Posts: 333
Threads: 0
Joined: Apr 2004
Reputation:
0
I went to Glassman's on Saturday and had fun with the bluegill and trout. (Salvaged a bad trip to Causey). So I took my kids yesterday and had fun as well. However, I was (and still am) overley concerned about the amount of dead catfish floating on the pond. While fishing we had two catfish come into our spot, one stayed close to the surface and was really beat up. The second was pushing 24" and was slowly flopping in the water. At one time is head was down and his tail completely out of the water, then next it was belly up bending in half. On one side was by the tail was a hugh sore. Really nasty. On saturday we snagged a brookie that was all head, really skinney and nasty to look at. What is happening up there? Why are all the catfish dying?
katghoti
[signature]
Posts: 6,353
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2006
Reputation:
0
The brookies are just that way from the [#00bf00]hatchery[/#00bf00]. All brood stock are very nasty looking.
The catfish are anyones guess. I think they are starving to death and i also think there is a parisite in there causing all of the sores on them. There is no way there is enough food to support all of the fish and predators in ther. My 2 cents.
[signature]
Posts: 333
Threads: 0
Joined: Apr 2004
Reputation:
0
Except for the sores on the side they didn't look starved. I wonder if the DWR is aware of the situation?
katghoti
[signature]
Posts: 6,353
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2006
Reputation:
0
I'm not sure they will even do anything about it. I know they look in on this forum from time to time. Maybe send an e-mail?
[signature]
Posts: 6,353
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2006
Reputation:
0
[#00bf00]I will talk to a warden friend of mine and see what he says.[/#00bf00]
[signature]
Posts: 376
Threads: 0
Joined: Feb 2005
Reputation:
0
I tried to find glasmans pond the other day and couldn't. Do you mind sharing directions?
[signature]
Posts: 333
Threads: 0
Joined: Apr 2004
Reputation:
0
Just South of McKay Dee hospital. Turn into Mckay and take the loop around the hospital. On the SouthEast corner of the lot you will see a turn out. Follow the path up to the pond.
katghoti
[signature]
Posts: 36,168
Threads: 307
Joined: Sep 2002
Reputation:
62
[cool][#0000ff]Just a wild guess on the beat up catfish. This is spawning time and cats are not known for their gentleness while fighting for nests and during the spawning process. They expend a lot of energy and can sustain some nasty wounds. All of that stress can weaken the fish and cause mortality.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]This is a fairly common sight around bird island and around Lincoln Beach some years. when the kitties gang up for their love festivals. The males search out a hole in the rocks, or back in the brush, and stake it out as their territory. Other males are constantly challenging them and the fights are sometimes brutal. [/#0000ff]
[signature]
Posts: 52
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2006
Reputation:
0
I started going to Glassmans Pond about mid March and there was quite a few dead catfish at that time. I stopped by the Northern Region Office about the end of March and talked to the biologist about it. He did not seem at all concerned and passed it off as normal winter kill. I live near the region office so I will stop and talk to him again and report his comments to you guys. As for the big headed brookies I don't think they are this years plants. I have seen several of them and I would guess they are last years plants that have not had enough to eat.
[signature]
Posts: 52
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2006
Reputation:
0
I stopped by the F & G again today and asked about all the dead catfish. The person I talked to had heard about it but thought it was no longer a problem. He obviosly didn't have a clue. If anyone is a member on the F & G web they should pose the question there and address it to Drew Cushing.
[signature]
Posts: 36,168
Threads: 307
Joined: Sep 2002
Reputation:
62
[cool][#0000ff]I sent a PM to Drew Cushing, making him aware of the problem and seeing if he could provide some insight.[/#0000ff]
[signature]
Posts: 222
Threads: 0
Joined: Jun 2005
Reputation:
0
The problem with Glassmans Pond is the water temperature. Channel catfish have stress related problems when the water temperature pass through the low to mid 60's F. Usually the water temps in the spring pass through this sensitive range quickly and are quickly in the 70's F. This year we have seen the water temps fluctuate from 76 F last week, down to 62.24 F yesterday in Glassmans Pond. The other management difference this year from previous years is that we stocked channel catfish a full 4-weeks earlier this year. In Glassman's Pond this year we have already stocked 2000 pounds of channel catfish.
[signature]
Posts: 52
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2006
Reputation:
0
Thanks for your responce and I'm sure everything you said is true. However, the fish have been dying ever since ice off. There were probably more dead fish prior to the water reaching the temps you quote.
[signature]
Posts: 16
Threads: 0
Joined: Oct 2010
Reputation:
0
Do they want the carp out of the pond?
[signature]
Posts: 324
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2010
Reputation:
0
You say you were salvaging a bad trip to causey, why was it bad out of curiosity. If it is due to a lack of catching them were you on the bank?
[signature]
Posts: 34,010
Threads: 448
Joined: Feb 2002
Reputation:
36
Matt did you notice that this post is over 4 years old?
[signature]
Posts: 324
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2010
Reputation:
0
nope didnt notice, my bad
[signature]
