Dying small Lake Trout in April

[Andy]

Hi Folks,

Late in April in both '08 and '09 there have been dozens(probably between 50-100) of small lake trout dying on the surface mainly in Salmon Meadow Cove but stretching as far as Becky's Garden. Does anyone else know about this or know the cause?

Thanks

Andy

[LIforrelaxin]

Andy,

I would suggest that you call, NH state Fish and Game. If they don't already know about it, I am sure they would like too. And if they do they can probably give you some information on why it is happening.

[Jonas Pilot]

Are you sure they weren't white perch?

[Andy]

JP,

I went and looked at some photos and I think you're right they are White Perch. Any ideas as to why?

Thanks for commenting.

Andy

[MikeF-NH]

The white perch spawn in April and look like they are dying but they are infact preparing the next generation. If you walk up to one laying on it's side, it will upright itself and slowly swim off then come back and resume when you walk away. I witnessed this for the first time first hand last spring in 19 mile bay.

[tis]

They do die a lot of the time. When we first saw that, we didn't know what in the world was happening. I have been told they are so heavy with the weight of their "babies" that they cannot hold themselves down and therfore float near the top of the water. I don't know if that is true but it seems to be.

[Jonas Pilot]

White perch are broadcast egg layers, this means they don't use a nest but expel their eggs in a suitable spawning habitat and the males expel their milt (sperm) shortly after. Because they don't protect or care for their young after mating "Mother Nature" in her infinite wisdom uses numbers to assure propagation of the species. A single large female white perch can expel over 1,000,000 eggs. These eggs are heavier than water and drift to the bottom of the spawning habitat. I searched on line and in my library to see if I could find an answer as to why they exhibit such a strange behavior but was unable to find anything. I wonder if, because the eggs weigh more then water, that once all those eggs are released, the fishes balance and equilibrium are temporarily "confused".

[Pepper]

JP - that's the most sensible explanation I could ever imagine. Good work! :)

[Andy]

Thanks so much for all the great info!

[jmen24]

JP - that's the most sensible explanation I could ever imagine. Good work! :)

Agreed!!!:)