— Official News Release, ND Game & Fish —
North Dakota Game and Fish Department fisheries biologists are asking anglers for help in documenting lakes that may have experienced winter fish mortality.
Fisheries management section leader Scott Gangl said some winterkill is expected every year, with the severity depending on winter weather. With this year’s conditions, he doesn’t anticipate major widespread fish kills.
“Statewide, water quality was good due to the relatively mild winter and lack of snow cover,” Gangl said. “However, some local lakes may have had poor conditions which could lead to winterkill. Anglers can help by notifying us of any lakes where they encounter dead fish.”
Biologists will begin sampling suspected winterkill lakes later this spring once fish spawning operations are completed to document the severity of any die-offs.
Anglers should report fish mortality in any North Dakota water by contacting the Game and Fish Department’s main office in Bismarck, or the local Game and Fish district office.
