Zebras on Tonka

[Hoffer]

So last week I was out on Tonka and we were doing some fast trolling. We moved through an area that had a lot of tall cabbage so our lures were getting caught and a few times i brought up a trailing piece of cabbage around 3 feet long. I call it "cabbage" but its that taller stockier type of weed that can grow up to 12 feet high. Anyway, the pieces we brought up were just covered in Zebras all up and down the stock. In some places where the leaves met the stock there were big clumps of zebras. I guess I didnt know they would attach on to vegetation like that. I wonder if that will ultimately hurt the natural vegetation in the lake and then you have a cascade of events or what? Or maybe its not going to end up being that big of a deal. I remember back when Tonka had confirmation of Milfoil. It was said at that time - it would be the end of lake. Years later...Tonka is one of the best fisheries in the state. I just wonder how all this will play out? It also make me suspect that there is any way to contain these zebras. There were microscopically small zebras on these weeds. Even the best attempt to remove all your water and weeds and foreign material would be tough since these things are so small.

[Stick500]

yeh it will be interesting to see how the zebras work out in 'Tonka over the next decade or so

I have a feeling it's not going to be all gloom and doom like some are saying

there could be a big problem if the zebras were knocking down the native plants though- a lake devoid of cover could hurt the fishery, but with milfoil it seems there's always going to be something growing

I for one am interested in how the clarity of Tonka may change in the coming years- one of my favorite things to do is to go spearfishing for carp with a mask and snorkel - clearer water makes it a lot more exciting!

[JohnMickish]

It won't be doom and gloom for the fishermen, but it will change the lake. On the other hand, if you don't keep up with the changes it will be doom and gloom.

[Sonicrunch]

Some may like the water clarity that is forthcoming.

[DTro]

I seen a news promo this morning on KARE11. Belinda the weather predictor is headed down to the bottom on Tonka to show everyone how zeebs are changing our lives.

Oh brother....

[Riverratpete]

Most research has shown there is an initial bloom within the eco system and then nature takes over and balances itself out like nature does without the intervention of man..Our incredible need to "do something" is pretty much like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic..makes some people "feel" better but in the long run has no impact. Research has also shown from the Great lakes region that fish and birds develop a bit of a hankering for them. They will no doubt increase lake clarity,weed growth may develop deeper and fisherman may have to change tactics a bit but I personally don't think it's nearly as gloom and doom as some people would have you think. The earlier poster was also right about the Milfoil, I certainly remember all the hand wringing and sky is falling about that issue and the fishing is better now, come to find out it makes an incredible nursery for baby fish.

[TruthWalleyes]

I seen a news promo this morning on KARE11. Belinda the weather predictor is headed down to the bottom on Tonka to show everyone how zeebs are changing our lives.

Oh brother....

How much do you want to bet it's got nothing to do with fish...but docks, lawns, water intakes, etc...And then a bunch of mud slinging towards fisherman.

[Riverratpete]

We seem to be the whipping posts of late, heaven forbid the lakeshore owners were at all culpable. The finger pointing always amazes me.

[NKLCOLT1911]

the zebras eat milfoil so it will just be a cycle, and my mom lives on the lake and she could care less about zeebs it the milfiol that gets pushed to her riprap that needs to be pulled out by the ton that sucks, but i will tell you that there is a committee out there doing water treatments to kill of the milfoil in certain bays and all together try and get rid of it, i dont think it will happen but people want it gone cause of its affects on the boating industry, im a boater and a fisherman so i have a love hate thing going with it but in the end of the day tonka fish dont have whiskers so its just a big bait lake for me

[JohnMickish]

Sorry to inform you that Zebra muscles don't eat milfoil, in fact, when they clear the water it allows the milfoil to grow denser and deeper.

Go fish a lake that has had a Zebra infestation for 10+ years and talk to the folks that fish it. You will not like what they have to say. Go take a trip to Green Bay, Lake Winnebago or lake Erie and see of those guys are happy they have Zebra muscles. Sure, the Walleye populations are prety healthy on Green Bay and Erie right now, but that is due to the introduction of another invasive species, the Ailwife (small fish that is high in protien, a great food source).

It will change how people know a lake. It's not all doom and gloom, but it's a far cry from cupcakes and cookies.

[NKLCOLT1911]

Sorry i was mis informed on what they eat, but one thing is for the tons and tons of yard fertilizer run off will assure that lake will probably never be clear.

