Big Lake AZ
Arizona Fishing
Aug 13, 2023 21:18:28 #
prjmack1
Loc: Fountain Hills AZ
I was just at Big Lake this past weekend and wanted to let everyone know that the algae bloom has taken over the lake. The entire lake is covered with about 3-4 inches of algae. Wanted to let you know so that you don't waste a trip.
Aug 14, 2023 08:30:16 #
Aug 14, 2023 10:42:12 #
MoJoe
Loc: Springfield, MO
I had many great trips to Big Lake starting in the early 1970's, nearly all in late Fall before the road closed for the winter. Lots of memories. Thanks for the post.
Aug 14, 2023 18:39:04 #
Charlie H
Loc: Greer, Arizona
Just curious, do fish quit eating when there is an algae bloom at the surface? 🤔
When I used to dive in the local lakes, the water was crystal clear when you hit the first thermocline…. which was about 10 feet in this snake-hot Texas.
But the fish were still definitely up in the green stuff.
Doesn’t algae put off oxygen?
Now if you’re talking about that God-awful green slime I totally understand. It’s a mess, but the fish still have to eat. Life goes on.
When I used to dive in the local lakes, the water was crystal clear when you hit the first thermocline…. which was about 10 feet in this snake-hot Texas.
But the fish were still definitely up in the green stuff.
Doesn’t algae put off oxygen?
Now if you’re talking about that God-awful green slime I totally understand. It’s a mess, but the fish still have to eat. Life goes on.
Aug 14, 2023 18:41:13 #
Charlie H
Loc: Greer, Arizona
I guess I assumed we are talking bait fishing. Fly fishing would be a disaster. 🙄
Aug 14, 2023 20:42:30 #
Charlie H wrote:
Just curious, do fish quit eating when there is an algae bloom at the surface? 🤔
When I used to dive in the local lakes, the water was crystal clear when you hit the first thermocline…. which was about 10 feet in this snake-hot Texas.
But the fish were still definitely up in the green stuff.
Doesn’t algae put off oxygen?
Now if you’re talking about that God-awful green slime I totally understand. It’s a mess, but the fish still have to eat. Life goes on.
When I used to dive in the local lakes, the water was crystal clear when you hit the first thermocline…. which was about 10 feet in this snake-hot Texas.
But the fish were still definitely up in the green stuff.
Doesn’t algae put off oxygen?
Now if you’re talking about that God-awful green slime I totally understand. It’s a mess, but the fish still have to eat. Life goes on.
The thermocline is where the more dense cold water meets the warmer less dense water. Yes the alga produces oxygen, until it dies and settles down to the bottom. Then the bacteria that decompose the dead alga use up the oxygen in the water. This creates a dead zone. If enough alga does off, the water become deoxygenated and fish start dying. As to do fish eat in an alga bloom, i don't know for sure, but I can tell you that the school of several hundred crappie I sat on for four hours weren't very cooperative in a fairvto middling bloom.
Aug 15, 2023 08:14:55 #
MoJoe
Loc: Springfield, MO
The alga 'cap', while producing oxygen, also causes underwater vegetation to be deprived of sunlight, causing it to begin decaying too. Snow covered ice does the same, causing sometimes a complete die-off of fish, as in nearby Crescent. Lake. Never saw this at Big Lake, though, because it's much deeper than Crescent.
Aug 15, 2023 14:14:24 #
Aug 15, 2023 16:36:55 #
Aug 15, 2023 23:22:26 #
EAMitchellret
Loc: Cottonwood, AZ
Thank you for the Big Lake update. I was wondering if/when the algae bloom would hit the lake this year.
Aug 16, 2023 14:18:25 #
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