I hadn't fished a local lake in a couple of weeks and when I did, I noticed all of the vegetation, except the pads, had died and floated to the surface.  The result was a collection on top, that would change location with the wind.  Would those dead weeds pose a significant threat to the oxygen level of the water beneath them?

I've never dealt with this happening so quick or early. I targeted some of my deep spots with zero success, but stuck with it as I feared the shallows were oxygen depleted.

I doubt with them blowing around they would have been depleting it too much. It's mainly when a large stand of weeds is dying in an area without moving around that it's reducing the oxygen in the water.

 

I don't believe that mobile weed patches should be too threatening.

However, stagnant mats of deteriorating vegetation would deplete dissolved oxygen in that spot.

 

If oxygen levels were to reach critical levels, the bass would then be forced into shallow water,

especially where green vegetation may be found. In any case, good luck with that. 

 

Roger

11 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

I hadn't fished a local lake in a couple of weeks and when I did, I noticed all of the vegetation, except the pads, had died and floated to the surface.  The result was a collection on top, that would change location with the wind.  Would those dead weeds pose a significant threat to the oxygen level of the water beneath them?

I've never dealt with this happening so quick or early. I targeted some of my deep spots with zero success, but stuck with it as I feared the shallows were oxygen depleted.

I catch fish off floating clumps all the time

Last week I was camping and the pond I was camping on had a large patch of dead floating weeds floating by the beach area. I saw several sunnies swimming right around the pile, and one massive bass swam right next to me and passed by the pile. There were a few other piles floating around, and I caught a fish not too far from one as well although I can't say that it came from under it.

 

They definitely could affect the oxygen levels depending how big the piles are, and how close together they are.