Low oxygen levels

[Brunsvig_slayer]

I have been fishing quite a few local lakes in my area and we have had snow on most of our Lakes around here sense December. In the past few years we havent had this much snow on our lakes in a long time and we also caught alot of fish in the past also when there hasent been much snow on the lake, so I was just woundering in these lakes might not have much oxygen in them. You mark a lot a fish and see alot of fish on the camera and it seems that the fish arent very active.

[bassphish2005]

I think that is a true statement,considering the low water levels all summer=lots of weed growth.Long winter season with snow on the ice blocked the sunlight penitration those weeds started dieing early taking the oxy. levels down with them.

[anyfishwilldo]

You guys just gave me my new excuse to the wife for not catching any fish.

[Brunsvig_slayer]

I never said I couldnt catch the fish but I am just saying that the fish arent as agressive as they were in the bigining of the year and they push the bait around more to before they might bite it

[Tom7227]

I was looing into getting a disolved oxygen meter to see what could be learned. New were terribly expensive but there were some on hsolist. They all list as "bench models" which makes me wonder if you have to get a sample and then take it in to the machine or what. It would be interesting to learn if the fish congregate in certain areas based on the availability of oxygen. I've read that is the case but I thought fact rather than mere opinion would be the best.

Any ideas?

[rockman]

If you're looking for a hand held oxygen meter,Cabelas has a couple of different models in their master fishing catalog.Other catalogs probably have them as well.

[tisosy11]

Do you think it would be helpful to toss your minnow air hose down the hole with a rock and a long tube to see if that would help?

[rockman]

Uh, are we on the same page here? I think you are referring to an oxygen diffuser.Tom7227 was asking about an oxygen meter.Big difference between the two.Oxygen depletion is not necessarily a given for all lakes in the winter/under the ice.An oxygen meter could tell a guy where things are at under the ice, if there is a question regarding possible depletion. Otherwise, I am missing something with your reply.

[Tom7227]

I want to know where the oxygen level is at and tisosy11 wants to try and get some more oxygen into the water. I guess I would be skeptical that a battery powered air device would be enough to make a difference. I looked at the ones in the Cabelas catalog. The user reviews on the digital one weren't very good.

[tisosy11]

Yeah - do you think that would work for localized fishing?

[David Kasten]

lol irellavent