LDWF Looks Into Fish Kill at Bussey Brake

Several calls to The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries about hundreds of dead fish prompted LDWF to investigate a section of the reservoir. The section that was effected  is located in Morehouse Parish. Bussey Break has recently produced a bass that grabbed the #8 spot on the top ten list of heaviest bass caught in Louisiana. After the tips, biologists conducted an extensive investigation to determine the cause. They determined that the northeast region of the reservoir did contain numerous dead fish and concluded that the area was small and there was no indication that the fish kill impacted the rest of the reservoir. Inland Fisheries biologists will continue to monitor Bussey Brake and plan on providing the public with future updates.

The cause of the fish kill was a combination of an extended period of high temperatures combined with a storm that passed through on Sept. 8. The result was a hypoxic fish kill. 

There have been numerous fish kills due to hypoxia in Louisiana this summer as record temperatures and drought conditions lowered oxygen levels in landlocked bodies of water. Fortunately, the kill on Bussey Brake looks to be minor and the reservoir’s big bass and crappie production should not be affected. 

Patrick Cosby Jr. of Monroe, LA fishes numerous bass tournaments at “Bussey” and was told by an agent with LDWF that the main problem is with the water levels. “Bayou Bartholomew is where the lake gets water pumped in from at times. The problem is that the bayou is too low for the pumps to pick up suction and pump it to the lake. The water is low everywhere. Caney Lake is a little more than two feet lower than normal. We all need the rain bad,” Crosby said. 

LDWF reminds everyone that documenting fish kills in Louisiana is important and to report them as soon as possible to LDWF so biologists can investigate and document the kill. For information on how to report a fish kill or more information about the causes of fish kills, visit our fish kills webpage.