We were out just cruising around on Sunday and saw only 5 floaters. Between 18" and 22". Went from the dam up to Bear Creek through the river channel - also rode around Goat Island/Ballentine/Susie Ebert/Yacht Cove. I was expecting to see more so was glad to only see a handful. I don’t know but there are probably a few folks out there letting some of these fish go…instead of sticking to 5 and done…maybe thinking they have to be 21" (?). All speculation. I doubt that some of the summertime “towers” fisherman know all the rules, especially given that they changed this year. Who knows really, but hope the fish can make it through the next month either way. Like you guys, I definitely don’t want to see a fish kill like we had several years ago. the fishing has finally recovered…hate to see it go the other way.
I’m wondering if the oxygen could be deeper this year with all of the water coming in the top and out of the bottom. If the “bottom” sensor is set at 80’, it doesn’t necessarily mean the Oxygen isn’t higher 10’ below. Several things make me think this is the case. Fish were very deep early this year, Temperatures at the bottom sensor have gone up more than I have ever seen on that chart in the past. And right now the bottom O2 is reading 1.5%, if that was that was the level where the fish are there would be a lot more dead fish. Wishful thinking anyway, fingers crossed.
I’m pretty sure I marked the thermocline at 80 feet deep almost a month ago near Spence, though the fish were anywhere from 60ft to 100ft and very active. With the sensitivity cranked up, there was a clear section/delineation of water at 80ft that appeared to be the thermocline to me. Curious if anyone else saw the same…
The only reason I bring that up is because I concur with Tom above…the fish were deep earlier this year. Was kind of surprising but based on all of the discussion about rain levels/running towers, etc. I guess its clear why they went deep. I know I’ve never seen a summer where I didn’t have to turn my sprinkler system on but ONCE in the month of July. That’s unheard of for this state. I don’t recall a summer like this one.
Yep…The summer of 2013…almost daily rain, nice green grass, “struggling” stripers…and plenty of mosquitoes.
I was very pessimistic a couple of weeks when staying totally focused on that “bottom” O2 reading. I am alot more optomistic now that I realize how little I actually know about all the other variables that are deciding factors on their fate in he summer. Seems like this month can’t end fast enough. lol
Actually, it looks like it was into very early Sept when many of the fish showed up floating in 07. I ran across this DNR News Release when seaching on info on the 2007 kill off. It’s dated Sept 10.
DNR has begun collecting the floaters this year and keeping track. Not sure if its a daily thing or couple times a week but my buddy witnessed them picking them up twice this year. Would be interested to hear there numbers.
It would be nice if the SCDNR posted what they are picking up daily or weekly on their website. Also, what they currently think is causing the floaters and if there is cause for concern due to low O2. I guess we could find out by using the freedom of info act if there are more sightings of a lot of floaters. Hopefully these are throwbacks or fish that came unbuttoned in the warm water. The ones I saw, from the dam, floating last week all appeared to be bigger than 21" probably closer to 28" or more. Not what would normally be thrown back by anyone.
DNR normally comes to the December club meeting for their state of the lake presentation. We get gill net data and are able to get a lot of ■■■■■■■■ on summer conditions and die offs for the year.
Expect as turnover sometime between November 7 and 15.
Rick K
Rick,
I didn’t know it was possible to predict the lake turnover.
What factors go into predicting the turnover? How long after turnover does one have to wait before fishing becomes good/predictable again? Still learning…
It turns over the same time every year. Give or take a week or so. Thats how it is predictable. Also watch sceg sensors. When the top temp matches the bottom temp the turn over will start. Fishing is amazing the week before and takes a week or 2 after the turn to turn back on.
I remember well when it turned over last year. LOL
The fish were on fire and anyone who can fog a mirror was catching them jigging spoons and/or topwater for the entire month of Oct., so we planned an artificials only get together/tx for Nov 4. The lake turned over about 3 days before and I believe a grand total of 5 or 6 fish were caught that day.
I still would like to do that again this year, but we’ll go for early to mid Oct this time.
It turns over the same time every year. Give or take a week or so. Thats how it is predictable.
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Ahhh, I see. I think I will go ahead and add it to my calendar to start looking at the sensors at the end of October. Thanks for the info fellas.
We’ll just play it by ear and plan something when the spoon/top water bite turns on. It’s been a pretty weird summer and I wouldn’t want to plan anything too far ahead based on patterns from other years.
This time we won’t plan so far ahead. To make it easier to plan on a fairly short notice (2 weeks?) we can change the sign up too. I’m not going to worry about everyone signing up and sending me $ up front. Still will get everyone to sign up on here ahead of time, but then just show up at the weigh in with your $5/person. You have plenty of notice, so start saving up now!
I thought Hilton worked out well for a weigh in that time of year.
even though the surface is down to 5 degrees this week 80.5*, the bottom temp went up 3* and the bottom O2 is down to .8. I would guess if they are not dying in huge numbers right now there has to be some level in the lake with adequate O2 and temp.
Well, if there was any doubt that they a finding refuge in better water, that can be eliminated now. Currently the bottom reading is showing .1 and it was 0 earlier today. Good to see the schooling activity. I’m just getting smaller ones on top, but it sounds like some people are getting some decent legit keepers too.
Gonna get out for a bit before work tomorrow and try and get my first striper (actually first anything) on a fly rod.
