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North central Minnesota snow could impact fish

The Minnesota DNR says high snow totals on shallower lakes are a concern.

BRAINERD, Minn. — It's been a fairly average winter here in the metro when it comes to snowfall, but up north, it's a different story.

Areas in north central Minnesota have gotten nearly a foot more of snow than what we've seen here.

At S & W Bait & tackle in Brainerd, business is picking up.

"Yeah we're just getting into it," said Logan Waidelich at the shop.

He says all the snow in north central Minnesota this season was the problem delaying solid ice.

"We had so much snow and such little ice. It wasn't able to make more ice because it was like a blanket on top," said Logan.

Well all this snow now may be causing a new problem.

Doug Kingsley with the DNR says shallower lakes like those in the Park Rapids area are a concern of his. Lakes that have been under more than a foot of snow for a long time.

"Snow will block the sunlight so the plants vegetation will start decomposing. In that process it uses up dissolved oxygen," said Kingsley.

He says that leads to fish kills. 

"Large mouth bass are one of the more vulnerable and one of the first that might succumb to a fish kill," said Kingsley. 

He says deep snow may not just impact fish. Deer may find it more challenging to find food. 

Logan worries about the loss of minnows in shallow ponds.

All in all it's been a tough winter so far on our lakes. The hope now is an early spring melt.

"That would be nice, not just for the lakes but for us," said Kingsley.

He says the DNR will inspect those lakes in the spring to see what fish need to be restocked. 

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