Dying small Lake Trout in April

Andy · 03-09-2010, 10:16 AM

Hi Folks,

Late in April in both '08 and '09 there have been dozens(probably between 50-100) of small lake trout dying on the surface mainly in Salmon Meadow Cove but stretching as far as Becky's Garden. Does anyone else know about this or know the cause?

Thanks

Andy

LIforrelaxin · 03-09-2010, 10:56 AM

Andy,

I would suggest that you call, NH state Fish and Game. If they don't already know about it, I am sure they would like too. And if they do they can probably give you some information on why it is happening.

Jonas Pilot · 03-09-2010, 12:14 PM

Are you sure they weren't white perch?

Andy · 03-09-2010, 12:40 PM

JP,

I went and looked at some photos and I think you're right they are White Perch. Any ideas as to why?

Thanks for commenting.

Andy

MikeF-NH · 03-09-2010, 02:33 PM

The white perch spawn in April and look like they are dying but they are infact preparing the next generation. If you walk up to one laying on it's side, it will upright itself and slowly swim off then come back and resume when you walk away. I witnessed this for the first time first hand last spring in 19 mile bay.

tis · 03-09-2010, 02:45 PM

They do die a lot of the time. When we first saw that, we didn't know what in the world was happening. I have been told they are so heavy with the weight of their "babies" that they cannot hold themselves down and therfore float near the top of the water. I don't know if that is true but it seems to be.

Jonas Pilot · 03-09-2010, 05:21 PM

White perch are broadcast egg layers, this means they don't use a nest but expel their eggs in a suitable spawning habitat and the males expel their milt (sperm) shortly after. Because they don't protect or care for their young after mating "Mother Nature" in her infinite wisdom uses numbers to assure propagation of the species. A single large female white perch can expel over 1,000,000 eggs. These eggs are heavier than water and drift to the bottom of the spawning habitat. I searched on line and in my library to see if I could find an answer as to why they exhibit such a strange behavior but was unable to find anything. I wonder if, because the eggs weigh more then water, that once all those eggs are released, the fishes balance and equilibrium are temporarily "confused".

Pepper · 03-09-2010, 05:30 PM

JP - that's the most sensible explanation I could ever imagine. Good work!

Andy · 03-09-2010, 05:50 PM

Thanks so much for all the great info!

jmen24 · 03-10-2010, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pepper

JP - that's the most sensible explanation I could ever imagine. Good work!

Agreed!!!

03-09-2010, 10:16 AM	#1
Andy Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 5 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Dying small Lake Trout in April Hi Folks, Late in April in both '08 and '09 there have been dozens(probably between 50-100) of small lake trout dying on the surface mainly in Salmon Meadow Cove but stretching as far as Becky's Garden. Does anyone else know about this or know the cause? Thanks Andy

03-09-2010, 10:56 AM	#2
LIforrelaxin Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas, Lake Ray Hubbard and NH, Long Island Winnipesaukee Posts: 2,871 Thanks: 1,037 Thanked 892 Times in 524 Posts	Andy, I would suggest that you call, NH state Fish and Game. If they don't already know about it, I am sure they would like too. And if they do they can probably give you some information on why it is happening. __________________ Life is about how much time you can spend relaxing... I do it on an island that isn't really an island.....

03-09-2010, 12:14 PM	#3
Jonas Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365 Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,047 Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts	Lake trout? Are you sure they weren't white perch?

03-09-2010, 02:33 PM	#5
MikeF-NH Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 318 Thanks: 2 Thanked 120 Times in 80 Posts	White perch The white perch spawn in April and look like they are dying but they are infact preparing the next generation. If you walk up to one laying on it's side, it will upright itself and slowly swim off then come back and resume when you walk away. I witnessed this for the first time first hand last spring in 19 mile bay.

03-09-2010, 05:30 PM	#8
Pepper Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Laconia, NH Posts: 1,284 Thanks: 409 Thanked 155 Times in 40 Posts	JP - that's the most sensible explanation I could ever imagine. Good work! __________________ Never waste time lamenting what was. Simply celebrate what is!

The Following User Says Thank You to Jonas Pilot For This Useful Post:
Andy (03-09-2010)

03-09-2010, 12:40 PM	#4
Andy Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 5 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	JP, I went and looked at some photos and I think you're right they are White Perch. Any ideas as to why? Thanks for commenting. Andy

03-09-2010, 02:45 PM	#6
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,730 Thanks: 752 Thanked 1,457 Times in 1,014 Posts	They do die a lot of the time. When we first saw that, we didn't know what in the world was happening. I have been told they are so heavy with the weight of their "babies" that they cannot hold themselves down and therfore float near the top of the water. I don't know if that is true but it seems to be.

03-09-2010, 05:21 PM	#7
Jonas Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365 Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,047 Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts	White perch are broadcast egg layers, this means they don't use a nest but expel their eggs in a suitable spawning habitat and the males expel their milt (sperm) shortly after. Because they don't protect or care for their young after mating "Mother Nature" in her infinite wisdom uses numbers to assure propagation of the species. A single large female white perch can expel over 1,000,000 eggs. These eggs are heavier than water and drift to the bottom of the spawning habitat. I searched on line and in my library to see if I could find an answer as to why they exhibit such a strange behavior but was unable to find anything. I wonder if, because the eggs weigh more then water, that once all those eggs are released, the fishes balance and equilibrium are temporarily "confused".

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Jonas Pilot For This Useful Post:
jmen24 (03-10-2010), Pepper (03-09-2010)

03-09-2010, 05:50 PM	#9
Andy Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 5 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks so much for all the great info!