Approximately 8,000 to 11,000 trout have died in Nevada's Wildhorse Reservoir over the last couple of days. A lack of dissolved oxygen in the water is believed to be the cause.
Like us, trout need need oxygen to survive. Several factors affect how much oxygen is dissolved in water. Warm weather and still water are two big factors in the desert southwest which affect how much oxygen is dissolved in the water.
Nevada gets pretty hot in the summer - but this summer, has been a little warmer than normal. Warmer weather, means warmer water temperatures - which result in less oxygen in the water. Warmer weather has also caused lake levels to decrease due to evaporation - which again, results in less oxygenated water.
Other factors affecting oxygen levels in the water include decaying algae on the lake bed. This process depletes oxygen from the water (again, making it harder for trout to survive).
Luckily, Fall is quickly approaching which will help cool water temperatures thereby raising dissolved oxygen levels. The Nevada Department of Wildlife is monitoring the situation very closely.
How does this affect trout fishing? When trout are physically stressed, their primary concern becomes survival - and they stop feeding. This means that until their environment improves, they will not be interested in feeding (or taking your offering). Right now, these trout only care about finding cooler, oxygenated water!
So expect trout fishing to remain poor at Wildhorse Reservoir until conditions improve.
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