Weed kill on Moses Lake

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Russell Baker on July 7, 2011 at 4:38pm

Nick,

 

I hope you were wearing your gas mask.

 

I believe when they do that sort of thing that they can hurt the overall small bass population especially the fry of both smallmouth and largemouth due to where they can both feed and hide. Have seen them do this in many lakes in the south.

Permalink Reply by John Mark Minica on July 7, 2011 at 4:50pm

They did this recently on Steilacoom, and I saw alot of dead fish afterwards. I was there a day or two after they did it(not knowing before hand that they did this), and the fishing was not good that day.

Permalink Reply by Jordan Doucet on July 7, 2011 at 6:15pm

Seems to me like anything powerful enough to kill those weeds can't have a great effect on the bass population that tends to live in that type of cover, especially the fry like Russ said. 

 

I'm sure M squared will be able to weigh in this a bit better.

Permalink Reply by Marc Marcantonio on July 7, 2011 at 9:18pm

In most cases weed killer, if applied properly under the correct conditions, will not hurt the overall population of bass.  It will as some have surmised directly affect the bite for sometimes several days.  Killing weeds will drive out the organisms that live in the weeds, making them easy prey for predators.  They have to leave the weeds due to oxygen depletion as bacteria decomposes the dead weeds.  So an angler would be wise to move to another region of the lake where the weed killer is not applied.

 

If weed killer is applied incorrectly, or the conditions change after application unexpectedly, then a fish kill can occur.  Most fish will move out of the area prior to being harmed, but the weak and diseased fish are more highly susceptible.

 

ciao,
Marc Marcantonio

Permalink Reply by Steve Hastings on July 7, 2011 at 10:39pm

 

Having seen what happened with Duck Lake,  it has severely effected the fishing.  Now that said, the key is what they are actually doing.  It may not be as severe, but only WDFW would know on a relative basis.

 

I doubt there are very many situations where it will improve the fishing. This is about water skiing, plain and simple.

Permalink Reply by Jerry on July 7, 2011 at 10:48pm

Touching on what Steve said, Duck Lake has suffered. Long Lake in Kitsap Co has also had a weed kill and it seems to have affected the fishing...or so it seems to at least coincided with a decline in fishing. Is it a misapplication or just a cycle? Who knows. I just know the fishing at Long and Duck was better before the applications. One thing I have noticed at Long, the milfoil and grass have all but disappeared, but the elodea has gotten thicker...hmmmm