Whats Up With All The Dead Crappie

[fishinwrench]

With the wierd spring, cool water temps, falling lake level and then stabilizing and warming quickly there was a mass rush of crappie to spawn. So what we are seeing is 3 weeks worth of a normal year loss from spawn stress compressed into a few days.

The biologist "believes" that? Why, cuz it sounds possible, or is there some honest science behind that theory? Does that guy know what happened to the whites too?

[eyeman]

where are the good walleye spots to fish on pomme,by the way

[MOPanfisher]

Fishinwrench if you don't like the answer from the biologist feel free to make up your own story, There were similar reports from Table Rock as well. Without a very large fish kill, and no good fresh fish to test I guess he is relying on his, experience and biological background instead of internet theories. He will never make a good politicial that way but he is a good Ichthyologist.

Eyeman, windy shallow points adjacent to deeper water seem to be pretty good locations on pomme. I didn't get to go last night, but my buddy went the night before, caught 3 keepers and lost a 4th. Shallow and agressive.

[Riverwhy]

Fishinwrench may have come off a bit caustic but his point is valid. A guess from an ichthyologist is about as good as any other fellow that has followed his passion for fishing the last several decades but it is not any better. The difference is that when a biologist, icthyologist, scientist, etc. wade into the conjecture they need to be very clear that they either have solid evidence or they are just throwing out wild guesses like the rest of us.

A good friend of mine in college was an icthyologist and his practical knowledge of fish and their patterns was pretty hilarious. I'm sure in the lab with a specieman he was great. In the real world he was a child among men.

I do not personally believe the fish kill is related to a short spawning period but my guess is just as good as the "fish expert".

[fishinwrench]

Been around lakes and rivers all my life, this is the first I've ever heard about a "fish die-off" during/or after a spawn. And the way it reads your biologist guy acts like it is just a common thing.

Pardon me!

Good luck with your lake.

[MOPanfisher]

There is some mortality associated with spawning, I have seen it especially with crappie every year. Usually not to this extent. But again the spawn is somewhat condensed. I apologize if I appeared to be dogging you fishingwrench, its been one of "those" days already today, again it wasn't my intent to seem "pizzy". Generally when something hits like a virus etc. it is a much larger scale die off.

[MOPanfisher]

I guess maybe I am a little defensive because I know the fisheries biologist. I have known some who were "office biologists" who were good with the theories etc. but not great field guys, for instance one showed me a photograph of a nice largemouth bass he caught, one look was enough to see it was actually a Kentucky. This biologist is an educated guy who is more into the leaky waders, and perpetual stinky dead fish smell on his clothes. I trust him and his experience I guess is what I am saying. He was very clear on his email that he does not have any samples to submit, not any hard science to provide, simply his and the biologist from Table Rock's gut feelings based upon their experience and education. Again sorry if I sounded like a jerk, even if I is one sometimes.

[shockley32]

MOPanfisher

Thanks for the great info and all your hard work. It's has been a strange spring, long rainy and cold. I'm sure if there were a die off from a virus or disease there would be far more dead crappie. It is a little concerning when one goes to the lake and sees fish floating in every cove, however there are only a handful. Spread that out over a few weeks and we probably wouldn't ever notice. Keep us posted with any additional info!f

Thanks,

Brad

[MOPanfisher]

I was talking with some fishermen this morning and while there one caught a crappie with what appeared to be a fungal or bacterial infection near its pectoral fin. I took a picture with my dumb phone and sent it to the fisheries biologist for him to see. Also saw several fish caught and held against their body with hand around them before unhooking and returning them to the water, wouldn't be surprised if a few of them get an infection as well. Handling the body and disrupting the slime coating is hard on a fish.

[eyeman]

thanks panfisher