Bass & Pickerel Feeding Frenzy...

[buzzbaiter]

Long story short: two ponds, 7.5 hrs fishing, lots of bass and pickerel. Enjoy the pics except the dead bass pics. They were victims of a harsh winter. I found 5 today all between 15-20".About a hundred dead sunfish.

http://s1060.photobucket.com/user/Bu...%2018th%202015

[tautog]

what lure(s) were working?

[buzzbaiter]

Surface poppers, buzzbait and a few on a spinnerbait. Small sizes like 1/4 oz or less. Dark colors black or gray.

[antgogz]

very harsh winter....one of the lakes I fish at had a major fish kill. I found a 22 inch bass washed up on the side of the lake. I did some research and when winters are real long with a lot of snow on top of the lake, sunlight does not get into the lake and the plants do not get photosynthesis which causes oxygen depletion in the lake and the fish die. very sad. But I am glad you go some nice bass and pickerel on your trip.

[buzzbaiter]

I see the effects of winterkill far too often because I tend to fish very shallow ponds. I've fished this pond for about 8 years and first time I've seen it. I knew before I reached the water with the smell in the air. Thankfully far more dead bluegills - all adults - than bass. Seeing big bass corpses like that breaks your heart. But obviously some survived so they'll spawn & grow bigger this year.