Alewive die off

[GAMBLER]

Fishing east of sandy yesterday there was a ton of dead alewives all over the surface. I figured it was just stress from the long winter but it still does not sit well with me. Anyone else seeing dead alewives?

[Sk8man]

Sure doesn't sound good Brian. Let's hope it isn't something that is happening all over the lake.....

[FINDERS KEEPERS II]

Last weekend there were a lot off the Niagara River.

[cpate1]

fished out of Oswego Tuesday and did not see any dead alewives at all

 

[FISHINMAN]

Brian we didn't see any dead yesterday west of Sandy

[1fish2fish]

According to Wikipedia, it's not unusual for Alewives (Moon eyes) to have a seasonal die off.

 

Back in the 50's as a kid growing up in Oswego, I can remember the 'silver band' all along the lake shore composed of dead alewives.  You could hardly get close to the shore because of the stink.  It lasted about a week or two.

 

Jim

[Gill-T]

The lake needs to warm up so the plankton food chain starts up again. Alewives in Ontario are relegated to feeding on Copepods and Mysis shrimp zooplankton in deep lake layers during the winter. These zooplankton procreate during the fall and winter then die off. Other plankton species need to fill the void in the spring and summer. These dead alewives could be from severe temp changes, life cycle death or they may be starving at this point.

[devoknevo]

There's a ton of dead shad floating around in I. bay too, which isn't uncommen for this time of year.

Last weekend we even hooked a zombie-shad while trolling.

We laughed like crazy 'cuz it even took the spoon in it's mouth!... and the meat just falls off the bone!

[GAMBLER]

The lake needs to warm up so the plankton food chain starts up again. Alewives in Ontario are relegated to feeding on Copepods and Mysis shrimp zooplankton in deep lake layers during the winter. These zooplankton procreate during the fall and winter then die off. Other plankton species need to fill the void in the spring and summer. These dead alewives could be from severe temp changes, life cycle death or they may be starving at this point.

It's warming good off sandy. 49 degrees out to fifty foot yesterday. One hell of a temp break in fifty. This warm up coming will kick start things.

[muskie magnet]

Did you guys catch any fish west of Sandy yesterday?  I wanted to get out but got hung up at work. Any info would be appreciated, hoping to get out this weekend . Thanks

[shorething]

Creek channel was loaded with them yesterday as well as today . Gulls everywhere. Had a pretty good morning on my rock ,too .

[ontherise]

Dead fishes in the canal too.

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[CaptainEyes]

Same thing on Otisco lake this year as soon as the ice went off the shore line was loaded with mooneyes but the seagulls had them cleaned up in a few days.

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[gokudl3]

We'll I guess that rules out the canal for my weekend plans

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[Gill-T]

Brian I can say without hesitation there is no problem with the bait levels. Just got in from a frustrating day fishing off Olcott/Wilson. The bait has come in to the 200' levels in large numbers.....just wish there were hooks around it!!!

[1fish2fish]

The alewives in Wilson Harbor yesterday reminded me of Asian carp, They were flying out of the water as you passed in your boat!  The gulls were having a feast!

 

Jim

[Mortigan]

Like locusts...

 

 

[markmonkey1]

A massive die off is normal after they spawn---that's actually one of the reasons we get to fish for king salmon---in the 60's, salmon were stocked in lake O as a predator to help control the massive alewive population and reduce the #'s washing ashore. Look what it turned into!