Anglers say Summer Drought Could Lead to Winter Kill for Fish

(KNSI) – Winter anglers and fishing guides are worried that the summer drought will hurt ice fishing.

Fishing guide and tournament angler Mike Raetz lives in Sauk Rapids and says he’s an ice fisherman at heart, and the drought scares him because of how it could affect the lakes months from now.

“You get a lot of these shallow lakes that don’t have these natural springs in them they’re going to suffer this winter, if we don’t get something to keep those water levels up and get the oxygen. Otherwise, I think there’s going to be a ton of winter kill this winter. The shallow ones for sure without those springs or a creek running into them, something that’s going to be providing the oxygen.”

Raetz says he hopes for a bunch of snow before the lakes freeze. That would let lakes refill and add oxygen to lakes that don’t have a spring or creek to bring fresh water.

He says many popular fishing lakes around the St. Cloud area are shallow and susceptible to winter kill.

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