NGPC news release, 2/13/08:

LINCOLN, Neb. � Nebraska Game and Parks Commission fisheries biologists want to fore-warn anglers and pond owners of the possibility of them seeing some dead fish floating along the bank of their favorite lake or pond when the ice melts this spring.

Dave Tunink, assistant administrator of the Fisheries Division, said winter fish kills occur when snow cover remains on the ice for extended periods of time and causes aquatic vegetation to die and decompose under the ice, reducing the amount of oxygen in the water.

When ice melts from the lake, fish that died under the ice during the winter float to the surface and are washed into shallow water where people see the carcasses floating along the shoreline.

When people see the dead fish, they often assume runoff has carried chemicals into the lake and the chemicals killed the fish, but it is usually just a natural die-off due to low dissolved oxygen levels in the water during the winter months.

Gizzard shad die-offs are very common and occur nearly every winter. Channel catfish anglers are familiar with those die-offs and use the shad as bait.

The severity of die-offs varies from lake to lake and do not always involve the entire fish population. Tunink said unfortunately species such as bullheads and common carp are among the most tolerant of lower dissolved oxygen levels.

Tunink said people who are wondering if their pond is having a die-off problem can drill a hole in the ice and if the water smells like rotten eggs or they see dead fish, they probably do have a problem. If this is the case, they are encouraged to check the pond in the spring by walking along the shoreline to see if they can observe fish spawning in the shallows. If they do see fish spawning, the pond should be alright. If not, they may have to restock the pond.

Tunink said people can report large fish die-offs to their district Commission office.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

So far we are OK, but the longer we have snow on the ice, the more worried about it I get. It's been a long time since we have had a winter like this one.