Huge Fish Kill

["W"]

Coming tonight unless they go open every gate on all the weirs...
Happened a few years ago and temps were in upper 20's

Tonight we will have 12 hrs below freezing and Temps in the teens for 6 hrs

[BuckingFastard]

love to see what they do

[cgoods17]

not trying to be a smartass, i am really wondering why would there be a huge fish kill if they do not open the weirs?

[BuckingFastard]

water will freeze in shallow areas id imagine

["W"]

not trying to be a smartass, i am really wondering why would there be a huge fish kill if they do not open the weirs?

...

[cajunkid]

W, I remember that well. Had fish corpses all over the marsh. Fish naturally seek deep holes in winter for survival. I always thought refuges employed marine biologists? Would really like the rationale for keeping them closed.

[cajunkid]

Someone should call those folks today. Provide the above photos. I think it is unwise to think the govt officials in charge of the wiers can actually put cause and effect together. They are govt officials, and will not lose their jobs and suffer any economic loses no matter how many fish are killed.

[cgoods17]

so if the weirs are closed, the fish cant get to deeper water and will freeze?

["W"]

I emailed WL&F last night

I dont have a number for who controls the weirs

["W"]

so if the weirs are closed, the fish cant get to deeper water and will freeze?

Water is not going to freeze solid but its not deep enough back there to allow them to escape the elements like the lake will

The surface temp of the water tonight will kill thousands of reds if they stay back there

[cgoods17]

Water is not going to freeze solid but its not deep enough back there to allow them to escape the elements like the lake will

The surface temp of the water tonight will kill thousands of reds if they stay back there

got ya

[speck-chaser]

The only thing that might help is that we wont have quite the duration of below freezing weather like we had 4 years ago. Four years ago we had temps in the upper teens and low 20's 3 nights in a row over here, but the worst part was only getting to 30 during the day. Nothing would thaw out during the day. Today we will be above freezing, and tomorrow we should be back in the 40's. Still wouldn't take the chance though.

[Clampy]

Isn't grand bayou open ?


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[MathGeek]

The USGS gages in Hackberry show that the water temp has already dropped to 46 deg F, that the lake level is down two feet, and the salinity is low at 12 ppt.

There is very little risk under these conditions of opening the gates. Water will most likely flow out of the marsh and any backflow (into the marsh) is relatively low salinity. Since the temperature has already dropped to 46 deg F, there is a good chance of a fish kill, and strong motivation to open the gates.

See: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?08017095

["W"]

Water is about 3 1/2 ft low

[swamp snorkler]

Damn.....
that's low

["W"]

....

[swamp snorkler]

Now would be the time to go pick up some oysters

[meaux fishing]

time to go mark some reefs...

["W"]

time to go mark some reefs...

West cove

[meaux fishing]

West cove
Im on my way there now. Heard the 7lb trout are jumping in the boat there today

[swamp snorkler]

to cold to jump bring a dip net

[BloodKnot]

The USGS gages in Hackberry show that the water temp has already dropped to 46 deg F, that the lake level is down two feet, and the salinity is low at 12 ppt.

There is very little risk under these conditions of opening the gates. Water will most likely flow out of the marsh and any backflow (into the marsh) is relatively low salinity. Since the temperature has already dropped to 46 deg F, there is a good chance of a fish kill, and strong motivation to open the gates.

See: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?08017095


Would there be risk of the fresh water flowing out into big lake, and when the salt water comes back with some south wind the levels are messed up? Essentially, salt water would fill in the marsh and damage the eco system?

Not sure if knee jerk reactions are the best for long term planning.

[swamp snorkler]

Where are the fish kill picks?

["W"]

Where are the fish kill picks?

Takes a few days before they float up, we will know by next week!!

I have to leave the camp, freaken heater would not keep up!! When your 10feet in the air!! That floor is cold!!

[jldsc]

what do you do when the water gets pushed out waltrip? dont fish? or go up to the point?


Sent from an Apple Tree..

["W"]

what do you do when the water gets pushed out waltrip? dont fish? or go up to the point?


Sent from an Apple Tree..

About the only time the water gets pushed out that far is with a strong north winds for a few days

And you dont want to fish in that stuff

[jldsc]

ive been once for my podnas bachelor party but the water we caught it before the water got pushed out that far and it was a nasty lil boat ride.


Sent from an Apple Tree..

[Smalls]

W, I remember that well. Had fish corpses all over the marsh. Fish naturally seek deep holes in winter for survival. I always thought refuges employed marine biologists? Would really like the rationale for keeping them closed.

Someone should call those folks today. Provide the above photos. I think it is unwise to think the govt officials in charge of the wiers can actually put cause and effect together. They are govt officials, and will not lose their jobs and suffer any economic loses no matter how many fish are killed.

The Federal Refuge System was established for waterfowl habitat, not fisheries. Therefore, they do not employ marine biologists. USFWS may employ marine biologists, in fact I'm certain they do, but the refuge staff itself doesn't necessarily have a marine biologist, and even so, the wiers are no longer controlled by the government. A private entity is employed to operate the wiers as they were intended to be operated in the original Management Plan.

That being said, at the expense of a large fish kill, the wiers should be operated to allow the fishery to move around. But, I don't know what the science says about that.

It's definitely not deep enough back there. I imagine that water gets super cold, because I know from experience that it gets super hot in the summer.

[mstulb]

Friends fishing today said water temp was 39-43· in biglake in 1-3ft water

In the mid 50's last week.

Widgeon Grass > Redfish -?

[Top Dawg]

Friends fishing today said water temp was 39-43· in biglake in 1-3ft water

In the mid 50's last week.

Widgeon Grass > Redfish -?

YES!!!

["W"]

Widgeon Grass> Human Life behind weirs

[Smalls]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, widgeon grass.

I'm with y'all on this one. Those weirs ought to be opened, even at the expense of the grass. That could kill quite a few fish, and a few days wont harm any vegetation.

Problem is, like I said, there is a management plan that they have to go by.

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[Top Dawg]

It's just redfish. Just think of all the crab food that will make.

[BassYakR]

anxious to see if there were any fish killed

[Clampy]

I could be wrong but but they had some reports earlier in the week with pics and grand bayou looked wide open. Can anyone confirm that ?


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[ChrisD]

Everything North of 4 corners looks good unless they haven't popped up yet

[Clampy]

Everything North of 4 corners looks good unless they haven't popped up yet


I think were talking about behind the weirs only. Everything in the lake would just book it to the channel.


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[Natural Light Kid]

Any news on any fish kills that were being predicted by some?

["W"]

Any news on any fish kills that were being predicted by some?

No one has been back there that I know of, but i did hear that some were saw floating in duck ponds

Just hear say