[JWB475]

The only time I fish Minnetonka is in the late fall, when all the idiots put away their giant boats. I first started fishing it 5 years ago, and I usually get 4-5 outings in each fall.

Yesterday was the first time out this year - and I could not believe how crystal clear the water was. In 5 years of fishing that lake in the fall, I have never seen the water that clear before. It was like everything was in high definition.

[Capt. H (Ret.)]

You're right!!! Clear Lake, Iowa has had Zebra's for more that several years and the water did clear up allowing the weeds to grow to deeper areas. Can't tell how that has effected the fishing because the fishing has'nt been real good, at least for walleyes for 3-4 years.

GOOD CALL!!!

Mike

[Esox_Magnum]

The fishing is poor on Clear do to overharvest on the walleyes and ahuge yellow bass boom... Not sure about the weeds being deeper as I have found little to no weeds in the lake when fishing it....The reeds now have seemed to grow but this years super low water has hurt them....As far as the clear water on Tonka, I love it, just like my home waters only with fish lol

[NKLCOLT1911]

You should see it when the ice comes off i think is even better, then it clouds up for the summer.

The only time I fish Minnetonka is in the late fall, when all the idiots put away their giant boats. I first started fishing it 5 years ago, and I usually get 4-5 outings in each fall.

Yesterday was the first time out this year - and I could not believe how crystal clear the water was. In 5 years of fishing that lake in the fall, I have never seen the water that clear before. It was like everything was in high definition.

[senco 1]

Did you catch anything on Tonka yesterday?

[Capt. H (Ret.)]

You must be fishing the "little lake" on the west end. It was dredged several years ago and is much deeper than the rest of the lake hence little weed growth. I like to put in on the east side of the lake at the public ramp across the street from hsolist boats and that area has seen tremendous weed growth. Billy's reef, which is not too far from this landing, is full of weeds right now. There are still docks out that won't have to be removed because they are not in the water. If we don't get some rain before it freezes it is going to be tough next spring. There have been a lot of yellows taken but they are not that big. 3-4 years ago it was common to catch 11-13 inch fish but not so much now.

The walleyes are starting to recover but it is going to be awhile before they reach the level of 3-4 years ago. 4-5 years ago it was quite common to catch a limit of 18-19 inch walleyes in a couple hours of fishing if you knew what you were doing. It will be a while before that happens again. The DNR needed to step up it's enforcement activity and didn't.

I enjoy walleye fishing and I practice catch and release.

Mike

[Esox_Magnum]

I fish the whole lake,mainly spring/early summer and only for muskies...

[JBMasterAngler]

I fished tonka today and I was pretty amazed at how clear the water was also. I snagged a few weeds with zebes on them. I was hooking weeds in some pretty deep water too.

[scott b]

Low water with little rain also has an effect on water clarity. Next spring she'll be super clear with the weeds growing down even deeper throughout the summer. Get ready for a healthy weed bed down to 22ft maybe even twenty-five? Just a guess on the east side. I hope it starts growing sand grass.

[Esox_Magnum]

We fished weeds last week down to the 20' mark on Tonka...

[Shawn Kellett]

Sorry to inform you that Zebra muscles don't eat milfoil, in fact, when they clear the water it allows the milfoil to grow denser and deeper.

Go fish a lake that has had a Zebra infestation for 10+ years and talk to the folks that fish it. You will not like what they have to say. Go take a trip to Green Bay, Lake Winnebago or lake Erie and see of those guys are happy they have Zebra muscles. Sure, the Walleye populations are prety healthy on Green Bay and Erie right now, but that is due to the introduction of another invasive species, the Ailwife (small fish that is high in protien, a great food source).

It will change how people know a lake. It's not all doom and gloom, but it's a far cry from cupcakes and cookies.

Actually the native vegetation is the most lush and robust I've seen it in over 20 years. The zeb's are attaching themselves to the milfoil and it weighs it down. I've never seen so many bare spots where the milfoil should have been choking it out.

Another reason why the lake is so clear is because we haven't had any rain in about 3-4 months. The water has dropped a good 3' and now without any boats tearing around it's settling out pretty good. True the zeb's have cleaned it out, but there's a lot going on out there.

One other thing, we've got a pretty good idea that the sunnies are eating zeb's. In a youth even we had a bunch of sunnies in the livewell. When we pulled them all out there was a bunch of crushed zeb shells on the bottom of the tank. Maybe the sunnies will start growing again on tonka? Who know's but it'll be interesting to see what happens.