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Author Topic: Open water **Horne Pond mussel die off?  (Read 1130 times)

Offline mjgonehunting

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Open water **Horne Pond mussel die off?
« on: May 10, 2014, 06:42 PM »
I notice a lot of mussel shells in a few places where I have not seen them before on Horne Pond!
There used to be tons of them, and as kids we dove or waded for them to use as bait.
This spring there are several patches of empty shells near shore . Maybe 200+ in each spot!
Any clues?
Take your kids hunting and fishing!

Offline bigfish57

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Re: Open water **Horne Pond mussel die off?
« Reply #1 on: May 10, 2014, 07:20 PM »
otters?
Anthony

Offline mjgonehunting

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Re: Open water **Horne Pond mussel die off?
« Reply #2 on: May 10, 2014, 07:29 PM »
Could be something like that,but it's not normally a lake where I would expect to see them.
One patch is under and around a dock that stayed in all winter,and another about 100 yards away is also near a dock but one that has only been in for a week.
Take your kids hunting and fishing!

Offline GasBlaster

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Re: Open water **Horne Pond mussel die off?
« Reply #3 on: May 11, 2014, 04:01 AM »
The muskrats do it all winter here .

Offline mjgonehunting

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Re: Open water **Horne Pond mussel die off?
« Reply #4 on: May 11, 2014, 07:00 PM »
I wonder if Herons might have something to do with it?
There have been a pair hanging around the same area.
Or maybe they are keying in on the baitfish attracted to the mussels!
Take your kids hunting and fishing!

Offline Svengalli

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Re: Open water **Horne Pond mussel die off?
« Reply #5 on: May 11, 2014, 08:10 PM »
I've seen Otters here leave hundreds of shells in somewhat concentrated piles.  I have also seen piles of crayfish (not as many though) and not sure if they're left by otters or muskrats or both.   

Offline GasBlaster

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Re: Open water **Horne Pond mussel die off?
« Reply #6 on: May 12, 2014, 03:14 AM »
I wonder if Herons might have something to do with it?
There have been a pair hanging around the same area.
Or maybe they are keying in on the baitfish attracted to the mussels!

I think the pile has formed over the winter ?  The muskrats will keep one air hole open through the ice near a dock or a rock . They eat in the same place all winter leaving a big stack of shells .

 



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