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Water Levels


Trouthunter

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With the drought that we are having, are this years water levels going to be as low as last year? The NWS is reporting that the Twin Cities has 1/3 of the expected snowfall and St Cloud has 1/5...Does anyone have any data for areas further North that would affect spring flows? How long does runoff from melting ice and snow impact water levels?

Any predictions/forecasts?

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The ONLY good thing about low water for the lakes is when they fill back up and put exposed vegetation and nutrients back in the lake. The river though, is going to be almost too low to fish easily.

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All the reports I hear say there is less snow up by Brainerd than in central MN. And low water levels in Brainard makes for a low river in central MN.

But hey, its a long time till May 27th. A lot could change.

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Start the rain dances boys! good for the fish and good for gutter sales wink.gif then I can buy more stuff to catch more fish grin.gif

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i look at it this way. there is always going to be some water. And if there is some water there are going to be fish. And if there are fish they are going to get hungry. And if they get hungry im gona catch em.

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It was taught to me straight from DNR Fisheries Manager - Little Falls, Jim Lilienthal that low water years like '88 make exceptional spawning years. Namely low, clear, steady levels during the post spawn help success rates. Other than dragging boats around riffles and bonking rocks, I like the clear topwater bite on smallies and concentration in pools for walleyes. Bring it on, I can't wait. Other than my other true love of waterfowling usually hurts as a result...

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The climatology working group has several reports available.... MN Climatology Check it out....

Either way it looks to be a challenging year for boat navigation and another good year for smallies.. ooo.gif

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Thanks for the great link! I worry more about the fish in smaller rivers that get landlocked or frozen over the winter.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

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