Favorite pond = fishkill :-(

[buzzbaiter]

Well my worst(fishing) fears came true. I thought this cold winter and extended period of thick ice would cause fishkills in this pond and I was right. I drove up to today and was glad to see it was ice -free. Well soon thereafter my joy disappeared as I spotted dead fish after dead fish. The smell was there too. If it was summer, it would have smelled really bad. Anyhow, lost track of how many dead bass. at least 30 in the 1/2 hr I was there. Most were half eaten by bears & raccoons. It really is a terrible thing to see. The pond was simply too shallow and with the thick ice killing off plants(no sunlight), the fish ran out of oxygen. Sad. All of the dead fish were adults(bass over 7" and sunnies over 5") so I have hope some smaller fish did survive to repopulate it. I saw nothing alive today but I really didnt expect to given 35F water temps.

http://s1060.photobucket.com/user/Buzzbaiter/slideshow/fishkill%20march%202014

[AndyS]

I would contact NJ DEP and NJ F&G anyway, sad.

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/contactform.htm

[Wilson]

I would contact NJ DEP and NJ F&G anyway, sad.

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/contactform.htm
So would I, maybe it wasn't the extra harsh winter that did the damage:confused:

[Fin Reaper]

Could the half eaten fish been from late in the fall that were frozen in? I'm in Sussex county and haven seen a bear or coon in months and don't expect to for a little bit yet...maybe if your further south...

[buzzbaiter]

Same thing happened years ago at another pond about a mile away under similar circumstances: long period of ice on a shallow pond. Both times it was ponds no deeper than mid-thigh. I've only seen this twice in 30 or so years so it is rare but it sucks nonetheless. NJDFGW cant do much. They won't re-stock a 3/4 acre pond. If it was a popular lake, they'd do it. This spot is on public land but a 1/2 mile walk-in only. Best I can do is hope fish survived. No fish kill is ever 100% so we'll see.

[kmaty]

That really sucks i use to fish my pickerl pond almost everyday after school a ton of pickerl and a few bass then that sandy came and completely filled the lake with saltwater and reeds a few guys got together and managed to clean it up with a row boat and a tree grinder. We saw tons deaf fish mostly bass but i didn't notice any other fish 2 weeks later gave it a shot and was so happy to manage a few pickerl and even a couple bass meand my brother ran over to our killie ditch and trapped a gallon or so and donated them as dinner not sure if we made a difference but the lake is on the up and up with numerous fish of all types landed since then not to many pan fish but were guna work on that stay positive!