Asian Carp die off KY and Barkley

[SLP]

KYFW reporting a die off on Barkley and Kentucky. With every one of these I always hope they can learn some way to key on a method of killing them off.



Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources

Staff are investigating unexplained deaths or reduced activity in Silver Carp fish in Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley.
Silver Carp seems to be the only species affected. If you see other fish species dead or behaving unusually in these lakes, please contact Jessica Morris at 270-759-5295.

[eddie_m]

I was down there with Geofisher on consecutive weekends in late March and early April. Dead silver carp were everywhere. Sick looking ones were slowly swimming around the surface in the shallows. I'd love to know what had gotten to them, because we need more of it!

[GeoFisher]

I was down there with Geofisher on consecutive weekends in late March and early April. Dead silver carp were everywhere. Sick looking ones were slowly swimming around the surface in the shallows. I'd love to know what had gotten to them, because we need more of it!

Yea, I had totally forgot about that Eddie.............They are definitely sickly, and lots, and lots were dead..........

I hope they have something and will ALL DIE........

[smashdn]

Maybe the cormorants will eat the dead silvers and die too.

[Craddman]

There were 7 of us fishing in Little Bear this past weekend (Apr. 20-23) and saw most of the aforementioned traits. I didn't notice the "motivated cruising" what we saw could be described as "unmotivated cruising" at the surface, swimming slowly to the point you could drag a lure across it. We also noticed many beaching themselves flopping up into the rip-rap. The smell was bad since many had done the same before them. I only noticed the silver carp but there may have been other species. Not so sure about the cormorants but I'd be happy if the Canadian geese would eat a few and go back to Canada. All they're good for is honking and $hi++ing

[Lynnylove]

I dont know why there isnt more press on this. The fish kill at jonathan creek is getting worse not better. It started with carp i can attest in last 2 or 3 weeks but then a gar rolled up. Today there is a pink fish not sure what kind lookes kind of like a snapper but im not from here and dont know if this lake has snapper. Also now crawling on shore and dying two turtles so far. This could be very serious and I don't like that dept of fish is playing it like its only carp its not!

[SLP]

I dont know why there isnt more press on this. The fish kill at jonathan creek is getting worse not better. It started with carp i can attest in last 2 or 3 weeks but then a gar rolled up. Today there is a pink fish not sure what kind lookes kind of like a snapper but im not from here and dont know if this lake has snapper. Also now crawling on shore and dying two turtles so far. This could be very serious and I don't like that dept of fish is playing it like its only carp its not!

You should call them and inform them. That is the kind of information they are asking for if anyone witnesses it.

If you see other fish species dead or behaving unusually in these lakes, please contact Jessica Morris at 270-759-5295

[Lynnylove]

You should call them and inform them. That is the kind of information they are asking for if anyone witnesses it.

Yup have already called them and reported the first time they said it was just carp and the second time they said they are monitoring the situation. I sure hope things improve soon. I don't dig the carp but i do appreciate a healthy ecosystem 😊

[dogcreek]

What they have came up with for the carp die is horse poop...best I remember they came from the South(were they have warmer winters) and moved to the North...and there origin is Asia.were its is warm and all kind of Bad crap in the waters...just my thoughts...

[crappiepappy]

I dont know why there isnt more press on this. The fish kill at jonathan creek is getting worse not better. It started with carp i can attest in last 2 or 3 weeks but then a gar rolled up. Today there is a pink fish not sure what kind lookes kind of like a snapper but im not from here and dont know if this lake has snapper. Also now crawling on shore and dying two turtles so far. This could be very serious and I don't like that dept of fish is playing it like its only carp its not!

No ... ain't no "snapper" in these parts. It was probably a Freshwater Drum (sunburned ?? ) as they do look similar to a snapper.

Possibly these fish/turtles have eaten some or parts of the infected Asian Silver Carp ?? KDFWR says the carp are dying because of the warm winter (no fat reserves) and then the rigors of spawning are starving them & making them susceptible to bacterial infections. At least that's the latest theory.

[SLP]

If warm winters make it hard for them to survive, how in the world did they thrive in Mississippi and other southern states all these years?

[slamson71]

My dad and I fished down there a couple weeks ago and saw an Eagle take one from the shallows and watch it eat the carp as the carp was wiggling still. Also i thought i saw a bigger carp so i flipped to it and it bit... turned out to be a 6-4 bass on a bed lol