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Eels and water quality? (13 posts / 2,257 views)
lincs-carper
Posts: 920
Post #1 3 Oct 2025 18:17
0
Hi all. Maybe a bit of a weird one this but does anyone know if there's any link between bad water quality and eels swimming around on the surface. Never seen this before so thought I'd asked
Baitman Baitman
Posts: 5,233
Post #2 3 Oct 2025 18:29
0
In reply to Post #1
Eels are not very tolerarant of low oxygen levels.
Is this in a lake, any other fish gasping or showing on the surface.
lincs-carper
Posts: 920
Post #3 3 Oct 2025 19:28
0
In reply to Post #2
Nothing else showing on the surface but catch rate has taken a sudden downturn. Edit, it's a 3 acre well stocked lake
whataclonker whataclonker
Posts: 365
Post #4 3 Oct 2025 19:44
1
"eels swimming around on the surface"

Migration?
lincs-carper
Posts: 920
Post #5 3 Oct 2025 19:51
0
In reply to Post #4
I did think that but never seen anything like it before
Joe101
Posts: 1,102
Post #6 3 Oct 2025 20:28
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We had similar on a little water I'm a member of. The water had eels herpes virus and I believe all the eels died. The rest of the fish were OK.

Might want to contact the EA.
essesxandy essesxandy
Posts: 3,197
Post #7 4 Oct 2025 12:37
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In reply to Post #1
I've witnessed eels struggling with low oxygen levels a few times times now. Gasping at the surface when most other fish weren't on one occasion. I'd definitely be checking the d.o.
elltell elltell
Posts: 1,571
Post #8 4 Oct 2025 19:05
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In reply to Post #1
I'd definitely contact the EA, one of our club waters has recently lost the majority of its eels at a time when the DO levels were super low, subsequent testing(post mortem)revealed an eel specific herpes virus.
There seems to be little known about it, other than a list of potential reason for it to manifest itself in multiple fish deaths, one of which is low DO levels, others as I recall were overstocking, stress and chemicals, or combinations of all!!
It's a sad day when you see these things happen 1st hand, don't delay, get the EA involved for a bit of advice.
Tel.
👍👍
lincs-carper
Posts: 920
Post #9 4 Oct 2025 19:58
0
In reply to Post #8
I've escalated through the club and to be fair to them they have gone to the ea for advice so will see what the outcome is
scozza
Posts: 18,421
Post #10 5 Oct 2025 08:26
0
In reply to Post #1
Yes!

A water near me once got polluted by a farmer, I wasnt on at the time but a mate was, fish were starting to turn over and the eels were on the top getting out of the water and going into a nearby brook!

I think as Baitman says, low oxygen?
lincs-carper
Posts: 920
Post #11 5 Oct 2025 08:59
0
In reply to Post #10
Ah thats possibly the problem. The lake is surrounded by fields in the bottom of a valley and with the recent rain may have had some run off and the farmer has been muck spreading recently. To be fair to the club they have informed me that are testing the water and have got aerators on 24hrs so hopefully nipped in the bud
scozza
Posts: 18,421
Post #12 5 Oct 2025 19:45
0
In reply to Post #11
Could be some chemical or something, does not sound good though

I know a series of lakes that I fished as kid and they got virtually wiped out overnight by farmers effluent. Walked down to fish it one morning EA there, blowing water into the air and back into the lake to try and aerate the water, killed loads of fish

Best thing about it once he got fined, did nothing with the money for the fishing
Busted
Posts: 1,882
Post #13 8 Oct 2025 15:01
1
In reply to Post #1
From what I've seen, with low dissolved oxygen, the eels struggle first, then wels catfish, then the pike

Definitely worth the fishery owners checking o2 levels
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