Hey guys I'm in lower NY and the ice just fully melted about a week ago at lake I live on. The biggest bass I've seen caught on the lake was 7lbs. Now in the last few days every time I'm fishing off the bank, there's a different dead bass (3 total, different days and obviously different fish) floating alone the shoreline around 2-3lb size. They all had a brown mossy substance covering their body.

 

Here's a picture I snapped of the 3rd bass.

 

Any input on the situation would be amazing, thanks!

It might be from the brutally long horrible winter we have Had this year.

,Bill

Winter kill would be my answer.

Where are you fishing?

X2 on winter kill.

When it's a bad winter O2 levels in the water can lower to deadly levels. I know there are a couple of lakes MN that they airrate.

Yep. Winter kill. We get it in Mass too. One of my favorite honey holes gets a pretty big die off in as winters and this one should be no exception.

That's from a lake?  You should see the winter die offs at a pond.

Its a small private lake called silver lake in middletown ny. So will this mean bad bass numbers all season or just a "natural" occurance?

Its a small private lake called silver lake in middletown ny. So will this mean bad bass numbers all season or just a "natural" occurance?

It's hard to tell the size, but regardless. A few fish will not impact the lake a lot. However when you see 100+ and in specific species than yes, it can put a pinch. Your local DNR probably looks into winter kills and can easily determine if stocking is needed.

And again if it is a hand full that can partly be due to natural selection of the weak not making through rough conditions.

There was a great pond for fishing here right in the middle of the city. Every spring, the shorelines are littered with sunfish, bass and pike, all dead. A couple dead fish isn't the end of the world, but if you keep seeing more, you may want to contact your DNR.

Its a small private lake called silver lake in middletown ny. So will this mean bad bass numbers all season or just a "natural" occurance?

same thing in parts of canandaigua, haven't checked out honeoye yet. It's from the bad freeze and low oxygen levels also plants dieng off etc.