Super User .ghoti. Posted July 27, 2011 Super User Posted July 27, 2011 My favorite local fishin hole has died. I was there this past Sunday and all was fine. I went out Monday evening, and found quite a few dead bluegill, and a few small bass belly up. Went back Tuesday evening, and it appears that every fish in the lake is dead. It is a horrible sight. The surface is littered with dead and rotting fish. Bluegill, red-ear, crappie, bass and channel cat. Hundreds and hundreds of dead fish, with some very nice trophy specimens. There are at least 75 bass floating that were in the 4 - 6 pound range. Didn't see any that looked bigger than 6. Saw a lot of red-ear hybrids in the 1 - 1.5 pound range, and too many 16+ inch crappie to count. This is a small 10 acre impoundment; my go to place for a quick outing. I've been fishing here for the last 20+ years. Here in Illinois, a 4 pounder is a big fish. A five pounder is a really big fish, and a 6 is a giant. I've caught two bass in my life that were over 8. One of them came from this lake. I've caught three over 7. Two of those came from this little lake. In the past 20 years I've caught maybe a hundred 5 pounders and a dozen 6 pounders, and at least 80% of them came from here. That's 5 or 6 really nice fish per year. I know I have a lot of choices in my area for places to fish. But none of them have the potential that this place had until this week. I am truly going to miss it. I have a very good idea what led to this mess. It's a long story, and I won't go into here. I hope the people who manage this place are able to learn from their mistakes. If they can, this former gem can be restored in my lifetime. I'm normally a fairly optimistic guy, but I've seen what they've done here, and I'd guesstimate the chances of a seeing a proper restoration program implemented at about one in four. Quote
Super User Grey Wolf Posted July 27, 2011 Super User Posted July 27, 2011 Sorry to hear about your little honey hole. Quote
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted July 27, 2011 Super User Posted July 27, 2011 That really sucks. Small honey holes are hard to come by. Hope it works out OK. Quote
George Welcome Posted July 27, 2011 Posted July 27, 2011 Sounds like someone went a littly crazy with copper sulfate. Quote
ChiCityBasser Posted July 27, 2011 Posted July 27, 2011 Sorry to hear about your Honey Hole as I'm from IL also and I hope they can bring it back. Had the same thing happen to a park district lake I use to fish that had a sudden winter thaw followed by a deep freez at the lake and there were hundreds of fish floating as the water started to thaw out again. Haven't been back there since it happened but its a shame to lose a good fishing spot. Quote
Super User islandbass Posted July 27, 2011 Super User Posted July 27, 2011 Sorry to hear that. It was painful to read. Quote
brushhoggin Posted July 27, 2011 Posted July 27, 2011 sorry to hear it bud. if it makes you feel any better, my favorite quick-fix-lake with monster bass in it has been closed to the public because people have finally started to buying property on it. 6-7 lb bass are not rare here. but I understand a fish kill is much more serious. care to elaborate as to what your speculation is? Quote
derviskhan Posted July 27, 2011 Posted July 27, 2011 Very sorry to hear that. Had something similar but the issue was fixed, and was amazing to go back and fish it. Like you said hope this happens for you as well. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted July 27, 2011 Super User Posted July 27, 2011 That really sucks. I could not imagine if something like this happened at "noontime ponds." Sorry to hear this. Quote
Siebert Outdoors Posted July 27, 2011 Posted July 27, 2011 ouch!!!!!!! I hate to hear that Ghoti. I would think its from the hot water/low oxygen. I hope the lake can make a good comeback. Quote
Andy C Posted July 27, 2011 Posted July 27, 2011 Public or private water? Sorry to hear about you loss. When it gets restocked it will be poor for a couple of years, but by year four or five it really makes a comeback. It won't see much pressure either, so if you are the first one to really hammer it then you can nail some piggies. Quote
Super User bassfisherjk Posted July 27, 2011 Super User Posted July 27, 2011 Man that stinks.Sorry. Quote
Super User Goose52 Posted July 27, 2011 Super User Posted July 27, 2011 Wow - that many quality fish in only 10 acres. It must have been a GREAT fishery all these years - a sad loss indeed... Quote
Super User Jigfishn10 Posted July 27, 2011 Super User Posted July 27, 2011 That's aweful .ghoti. I can't imagine that happening to my lil 12 acre honey hole. I would be devastated. Hope it makes a comeback! Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted July 27, 2011 Super User Posted July 27, 2011 Man, that really sucks. Quote
Super User Fishing Rhino Posted July 28, 2011 Super User Posted July 28, 2011 That's horrible. I can only imagine how I'd feel if something like that happened to my honey hole. Quote
Super User skunked_again Posted July 28, 2011 Super User Posted July 28, 2011 The same thing happened to a 17 acre pond I know of. It looked like ice floating on the lake in the summer. I couldnt imagine one live fish in the thing. Today it is a very good numbers pond. There might be hope yet. Quote
North Ga Hillbilly Posted July 28, 2011 Posted July 28, 2011 I hate to hear that, I hope an active effort is taken to get it back on track NGaHB Quote
OHIO Posted July 28, 2011 Posted July 28, 2011 Wow that really sucks. Happened to an abandoned golf course pond I like to fish for some reason. First time I went there I saw a countless number of dead bass along the shore. Haven't caught anything yet, but I've seen some and know they are still in there. Hope they get your pond situation figured out. It's really a shame to see that. Quote
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