Quote:
Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin
So I don't know about anyone else, but I have been seeing a great deal of dead fish floating around the lake.
|
I have as well, it may be a "seasonal" thing—and just might have received a clue two days ago.
A string of eight fish floated up—all were dead...but one. I attempted a "flowing-water-resuscitation", but that fish eventually expired overnight. Most were in the range of 2 to 4 pounds.
Whoever caught each White Perch, Smallmouth Bass and Catfish had removed them from each monofilament leader and strung them on a blue stringer. (Meaning, each fish had swallowed the bait, and lastly, the fisherman had failed to secure the entire stringer).
Not wanting to make the long hike to Town or inviting unwanted critters, I allowed the dead fish to float away—that is—excepting one dead fish that was nabbed by a passing weasel, just four feet away
. He kept his eyes on me, and dragged the fish under some shoreline roots—disappearing entirely with his "catch". A neighbor tells me he saw an entire family of mink the same day. Mother Nature doesn't allow any waste.
My conclusion?
All these dead fish—this early in the tourist season—are the result of inexperienced "Fourth-of-July-Fishermen", who don't appreciate the responsible handling of their catch.
ETA:
My neighbor just told me that he found a
second blue stringer—this time, with
four dead fish on it!
Following my practice, he also "released" them.