More than 30K Fish Found Dead in Local Lake

DULUTH - Specialist say winter kill is typical for lakes throughout Minnesota, but the more than 30,000 dead fish found in Grand Lake is rare. On the western shoreline of Grand Lake is where thousands of dead fish were spotted piled up. "We haven't documented a severe winter kill event on Grand Lake since 1955, 1966," Duluth Area Fisheries Office Fisheries Specialist Dan Wilfond said. Wilfond says the lake's oxygen levels this winter were too low for the fish to survive."As a result of heavy snow cover and the decomposition of aquatic plants that consume oxygen in the lake," said Wilfond. Pretty much every fish species in the lake was found dead, from small blue gills to big walleye."Even bullheads which are probably one of the most tolerant species of low oxygen concentrations," said Wilfond. Fisherman's Corner Owner Scott Van Valkenburg tells FOX 21 Grand Lake is a popular spot for local anglers."It had a few years where the crappies were great and a few years where the walleye were really something, they had a big planting up there," said Van Valkenburg. He says the winter kill hasn't stopped customers from coming in or from fishing the 1600 acre lake."I know there's been people out there nobody's came in complaining yet,” said Van Valkenburg. While the thousands of dead fish may cause a few tough fishing seasons on the lake, Van Valkenburg believes the decrease in population could actually end up being beneficial. "Thin that crop out so there's gonna be more feed for the future fish they'll get bigger quicker be more healthy,” said Van Valkenburg. The DNR will stock the lake with walleye fry to fill the void and create better fishing conditions for anglers. They plan on putting in more than 750,000 into the lake in the next couple of weeks.