That's a shame....

[jegerjack]

Anyone else read about Sleepy Eye Lake in the Star Tribune? Here is the article.

SLEEPY EYE, Minn. -- The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is investigating the deaths of more than 800 fish in Sleepy Eye Lake in southern Minnesota.

High temperatures may have depleted oxygen levels in the water, killing the fish, said DNR fisheries specialist Todd Kolander.

The DNR will continue its investigation, but it has no immediate plans to re-stock the lake. Sleepy Eye is 40 miles west of Mankato.

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"What did the old man trade for these guys, a used puck bag?"

[big_fish_guy]

that is too bad. My grandparents are from there and I can remember a long time ago staying down there and they had drained the lake to re stock it. I don't know why they did it, to get rid of carp? If I had to put a year on this, I'd say sometime early 70's? Anyone know or remember? Or was I wrong and it was just that the lake was extremly low one year.

[Uncle Grump]

Big Fish

You are correct - DNR had reclaimed the lake some years back, Its been on my get there list, but I hadn't made it there yet.

UG

[Guest]

I heard that too. Its too bad. I heard that most of the fish were small northerans too. I have fished that lake a few times in the winter but not in the summer. Kinda sad, but o well.

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Fish ON!

[jt24]

Ya its to bad it happened. I live about 15 miles away and do fish there but not as often as i would like to. I believe they reclamied it back in the early 90s because of mainly bullhead and some carp. They dredged it and its been pretty good ever since. Was a real good sunfish and bass lake. Saw lots of bass 16 inch or bigger the last 2 yrs spawning. The sunfish I think have been over harvested the last few years so its been tough to catch numbers of fish. Was nothing 2yrs ago to catch a limit in a hour but not any more. I have been all C&R everytime i fish but not many are. Have seen baskets full of fish come out and its not a very big lake. On one occasion someone had a 8 to 10# northern in there boat but also a 12" one and a 8" bass at the same time. Made me sick to see them keep em. The city is wanting to dredge it some more but its pretty much up to the DNR. There just wanting to make a lake out of a slough. I am not sure how big the fish kill was but hopefully it is still fishable. Its nice to run over there after work for a few hours to atleast get on the water. Any other lake is atleast over a hour away.

[big_fish_guy]

ok, they reclaimed it in the 90's. I know they did it back in the 70's too. Following the pattern, they are now due for another 7 years... I wonder if they could just move it up. Or let the lake go back to being a marsh. Havn't been down there in years. Is is developed around there or could a guy hunt it. There didn't use to be anything around the lake except a park/beach on one end. It's gotta be all built up by now though I would guess.
Oh well... I vote marsh.

[doubleUcubed]

I was through there a couple times in the last few weeks and each time I saw at least one boat and a few people fishing from shore. One trip through and it was two young boy's on shore about 6:30 in the morning and the next trip an older gentleman getting ready with his fly rod! Hope they can restock it if it is needed. The lake didn't look too bad from a distance as far as an algae bloom or anything. I doubt much has changed as far developement around it. Still have HWY 4 running along the East shore where there is a small beach, the landing and dock are in the NE corner, with the city of Sleepy Eye to the SE. For the most part the Western half of the lake appears undeveloped. Neat little lake!

[This message has been edited by doubleUcubed (edited 09-10-2003).]

[mnrstrider]

I wonder if they couldn't just put a couple areators on the lake, gotta be cheaper and easier.

[jt24]

There is a aerator in there but only used in the winter. There is some normal field runoff which is common with all the farm land around so i think that has alot to do with the fish kill because of over growth of vegetation. I choose not to eat anything out of there or any other lakes in southern minn because of farming practices today.