Instances of fish kills

[Lee Borgersen]

  Deep snow and cold winters increase instances of fish kills.
 
Cold winters with abundant snowfall can lead to fish die-offs and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has already taken reports of this process, known as winterkill, occurring in lakes near Brainerd, Hinckley and the Twin Cities area.

  .....
While seeing lots of dead fish can be disconcerting, we remind people that winterkill is normal and happens every year to some extent, said Neil Vanderbosch, DNR fisheries program consultant.
Once a lake is capped with ice, the amount of dissolved oxygen present in a lake depends on how much oxygen is produced by aquatic plants. Winterkill occurs when snow and ice limit the amount of sunlight reaching aquatic plants.

Without adequate sunlight, the plants produce less oxygen. If the vegetation dies from lack of sunlight, the plants start to decompose, a process that further depletes oxygen dissolved in the water.

  ...
Trout species require high dissolved oxygen levels and may begin dying off when a lakes dissolved oxygen falls below 5 parts per million (ppm). Bluegill and largemouth bass are also sensitive to low oxygen levels. Walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, carp and crappie can tolerate dissolved oxygen levels as low as 2 ppm.
 
Winterkill rarely results in the death of all fish in a lake, but lakes with frequent winterkill events tend to be dominated by bullheads.

  ...
Winterkill can have some benefits. In lakes with overabundant panfish, occasional winterkill can increase growth rates of the fish that survive. Winterkill can also greatly reduce carp abundance, which leads to increased water quality and more successful stocking efforts.

People who see numerous dead fish after the ice melts should report their observations to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency at 800-422-0798.

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[snow1]

Good read Lee,thanx!

[Leech~~]

Have they come out with their list of free for all fish take lakes yet?

[glenn57]

Have they come out with their list of free for all fish take lakes yet?

no Glenn don't go there  NO DONT!;;

[Leech~~]

Well good, glenn wouldn't be there.

Here is the DNR page they start posting this time of year.
Looks like only one lake as of now is listed. And it's already been close. Since the fish are going to die I have no issue with taking them or anyone else. If you ever have been to a winter kill lake it's pretty sad sight to see. 

Liberalized fishing opportunities

Unlimited Fishing SignLakes are opened to liberalized fishing when a fish population is endangered due to the lack of oxygen available in the water. These lakes are opened so that the public can take fish before they die. Lakes opened to liberalized fishing have signs posted at the public access or along the shore, and announcements will be made in the local newspaper and through the DNR Section of Fisheries central office in St. Paul.

Fish taken from lakes opened to liberalized fishing usually are lethargic and located near the bottom of the ice or near springs. Anglers should use caution and check ice conditions before beginning to fish on opened lakes. These lakes may be restocked with fish next spring after ice-out.

Rules for taking fish from lakes opened to liberalized fishing:

    The lakes are only open to liberalized fishing for a short time period. So check the dates on posted signs or in local newspapers.
    You are required to have a resident angling license to take fish on liberalized lakes.
    You may take fish in any quantity for personal use from lakes opened to liberalized fishing.
    You may sell rough fish.
    You may take fish by spear, gillnet, or angling (check each lake at the access site, gillnets may not be allowed at all lakes).
    You may not use seines, hoop nets, fyke nets, or explosives to take fish.
    All trespass laws are in effect and you should abide by them when accessing lakes.
    Do not leave any trash or litter on the lakes and take home all fish that are caught.

Area Office   ID No.    Lake   County   Legal Description   Information                        Opens          Closes
Waterville   24004400   Freeborn   Freeborn      Click for lake location and information   12/15/17   2/28/18

[glenn57]

Yeah leech I have, the lake our cabin is on had froze out 3 times since the family has owned it. I was just giving you crap sheez!