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Blue Dye

Jon Frisby

Senior Member & Supporter
There seems to a few lakes that put blue dye in to suppress weed growth. It does work, if not too well year on year. But?
What harm does it do to fish?
What harm.does it do to birds?
What harm.does it do to invertebrates?
What harm does it do to pond weed?

From what I have seen; from a wilderness of Canadian pond weed, which was absolutely teamingbwith life. Which only needed a rake to get Tench/Bream in. To now a lake that is totally Barren of weed, Tench which i can only describe as more yellow than green and Bream that are as pale as a fainting victim..
Swans and geese devoid of any grazing material.

I'd like to know how to stop this as imo, it's killing the lake.
 
There seems to a few lakes that put blue dye in to suppress weed growth. It does work, if not too well year on year. But?
What harm does it do to fish?
What harm.does it do to birds?
What harm.does it do to invertebrates?
What harm does it do to pond weed?

From what I have seen; from a wilderness of Canadian pond weed, which was absolutely teamingbwith life. Which only needed a rake to get Tench/Bream in. To now a lake that is totally Barren of weed, Tench which i can only describe as more yellow than green and Bream that are as pale as a fainting victim..
Swans and geese devoid of any grazing material.

I'd like to know how to stop this as imo, it's killing the lake.
Tell whoever is doing it, to STOP. :mad:
 
A few of my local clubs have a liking for the use of blue dye for weed control. It must be Ronseal product as it does what it says on the tin. However, over the years, I've come to avoid waters where I know the stuff is used. I've never had a decent catch from any fishery where it has been used within a year or so.

I appreciate that many anglers can't abide weed growth. They can't, or don't want to, put in lots of time with a rake. They don't want to hook fish only to lose a percentage them in dense weed. I can't say I'm that keen myself! However, I'd rather both things happen over the use of blue dye.
 
I hate the stuff and wouldn't fish anywhere that used it. Over time it totally removes the engine room of the lake by supressing all the weed. No photosynthesis = no weed. No weed = no invertebrates. Your are left with a lifeless lake where the fish are dependent on anglers baits to survive and no substantial invertebrate biomass to break down all the crap the fish excrete.
 
There is also a black dye that is used, i echo the sentiments above.
I used to belong to a smallish club that put this black dye in a lake completly ruined it for me, it was still fishable prior to the dye.
Its also used in a lot of day ticket / exclusive booking lakes.
A syndicate i was a member of for 10 years were planning to use the black dye this year, a fairly shallow old crystal clear weedy gravel pit. I havent seen the results as i am no longer a member but surely it kills the whole ecosystem or at least inhibits it to an ever decreasing cycle?
 
RH Fisheries use it and they have carp to over 70 pounds in their lakes , pretty sure he’ll have done his homework before he tipped it in 🤔
 
I used to eel fish a water normally 10 to 15 bites over a 24hr period wasn't uncommon. Had fish up to 5.4 with lots of 3,s and 4,s the sailing club added the blue dye didnt get another bite off an eel in 3x 48 hr trips.
 
RH Fisheries use it and they have carp to over 70 pounds in their lakes , pretty sure he’ll have done his homework before he tipped it in 🤔
They grow on most of their big fish, including the big girl, in stock ponds to big weights before introducing them into their lakes. And the lakes are heavily baited with anglers baits which the fish depend upon. Artificial carp only runs waters - not my cup of tea.
 
They grow on most of their big fish, including the big girl, in stock ponds to big weights before introducing them into their lakes. And the lakes are heavily baited with anglers baits which the fish depend upon. Artificial carp only runs waters - not my cup of tea.
Oh yeah I know , but I’m sure if it had a detrimental effect on his prize assets he wouldn’t use it ,
Not my cup of tea either , that and I couldn’t afford to fish his lakes if I wanted to.
 
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