when it undergoes chlorination, and at times, they can produce toxins that can cause liver and neurological disease in animals and humans that drink or come into contact with the water. Blooms also can cause skin irritations, they can kill fish and other animals in the lake, and their appearance and odor can impair the recreational value of the lake.

Nasty.