Fish dead all over Fellows Lake

[Brandon Inman]

Went out today to do a little bass fishing saw probably 20 or so flathead and channel catfish anywhere from 5-20 lb range dead. Several bass 2-4 lb range floating dead and quite a few crappie. Found a walleye looked to be a keeper same thing all in the south arm of the lake. Kept fishing and noticed a bass swimming next to the boat right on the surface and was covered in some kind of brownish green stuff all over it and was soon to be belly up as well. Dont know what caused it or what it is but i doubt i keep fish out of there until its figured out.

[tjm]

People drink that water?

[Brandon Inman]

Yes we sure do but I am not sure what is wrong I have never seen this lake like that before. Im sure MDC has an explanation I probably better give them a ring.

[Brandon Inman]

From what research i have done so far it sounds like it is due to harmful algae in the lake.

[fishinwrench]

2 hours ago, Brandon Inman said:

From what research i have done so far it sounds like it is due to harmful algae in the lake.

Unless it kills ALL the fish then it isn't the algae's fault, it's the fish's fault for not being tolerant to it.    

[tjm]

I wouldn't call MDC til after I got on to  the water company, few fish ain't nothin if that stuff hurt you.

[Flysmallie]

7 hours ago, tjm said:

I wouldn't call MDC til after I got on to  the water company, few fish ain't nothin if that stuff hurt you.

Well us hillbillies over here don’t just drink it straight from the lake. 

[MOPanfisher]

Likely the fish kill is similar to others happening right now.  High water temps, and low oxygen are putting increased stress on the fish and allowing other vectors such as normally benign bacterial or viral infections to flourish and bring about death.  If it was due to a harmful algal bloom (HAB) people such as MDC, DNR and CU would be more concerned.

[fishinwrench]

1 hour ago, Flysmallie said:

Well us hillbillies over here don’t just drink it straight from the lake. 

Yeah, you gotta filter it and add enough poison to immediately kill the things that can make you sick, but not enough to kill the people immediately.  

A customer gave me a test kit and instructions on how to test my well water.  I have been drinking it for 20 years so I decided I'd just rather not know.  

Who here has a well and periodically has it tested?   And if it ever tested bad then what did you do about it?

[MOPanfisher]

Way back when we used to host some kids from the boys ranch occasionally we were required to test our well.  Procedure as I recall was to drop some chlorine tablets down at the well cap, then pour some liquid bleach down.  Run some water unail you smell bleach the let set a couple hours.  Then let a hose run until it cleared up, then take a sample.  That would have over 30 years ago.  I don't test now for the same reason FW doesn't test.