Z. mussels hit Bald Eagle L.

[Lee Borgersen]

Zebra mussel scourge hits Bald Eagle Lake, a metro muskie haven.

AUGUST 29, 2018 —

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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources describes Bald Eagle as the east metro’s most popular muskie lake, located just north of the city of White Bear Lake. The boat access parking lot is often full on weekends and the DNR regularly stocks the lake with muskellunge fingerlings and walleye fingerlings. In winter, the lake is heavily targeted for panfish.

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Keegan Lund, an aquatic invasive species expert for DNR, said the recent discovery of a single, juvenile zebra mussel away from Bald Eagle’s public access suggests the presence of an actively breeding population. There’s no way to stop them from spreading unless the lake defies the odds and is somehow unsuitable to them, he said.

“We have to wait and see, but there’s no potential control measures,’’ he said.

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Zebra mussels can drastically change a lake’s plant community and food supply. The tiny mussels multiply into the millions and sometimes billions, filtering out nutrients until the water becomes “gin clear.’’ Their sharp shells cut the feet of swimmers, foul boat motors and damage water pipes.

John Underhill, co-chair of the Minnesota Muskie and Pike Alliance, said that as Bald Eagle clears, anglers can expect increased difficulty in catching fish.

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“It’s not a good thing by any means,’’ Underhill said. “It changes the way you fish.’’

Two special fishing regulations protect Bald Eagle’s muskie population: Harvest is limited to fish larger than 54 inches and winter spearing is not allowed. But as the lake changes, muskies won’t be as easily fooled by artificial lures, Underhill said. Live bait could become more of a trend and anglers might have to sharpen their presentations for reactive strikes, he said.

White Bear Lake has long been contaminated by zebra mussels, but local watershed officials were surprised this month when Bald Eagle Lake and Lake Johanna were added to the state’s rising inventory of infected waterways. All three lakes are in the Rice Creek Watershed District and Ramsey County has been paying for enhanced watercraft inspections at Lake Johanna’s public access to prevent the spread of invasive species.

[Jerkbiat]

Lot of good those enhanced inspections did. Here ducky, ducky  .

[Rebel SS]

Won't make a hoot of difference if ya clean yer  boat with Mr Bubble. They've spread so far, critters are gonna carry/spread them in various ways in all the waterways.

[LPS]

I used to ice fish there 20+ years ago.  It was gin clear then.  Could see the bottom easily.  I was crappie fishing but sometimes when I looked down the hole there would be a huge musky over to the side just watching my crappie minnow.  They would cruise up to it but I couldn't get them to bite.  Fun as heck.

[Rebel SS]

I used to ice fish there 20+ years ago.  It was gin clear then.  Could see the bottom easily.  I was crappie fishing but sometimes when I looked down the hole there would be a huge musky over to the side just watching my crappie minnow.  They would cruise up to it but I couldn't get them to bite.  Fun as heck.

So did I.......!! Were you that guy next to us playing polka music?!       

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[LPS]

I would have been rocking and rolling. 

[Tom7227]

So far only the one zeb has been found.  Steve McComas (the Lake Doctor) from Blue Water Science has been hired to do a more extensive survey to see if there are more zebs around.  His report has not yet been received.  The Bald Eagle Area Association (BEAA), lake residents, has hired Mr. McComas and will consider the next steps once his report has been received.

The BEAA has paid for additional watercraft inspections last year and this year.  The best advice they have been given is that inspections are the the most effective means available to prevent the infestation.  The zeb that was found was located on a sampler plate built and distributed by the BEAA.  A member has been coordinating the weekly reports from the over 40 lake residents who have samplers.