Winterkill in the Area

[Guest]

I have heard that the White Earth Tribal Fisheries Dept has confirmed winter kill on a small lake up north of town. They were informed of the possibility and when they put cameras down they confirmed it with many fish laying on the bottom or stuck up against the the bottom of the ice...it is going to be interesting how these shallower lakes without much moving water turn out, Shell in particular is susceptible to winter kill so it will be interesting to see how that one turns out; along with some others in the area. This thick ice and prolonged snow cover, along with no melt going back down cracks or holes to create oxygen makes it really tough on the fish.

[slick2526]

I also have heard of this on a small private lake near rollag,mn

[paceman]

Lots of ice to melt yet is not good for the shallow lakes.

[Dahitman44]

Man, I hate to hear that.

[Jim Panfish Uran]

Yep, I can confirm that there are lakes winter killing now. Shell being one of them Ryan, my brother drove by and noticed a ton of fish floating out the creek on the east side of the lake.

From their tests, it was a mixed bag, lots of lakes on the edge of smothering, some lakes with great O2, and others with confirmed floaters....

Totally sucks!

[fish4u]

Jim I stoped by shell today at about 5:00 and I didnt see anything I go by there every day on my mail route been keeping a eye on it ill keep you posted fish4u

[Jim Panfish Uran]

Shell, is that the one just south of Ponsford? Or am I thinking about a different lake...

[Tony Mariotti]

If the Eagles and Crows are any indication, the lake we live on that is used as a rearing pond, had a solid winter kill. There is a small area pulled away from shore that is being hammered by Scavengers and Birds of Prey! I guess that is what they hope for in a rearing pond, but if this lake killed, so will others in the area. It happens. A few of my little ponds that I've enjoyed the last few years are going to be done. Time to keep searching for new "big fish" waters :-)

[fish4u]

Jim thats the only shell that i know of just south of Ponsford on 39 or north of Snellman and north of bass lake ill keep an eye on it fish4u

[Guest]

And all this explains why all the crappies I am catching lately are only 5-12' down even in deep holes....they are up that high because that is where the only good supply of oxygen is. Heck....I am even catching many norts up high....but the little perch remain down on the bottom...don't know why that is. Man we need a good melt to get water running back down cracks, holes and rivers/creeks flowing strong to get oxygen into these lakes/ponds!

[Fred_Bear]

What is fishing like on these lakes as they go through winterkill? I am wondering because I have been fearing all winter that one of my favorite little potholes is going to die this winter. I fished it on Sunday and the fishing was a little different than it had been all year, but we did still catch fish.

The big difference was when we found pods fish it would be schools of tiny bluegills (4 inchers) from 8 feet down to the bottom in 12-15 feet. They were still aggressive and so were the bigger fish which showed up 6 feet down.

The most startling difference was we didn't get any BIG bluegills and only one crappie. Usually we'll get at least 5 to 10 bluegills around 10.5" and about that many crappies as well but nothing over 9.5" for the bluegills this time. Some big bass were still active though.

Are the big bluegills and crappies the first to suffer from low O2 levels?

I'm hoping that the less than stellar fishing was my fault and not because the lake is winterkilling. Would really be sad to see this one go. For reference it is around 100 acres and bottoms out just shy of 20 feet. There is one tiny spot of open water by a culvert; no dead fish or birds in the open water on Sunday.

[Bass4life]

Anybody know how Tamarac or Height of land are doing with O2 levels?

[trappingaddiction]

Typically largemouth bass seem to die off in winterkills pretty easily. I would say your lake is doing just fine if the bass are still biting.

[Fred_Bear]

Typically largemouth bass seem to die off in winterkills pretty easily. I would say your lake is doing just fine if the bass are still biting.

Thanks for the good news! I'll hopefully be out there again this weekend to see if it fish are still active.

PS I really like how you refer to it as "my lake", I'll have to inform others and maybe even put a sign at the access haha

[Jim Panfish Uran]

O2 levls will die off first on the bottom, if you are finding fish on the bottom and they are biting, it will be fine

[Fred_Bear]

GOOD NEWS!!

I just got an email from the Detroit Lakes Fisheries Office listing 7 lakes in the DL area that they have tested DO levels in recently because they are prone to winterkills. He said all but one lake are "hanging in there" and should not experience a severe winterkill event this year.

I was also informed that if I'm catching catching panfish in a given lake right now, then that lake should be just fine this year.

[fish4u]

I stoped at Shell today a few northerns dead floating

[Tony Mariotti]

GOOD NEWS!!

I just got an email from the Detroit Lakes Fisheries Office listing 7 lakes in the DL area that they have tested DO levels in recently because they are prone to winterkills. He said all but one lake are "hanging in there" and should not experience a severe winterkill event this year.

I was also informed that if I'm catching catching panfish in a given lake right now, then that lake should be just fine this year.

Fred_Bear, would you share that email? I'm just curious on the lakes: You can email me, or post it if you don't mind: [email protected]

I've found it odd, that some lakes are doing just fine, ie. Height of Land, Tamarac, and they are typically more prone to winterkill than some of the deeper lakes I fish, yet this year I am seeing fish right below the ice on lakes that are anywhere form 17-25 ft. deep. One of my favorite gill ponds west of town, is 17 ft. of water and it has killed off this year. I'm just curious as to where the lakes they are testing are. I saw dead pike at Shell this past weekend as well.

The ice is starting to receed, so hopefully the fish get a break.

T

[TroutYammer]

Today I walked about a block down the outlet creek today, counted 20 dead northern pike and then stopped counting. Most of the dead pike were small ...less than 20-inches. I have never seen this phenomena before. Is this a total kill or just a partial kill? Or can't we know until the ice melts and a body count is conducted?

Then I drove to the public access on the west side of the lake, walked about 100yards on to the lake and bored a hole with my ice auger...measured about 27 inches of solid ice.