Elijah.Loves.Fishin
11/12/2011 5:39:00 PMTypo Correction: I know that they're tough fish but either something with the weather or in the WATER doesn't agree with them.
islandbass
11/12/2011 11:35:00 PMWell done, Elijah!!!! Let me know your next when and where. We have got to drop a line some time. I need some of your fish catchin' luck. Never caught a brown trout or cat. Congrats on the new gear too.
Elijah.Loves.Fishin
11/12/2011 11:41:00 PMthanks guys! @ islandbass - definitely, i am planning to hit up green lake again next weekend :) and the catfish was taken from a seagull, i didn't catch it :P
islandbass
11/13/2011 10:06:00 AMJust let me know what kind of gear I need to bring. Although it might be a little late for smallies, we could probably hit Union too.
Elijah.Loves.Fishin
11/13/2011 10:12:00 AMas far as i know, union is done from shore. i tried a few times with nothing to show for it :(
SculpinKing
11/13/2011 2:52:00 PMMight want to give WDFW a heads up on those Channel Cats. They just got planted a couple weeks ago and they would probably like to know they're having severe survival issues since they paid a pretty penny for them. That's too bad, I was hoping to catch some in a few years.
The Quadfather
11/14/2011 12:44:00 PMHa Ha... that's not a Channel cat!........................... Now, http://washingtonlakes.com/ReportList.aspx?id=446&t=1&page=21
Now that is a greenlake Channel cat!
Now that is a greenlake Channel cat!
Elijah.Loves.Fishin
11/14/2011 12:53:00 PMO.O were there channel cats in green lake prior to this? o.O that thing is a monster. almost hard to believe whether it really came out of green lake or not..
N E 1 FISSION
11/17/2011 2:23:00 PMThank you very much for forwarding the washingtonlakes.com post on to us. On Oct. 5th of this year, we planted channel catfish into a few lakes in our region, including Green Lake. Although food scarcity may be an issue, since these fish were planted later in the year, the behavior of fish at the surface (slowly dying) suggests to me that these fish may be stressed by water quality conditions. I will have to check the dissolved oxygen levels in the lake to confirm this.
As you know, we have experienced some severe weather these past several weeks (high wind, heavy rain, hail) that may have caused a quick “turnover” where the bottom, denser layer of water is mixed with the surface waters. This can cause two things: low dissolved oxygen and release of hydrogen sulfide. These conditions are created by the breakdown of organic matter, such as dead vegetation, on the bottom. When the lake is stratified or when a lake turns over slowly, water quality indicators usually remain within a nonlethal range for fish. However, a quick turnover can be lethal. It does surprise me that the channel catfish were affected, and not other, more sensitive species like trout, but the stress of the transplant and subsequent lack of food may have played a role. My hope is you witnessed a partial kill, and the majority of our catfish plants are still alive and well.
I wish I had more answers for you, but I do appreciate the information. Please contact us again in the future, as we continue to rely on angler’s reports to inform management.
Best Wishes,
Danny
Danny Garrett, Ph.D.
Warmwater Fisheries Biologist - Region 4
16018 Mill Creek Blvd.
Mill Creek, WA 98012-1541
Phone: (425) 775-1311 Ext. 101
Email: dan.garrett@dfw.wa.gov
As you know, we have experienced some severe weather these past several weeks (high wind, heavy rain, hail) that may have caused a quick “turnover” where the bottom, denser layer of water is mixed with the surface waters. This can cause two things: low dissolved oxygen and release of hydrogen sulfide. These conditions are created by the breakdown of organic matter, such as dead vegetation, on the bottom. When the lake is stratified or when a lake turns over slowly, water quality indicators usually remain within a nonlethal range for fish. However, a quick turnover can be lethal. It does surprise me that the channel catfish were affected, and not other, more sensitive species like trout, but the stress of the transplant and subsequent lack of food may have played a role. My hope is you witnessed a partial kill, and the majority of our catfish plants are still alive and well.
I wish I had more answers for you, but I do appreciate the information. Please contact us again in the future, as we continue to rely on angler’s reports to inform management.
Best Wishes,
Danny
Danny Garrett, Ph.D.
Warmwater Fisheries Biologist - Region 4
16018 Mill Creek Blvd.
Mill Creek, WA 98012-1541
Phone: (425) 775-1311 Ext. 101
Email: dan.garrett@dfw.wa.gov
Elijah.Loves.Fishin
11/17/2011 3:36:00 PMinteresting. makes sense. i figured it had to do with being transplanted in, adjusting to the water quality, and the nasty weather we've been having.
N E 1 FISSION
11/17/2011 3:42:00 PMHi Elijah, had to follow up with this, thanks SculpinKing for the foresight to forward this posting to WDFW, will try to go out more often, holdovers are nice, if you can get 'im
SculpinKing
11/18/2011 9:30:00 AMThanks for reporting back N E 1. I am certainly not a biologist, but I agree with Dan's confusion about why it would effect the channel catfish. It seems like catfish generally survive in the worst water around.
I believe there have been Channel Catfish plants in greenlake prior to this, but I don't have time to go dig up the info. There was a big one sitting on the shoreline last year that's back in the reports a bit. There were also, strangely enough, Tiger Muskie's planted in 2000 IIRC. They are mostly dead of old age by now, but I bet there's one or two still kicking in there.
I believe there have been Channel Catfish plants in greenlake prior to this, but I don't have time to go dig up the info. There was a big one sitting on the shoreline last year that's back in the reports a bit. There were also, strangely enough, Tiger Muskie's planted in 2000 IIRC. They are mostly dead of old age by now, but I bet there's one or two still kicking in there.
Elijah.Loves.Fishin
11/18/2011 10:45:00 AMi also heard about the tiger muskies that were planted. no one has seen or caught one in so long (at least not reported it if they did). i also wonder if there is still one or two lingering around. it would be amazing to catch one!