Conference wahoo::fishing

    
    Les,
    
    A good resemblence of the draw down on your lake would be Highland
    Lake during last year.  The lake is drawn down every year but
    especially low last year for Dam repair.  I've have fished Highland
    this year and have noticed no difference, I don't think there was
    a fish kill.
    
    I would guess however that the effect of draw down on a lake would
    be dependent upon the type of lake.  I do know that a main reason
    for oxygen depletion is due to dying weeds which replaces oxygen
    with carbon minoxide.  You may want to call the Fish & Game to ask
    about the potential on your lake.
    
    I know that on Highland lake (N.H.) they restricted Ice Fishing
    due to the extreme low water which left only concentrated areas
    for fish.  You may want to ask if this is also being considered
    for your lake.

    
    More info on draw downs.
    
      Bill Unitus spoke at our club meeting last night. He is the
    environmental Vice President of the Federation. Each town drawing
    down a lake/pond must apply for a permit by the state. 
    On that permit is the exact amount of draw down. 
      Many towns disregard the limit on thier permit and do what they want.
    If they draw down more than the permit allows then they can be held
    liable to pay big $$ in fines etc.. If you think your favorite pond
    got drwn down too much let you federation delegate know !! He can then
    forward it to Unitus to see if the town has over stepped it's bounds.
    
      "BASSMASTER"

      One of my favorite spots to fish suffered a complete killing
    off of one species of fish, which most blame on the lowering of
    the lake water level. The species that suffered was the Northern
    Pike.
    
      There is one guy (a former DEC engineer) who fished that lake
    regularly, and he keeps track of everything (what he catches, where
    he catches it, time of day, weather, ect...). Apparently he passes
    the info on to the wildlife biologists. About 5 years ago, he caught
    250+ Northern Pike in that lake. The next year he caught a grand total
    of 5!!!
    
      Although I'm not 100% sure of the details, here is what I heard that
    happened. One the south end of the lake there is a swampy area that
    extends several miles from the lake. This is where the Northern would
    go to spawn. This lake was (still is) suffering from tremendous weed
    growth in several areas, so the decision was made to lower the lake
    level in an effort to kill off some of the weeds. When the lake was
    lowered, the water became too shallow for the Northerns to reach the
    swamp for the spawn. So, they headed North. At the north end of the
    lake there is an outlet (into a stream) that is normally covered with
    a grate/screen to keep the fish in. Apparently someone removed this
    grate/screen, and when the Northern went north to spawn, they went
    right over the dam, never to return. 
    
      Like I said, I don't know all this for a fact, but it is what the
    popular local opinion is. How else would you explain the dramatic de-
    crease in the population of that one species. However, since the
    northern are gone, other species have started to flourish. Bass fishing
    was great this spring, and is starting to get hot right now.
    
      One thing that I did notice this summer was an unusually large amount
    of dead Northern in the lake. We did catch some early in the spring,
    but none during the summer. Most of the dead ones I saw were one the
    bottom of the lake (less than 10 feet of water) or washed up on shore.
    I really don't know what is causing this, but it sure has me wondering
    what is killing these fish. I very seldom see a dead bass.
    
    -Ron-

      Please note that the lake discussed in the previous note is NOT a
    man-made lake.
    
    -Ron-

    
    
      They are planning on dropping the lake i fish on LOWER NAUGKEG.
    They plan on fixing the dam and adding a chemical in the spring
    to kill off the abuntance of weeds. The bass fishing has been slow
    and a few of us are wondering if the dropping of the lake and the
    chemical will kill of what nice bass are left?? I plan on fishing
    there in the winter to see if the bass fishing has picked up. The
    lake however is 4-8 feet deep with about a 20ft. chanel in the middle
    if they drop the lake 6ft. like there suppose to i'm wondering if
    it will turn into a fish kill. I was also wondering since the best
    spot is by the dam and is filled with stumps and logs if the lowering
    of the water and the push of bass to deeper water with a weedy bottom
    will have an effect on the bass....

    My wife is on the Conservation Commission in Winchendon. Any lake
    that is to be lowered must have permission from the state via the
    local conservation commission. Even private man made lakes fall under
    this law. I live on Sunset Lake, and every year they have lowered
    the lake four feet for weed control. Well as of Jan 1990 they will
    have to apply for a permit. Draining lakes for weed control is not
    legal, but for dam repairs it is. That's why you'll see towns and
    associations lowering for Dam repairs, even if its to just to 
    replace the splash boards. Also, water front property owners will
    have to apply for a permit to do beach work. The cost of the permit
    is about $200.00. Don't blame the towns they get to keep $25.00 Dukakis
    gets the rest. Those living on lakes may get together and apply for 
    a generic permit which all those listed on the permit may do  beach
    repair. 
    I kind of thought this was kind of overkill, but after hearing
    about people filling beach's with sand from DPW dumps, and 
    sand from the ocean beaches, it makes sense. Last year we had
    a woman dredging her beach during July. The entire lake was full
    a silt, which kills fish and effects other wildlife as well. The
    people living next door couldn't swim half the summer.
    
Jim