Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has been investigating a fish kill on Silver Lake just west of Manitowoc.
I spoke with Jason Breeggemann, DNR fisheries biologist, and he gave me the following explanation:
On Monday afternoon, Jan. 26, I received a call from a resident who lives on the lake and fishes it regularly stating that over the last two weeks or so, he was no longer seeing any fish on his electronics while ice fishing and that all of the minnows he was using for bait were dead when he pulled them up from fishing.
Myself and water resources biologist Claire Hetzel went to Silver Lake on Tuesday (Jan. 27) to evaluate the situation. Claire and I found very low levels of oxygen at all 12 of the locations that we drilled holes throughout the eastern and western basins of Silver Lake. We also brought an underwater camera along to look for evidence of live fish as well as look for evidence of dead fish. We did observe dead panfish (bluegill and black crappie) on the bottom of the lake along the western and southern shore of the western basin of the lake. Low numbers of dead fish were observed. In each hole that was drilled along the western and southern shores of the west basin, five to 10 dead panfish were observed laying on the bottom of the lake.
Wednesday (Jan. 28), Claire and I went back to Silver Lake to collect water samples to help determine a potential cause. Water samples were collected at four locations, two in the eastern basin and two in the western basin. These water samples were collected to give us a better understanding of what might have caused this fish kill.
We spoke with several residents and anglers as part of this investigation the last two days and none of them observed any direct discharges to the lake in recent weeks.
No one observed overtopping of Silver Creek into the lake during the last warmup earlier in January when much of the snow melted and we got some rain.
No one reported smelling any unique smells like sulfur or manure or seeing any unique changes to water quality, such as an oily sheen.
Jason explained that the samples could take seven to up to 30 days to come back.
I will have more on this when new information becomes available.
Maribel club’s Cottontail Classic and Super Hunt is Feb. 14
Maribel Sportsman’s Club will hold its 37th annual Cottontail Classic and Super Hunt on Saturday, Feb. 14.
Register to hunt at the clubhouse from 5 to 9 p.m. Feb. 13 or through club members.
Super Hunt participants must be in line no later than 1 p.m. and Cottontail Classic hunters must be in line no later than 2:30 p.m. All winners are luck of the draw.
Thousands of dollars’ worth of guns will be given away along with lots of door prizes. They will have Sweetheart Raffles, walk-around raffles, spin of the wheel and the ever-popular beagle puppy raffle.
Anyone taking in a non-perishable food item, whether you are registered to hunt or not, will have a chance to win a $50 gift certificate from Rob’s Family Market in Manitowoc. Food items will be donated to the local food pantry. Rules are available when registering.
Maribel Sportsman’s Club is next to Interstate 43, exit 164, State 147, Maribel.
Bass Club’s kids’ ice fishing derby is Feb. 14
Manitowoc County Bass Club will hold its kids’ ice fishing derby on Saturday, Feb. 14, on Harpt Lake.
Registration is free starting at 8:30 a.m. with fishing from 9 a.m. until noon with awards and prizes to follow.
The derby is held at Larrabee Sportmans Club, 16306 Harpt Lake Road, Mishicot.
Manitowoc mayor to speak at Fish & Game meeting Feb. 11
The Manitowoc Unit of Fish & Game will hold its next meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 11 in Lincoln Park Cabin No. 1.
As always, meetings are open to the public and feature a brief business meeting, speaker and lunch. It is a great way to connect with other sporting men and women and keep up on key conservation issues.
The speaker will be Manitowoc Mayor Justin Nickels. He will update the group on activities going on in the city, especially plans for park programs and improvements. Fish & Game partners with local governments on a variety of projects and needs. The group was a key founder in Lincoln Park and the zoo.
Public invited to join spring hearing process
The Wisconsin Conservation Congress invites all Wisconsinites to take part in its annual spring hearing process.
The WCC is an independent organization of residents that advises the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on how to responsibly manage Wisconsin’s natural resources.
Wisconsin residents are invited to submit ideas as proposed resolutions now through Monday, Feb. 9.
An individual may submit no more than two resolutions per year, and the resolutions must meet the following criteria:
Those interested in submitting a resolution can visit the DNR and WCC’s Spring Hearings webpage.
At the close of the submission process, the resolutions will be reviewed and prepared for the 2026 Spring Hearing. Online and in-person input begins on Monday, April 13, and online input will continue through Wednesday, April 15.
For further information or questions, contact Paul Reith, vice chairman of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress, at 608-616-0808.
That’s it for this week, so have fun in the great outdoors.
Outdoors columnist Bob Schuh’s “Scoping the Great Outdoors” column appears each Sunday in the Herald Times Reporter. He can be reached at 920-682-3106 or bobschuh@lsol.net.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Underwater camera reveals fish kill at Silver Lake as DNR investigates
Reporting by Bob Schuh, Special to Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter USA TODAY NETWORK – WISCONSIN / Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter
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