Fish Creek is Dead!

[rossiscratch]

Many of you know Fish Creek to be a great place to fish. From early spring to late fall, the fish are always great and the scenery is second to none. I've watched this area grow over the past couple of years and have been so impressed with the size and health of the fish.

With that said, I planned a great day at fish creek this morning. We drove there and noticed that construction work is being done on the dam currently. As we walked from the dam down, that there were a lot of dead fish and not 1 live one as well which was very odd.
As we walked further downstream we ran into some people that talked to the fish and game earlier. The Fish and game said that something is killing the fish. It may be something from the construction on the dam or maybe something else. They mentioned that it hasn't affected the river further downstream.

We walked down to the area where you can drive into the middle section. Very few fish down lower and the ones there were not healthy. There is even a dead cow half way in the water just before the first bridge that is decaying!

Why wouldn't fish and game post anything for those souls that would go fishing there? If something is killing the fish and they aren't 100% sure, wouldn't a sign be a great communication to fishermen? This is not to mention the fact that this great fishery is now going to take a years to get back to full health.
Very upsetting that this place has fallen victim to another "well managed government project."

[GBENCHKILLER]

im pretty sure we ran into you guys, u passed us on the train tracks, anyway those fish are defiantly screwed up. they where in really shallow water and not moving till they were almost touched or pocked with a fly rod tip, plus there was dead fish allover the place, and the first few holes below the dam were barren of fish. which is counter opposite from passed exp. we did run into some healthy fish farther down stream, but not tones. plus there was a guy in a small motorboat in the river WTF, i dont know if thats legal? i also saw that dead cow that some jacknob put a stick in it's a$$. what a sad day on fish creek, the problem might be that nasty stench coming from the construction zone on the dam.

[royalcutt]

I think we bumped into both you guys. I've seen the ups and downs of the flows over the years , but whatever is going on now seems completely different . Lots of dead fish, and the ones that were alive looked like they wished they were dead. It wasn't species specific either browns, bows, suckers, carp all dead or sick.

[S&P]

Hopefully they figure out the problem and the fish that make it have a growth spurt.

[ben trod]

I doubt the dead cow would kill the fish. My only reasoning for this is the number of dead deer and elk i have seen and almost tripped over on the bottom of a perfectly healthy trout stream this spring (at least five or six in the same river). Two of them were elk. I would wager the construction would have more to do w it.

[F/V Gulf Ventur]

Water samples?? Paging Lonnie!!!!!!!!!!!

[GBENCHKILLER]

i did catch some good fighting healthy fish, they had good body mass, and there heads weren't larger then there bodies, like u would see on a brookie in the uintas after a long cold winter. the fish that were dead look healthy when they died, i've got a pic of a 24 inch brown i found dead, hope they figure this issue out.

[Jeff Camomile]

There is even a dead cow half way in the water just before the first bridge that is decaying!


The cow drank the water, maybe?? Anybody talk to the rancher that is just a few hundred yards below the dam? Or was he not there?

[mvtoro]

I doubt the dead cow would kill the fish. My only reasoning for this is the number of dead deer and elk i have seen and almost tripped over on the bottom of a perfectly healthy trout stream this spring (at least five or six in the same river). Two of them were elk. I would wager the construction would have more to do w it.

Decaying cow probably wouldn't kill anything, and if there were fish dead upstream from the cow then you know that's not the problem. If the fish were killed off all the way up to the dam, then the problem is no lower than the dam.

[mvtoro]

I think we bumped into both you guys. I've seen the ups and downs of the flows over the years , but whatever is going on now seems completely different . Lots of dead fish, and the ones that were alive looked like they wished they were dead. It wasn't species specific either browns, bows, suckers, carp all dead or sick.

When CARP start to die off something is seriously screwed up.

[jonescort]

I just hope it hasn't affected the lake at all. Has anybody heard whats gong on?

[Grizz]

I just hope it hasn't affected the lake at all. Has anybody heard whats gong on?

Open water all over, big fish cruising the banks & eating any well dressed fly. BTW, it's not a lake dingleberry.

that's what's going on young whipper snapper.

peace

[Nich]

Open water all over, big fish cruising the banks & eating any well dressed fly. BTW, it's not a lake dingleberry.

that's what's going on young whipper snapper.

peace

Shit Grizz who let the cat out of the bag on this RESERVOIR???

[Grizz]

Shit Grizz who let the cat out of the bag on this RESERVOIR???

Shit, Grizz, cat & bag should never be used in the same sentence.

peace

[rossiscratch]

Yeah I know the cow in the water most likely didn't cause the major issue on the river, however it shows the lack of concern for the river. The rancher as well as others should clean up after themselves. That includes the ranchers with their cattle.

I had a couple of calls today and none of the fly shops knew of whats going on there. Needless to say they are concerned and said that calls to the DWR will be made to see who's at fault and why its happened.

Just a sad story in general. I hope as well that they can plant and that the fish make a great come back, and quick. I love fishing that place.

[Grizz]

Yeah I know the cow in the water most likely didn't cause the major issue on the river, however it shows the lack of concern for the river. The rancher as well as others should clean up after themselves. That includes the ranchers with their cattle.

perhaps they had more urgent things to take care of. It's not like their "Dead Cow Unlimited' or anything. I'm sure tending to over 10,000 head of cattle, .....nursing.....might have kept them from cleaning it up. If you are the true steward, as you preach, you would have eradicated the carcass yourself. But, that would be too much work for a guy who would rather just bitch? eh? Get evolved man, don't ask, just DO!l

Just remember, the dead cow was only inches from dry ground & a more safe, environmentally friendly location.

peace

[Sutah]

Quote "perhaps they had more urgent things to take care of. It's not like their "Dead Cow Unlimited' or anything. I'm sure tending to over 10,000 head of cattle, .....nursing.....might have kept them from cleaning it up. If you are the true steward, as you preach, you would have eradicated the carcass yourself. But, that would be too much work for a guy who would rather just bitch? eh? Get evolved man, don't ask, just DO!l"

"Just remember, the dead cow was only inches from dry ground & a more safe, environmentally friendly location".

peace


Dude...

