- Joined
- Mar 11, 2001
- Messages
- 70,011
- Reaction score
- 1,005
LAKE ELSINORE FISH DIE-OFF.
Jim Matthews column 8/13/09
In spite of what is being spread on some fishing forums on the Internet, the Lake Elsinore fish dieoff in late July was very limited in scope and did not destroy the fishery.
Pat Kilroy, director of the lake and aquatic resources department for the city, said the dieoff happened on Sunday, July 26, and only seemed to last about one day. It was probably due by oxygen depletion caused by a succession of warm days and nights with little wind. The total toll was about 6,000 gamefish, including about 300 wipers, and up to a million threadfin shad. That represents only about two gamefish per surface acre and about three percent of the shad population.
While the numbers were "fairly insignificant" overall Kilroy said it was still painful "to see those six and seven pound wipers dead along the beach."
Kilroy said the fishing has been about normal for this time of year since the dieoff. A local bass club fished last Friday and four anglers caught 13 bass, along with four channel cats and a crappie. He then sent me a photo of Mike Fuller of Lake Elsinore with three catfish looking to all be about three pounds caught on Monday this week. On Wednesday, Chip Gilbert of San Marcos caught and released nine largemouth, including a 16-incher that probably weighed over three pounds.
"It appears the vast majority of fish are actively feeding -- and biting," said Kilroy Thursday.
Jim Matthews column 8/13/09
In spite of what is being spread on some fishing forums on the Internet, the Lake Elsinore fish dieoff in late July was very limited in scope and did not destroy the fishery.
Pat Kilroy, director of the lake and aquatic resources department for the city, said the dieoff happened on Sunday, July 26, and only seemed to last about one day. It was probably due by oxygen depletion caused by a succession of warm days and nights with little wind. The total toll was about 6,000 gamefish, including about 300 wipers, and up to a million threadfin shad. That represents only about two gamefish per surface acre and about three percent of the shad population.
While the numbers were "fairly insignificant" overall Kilroy said it was still painful "to see those six and seven pound wipers dead along the beach."
Kilroy said the fishing has been about normal for this time of year since the dieoff. A local bass club fished last Friday and four anglers caught 13 bass, along with four channel cats and a crappie. He then sent me a photo of Mike Fuller of Lake Elsinore with three catfish looking to all be about three pounds caught on Monday this week. On Wednesday, Chip Gilbert of San Marcos caught and released nine largemouth, including a 16-incher that probably weighed over three pounds.
"It appears the vast majority of fish are actively feeding -- and biting," said Kilroy Thursday.
