FISH KILL ON THE JAMES

[MOPanfisher]

Shane did take some O2 readings, levels good down to about 13 feet, from there to bottom 1ppmor less. The upper few feet will usually have oxygen due to wind and wave action, also its the warmest.

[Fishin Hodge]

On our area lakes on the White River Chain yes the thermocline is huge in late summer.  This year with the shallow thermocline the deep fish I am catching are right around 20 feet deep.  When you get past 25 feet which is the current depth of the thermocline on the main lake of most of Table Rock, there are no fish to be seen on the graph.  Are there a handful out past 25, yes, but nowhere near the number above it.  Usually the thermocline is greater than 30 feet by this point as well as the fish.  The water-flow apparently keeps the thermocline from setting up as deep as normal. 

I have spoke with mojorig fairly extensively about this event as well, another Biologist with the AGFC.  I must say, I am convinced that this is due to low oxygen in water deeper than the thermocline, in fact it makes complete sense.  Walleye love the deep water this time of year, and it is the deep water fish you see floating.  Very, very, few largemouth bass floating.  And I am a conspiracy theorist from way back.

I will agree with you that the majority of tournaments are won in shallower than 20 foot of water, but I can guarantee you that on Table Rock, or any other clear water impoundment, maybe even your LOA in September, many of those wins are at very least supplemented with 2 or 3 fish caught in deeper than 20 foot of water.  Some of them won entirely deeper that 20 FOW.

 

 

[gitnby]

Just got this from David Casaletto at Ozarks Water Watch.

 

OZARKS WATER WATCH

 

 

[m&m]

It makes me wonder why only certain fish of the same species die during this circumstance.  Why don't they all die?  HMMM.......

 

Mike

[*T*]

So how is this situation different from southern lakes that have much more vegetation and, at times of the year, would have much more organic matter decaying, thus reduced oxygen levels at even higher water temperatures?  Or is it that most plant decay in the south takes place later in the year (late fall) when water temps are cooler?

[fishinwrench]

Blinded by Science !

[5bites]

So how is this situation different from southern lakes that have much more vegetation and, at times of the year, would have much more organic matter decaying, thus reduced oxygen levels at even higher water temperatures?  Or is it that most plant decay in the south takes place later in the year (late fall) when water temps are cooler?

You answered your own question. Same reason fish around here use a green tree but vacate when it dies until it's dead then they come back. 

 

Later in the year is the turnover so there's no limit to where the fish can go basically so they don't have to stay in the dead stuff

 

I think it has less to do with rotting trees and more to do with the shallow thermocline and high temps like the biologist say. 

[Rodmaker]

Just got this from David Casaletto at Ozarks Water Watch.

 

OZARKS WATER WATCH

 

 

I  believe that I have to disagree with this article that states that most of the fish were not sport fish. As I posted further up this thread that last Wednesday on the James, 90 percent of what I saw was sport fish. Walleye, paddle fish, LM,SM,crappie,white bass....... 10 percent carp and suckers. Sorry, don't know what else to tell you...... That's what I saw..... Made me sick! 

[5bites]

I would love to hear the foil hat reason behind the fish dying and the reason for the cover up. 

[mojorig]

I realize this is a James River Arm discussion but here is what we are seeing on Lake Norfork Dam with regards to DO. The Aug 11th readings were taken by the USACE, the Aug 17th readings were collected by a local walleye club, and the other two readings were taken by us. We will be taking daily readings for the next few weeks. Also, I have attached a link to a video showing DO over time for Table Rock. I realize the video is old but it visualize DO changes over time. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7yZGlFlMjD-Qkk4ZE93WjYxMUE/view?usp=sharing.

I hope this helps with the conversation.