[Grizz]

Dude...

yes?

peace

[Jason B]

How was the flow? Enough O2? My guess off the bat would be that who ever is doing the construction on the dam had some kind of chemical spill that made its way to the river. If it was in the reservior you probably would be hearing complaints of fish dead along the banks of the lake. However if they did spill something they are liable for cleanup and such.

[royalcutt]

Flow was at 150 cfs, pretty decent amount of water running. Especially considering how low it can be.

[GBENCHKILLER]

How was the flow? Enough O2? My guess off the bat would be that who ever is doing the construction on the dam had some kind of chemical spill that made its way to the river. If it was in the reservior you probably would be hearing complaints of fish dead along the banks of the lake. However if they did spill something they are liable for cleanup and such.

i don't think winter kill would have done this, even though the flows go to 10cfs during the winter. the flows have been good for a few weeks. these fish look like they've been dead just a few days, plus there is a very nasty shitflavored sent in the air and its not the nappy outhouse this time. or the shriveled dead cow that probably fell through the virgin early winter ice. that cows been there a while.

[Jason B]

It doesnt sound like winter kill. Thats why i am thinking that with the high numbers of fish dead in the upper section and less as you go down, as well as there being construction above would make me think something got in the water that caused a intense kill upsteam where it would be more concentrated and less down stream where it would be diluted. Just a guess.

[Nich]

It doesnt sound like winter kill. Thats why i am thinking that with the high numbers of fish dead in the upper section and less as you go down, as well as there being construction above would make me think something got in the water that caused a intense kill upsteam where it would be more concentrated and less down stream where it would be diluted. Just a guess.

I think that makes sense! Who knows what it could have been though? And I don't think we'll ever know...

[F/V Gulf Ventur]

I think that makes sense! Who knows what it could have been though? And I don't think we'll ever know...

Well.... a water sample might be an idea or running tests on the dead fish ; )

[cheech]

Well.... a water sample might be an idea or running tests on the dead fish ; )

Maybe the dead fish got into a bar fight and got a glass full of ice thrown at it... Wait, that is someone else, nevermind.


BTW guys, Nich could have hitched a bass boat to the pop knot that he had on his head the day after. lol. Doesn't help that he is balder than an eagle.

[jonescort]

WOW this is a pretty good way of telling people how good the fishing is there:) Maybe it is a blessing in disguise and really all its doing is wiping out the carp or something and leaving only the healthiest fish that have the most potential to become pigs. OR maybe some one was careless and did what they did in a section of the Jemez river in NM and dumped waste chemicals from meth in the river destroying all stream life and ruining a fishery below the dumping.

[dsw]

The fishery biologist said that with low winter conditions, deep freeze, and then a sudden influx of water, the sulphur smell was a sign of low oxygen conditions and resulted in a fish kill. They are not all dead, but a large number of them have been killed, they are watching it closely to see how it comes back this summer. But their best estimation is that it mimics a winter kill, and the hearon's are having a hayday with the dead fish.. For now, it suffered a big blow, and the remaining fish are very lethargic, and could probably use a rest. (which I am sure they will not get)

[FlyMan]

http://www.sltrib.com/outdoors/ci_9030504

[GBENCHKILLER]

The fishery biologist said that with low winter conditions, deep freeze, and then a sudden influx of water, the sulphur smell was a sign of low oxygen conditions and resulted in a fish kill. They are not all dead, but a large number of them have been killed, they are watching it closely to see how it comes back this summer. But their best estimation is that it mimics a winter kill, and the hearon's are having a hayday with the dead fish.. For now, it suffered a big blow, and the remaining fish are very lethargic, and could probably use a rest. (which I am sure they will not get)

that makes sense with scofield having all kinds of ice this year, thanx for the info, i guess fish creek walks the tightrope on cold winter years

[PowerBaitHeppy]

sounds like nature's way of keeping some control on a fish population. There are worse things that could happen...

[Ed Kent]

Temporary poor water conditions....suspected low oxygen content or sediment flush when water was released.

[Jason]

The fish kill might actually be good for this water. That small stream below Scofield was getting pretty over populated with Browns and other fish. The fish kill might actually help out in the long run. On good water years I would only hope they'd apply a minimum flow throughout the year. 10cfs is just not a lot of water...no wonder the oxygen levels were so low.

[rossiscratch]

perhaps they had more urgent things to take care of. It's not like their "Dead Cow Unlimited' or anything. I'm sure tending to over 10,000 head of cattle, .....nursing.....might have kept them from cleaning it up. If you are the true steward, as standyou preach, you would have eradicated the carcass yourself. But, that would be too much work for a guy who would rather just bitch? eh? Get evolved man, don't ask, just DO!l

Just remember, the dead cow was only inches from dry ground & a more safe, environmentally friendly location.

peace

Peace Grizz!
I under the hassle of the ranchers. My dad actually does that job and I understand its not an easy one. Definitely not the best paying either for the hard work they do.
Never preached I'm a true steward in the sense that I was going to get in the river with my hands and try to pull out this stinky, nasty decaying cow. I just typically pick up beer cans and used water bottles as I'm on the river and then gripe about it. :-)

Sounds like we got some good feedback on whats going on in the river which is what I was looking for. Hope that the river makes a good come back and isn't impacted too much from whatever is going on . Thank you to everyone that called around to different places to see what was going on.
Again Peace to all.