01-09-2013, 10:19 PM
I just email F&G this week about this very question. Here is the information I got back. At this point it's the most detailed (probably most accurate) report I've had on the lake in a few years.
Mud Lake does still contain perch, but the population is limited by water management. The Mud Lake Water Users manage the lake for irrigation storage and delivery. Starting in the mid-2000’s, they changed their management some and now draw the lake down low during the fall and through the winter. When that happens (and even before they did that), winter kills occur. The lake does not store enough oxygen to sustain a lot of fish through the winter, and the population dies off substantially. I was out there during December, and did see lots of little perch swimming around under the ice. However, I would not expect the fishery to rebound to where it was in the early 2000’s until water management changes.
Thanks for pointing out that the website is not up to date. I’ll see if we can get that updated.
Dan Garren
Regional Fisheries Manager
208-525-7290
[signature]
Mud Lake does still contain perch, but the population is limited by water management. The Mud Lake Water Users manage the lake for irrigation storage and delivery. Starting in the mid-2000’s, they changed their management some and now draw the lake down low during the fall and through the winter. When that happens (and even before they did that), winter kills occur. The lake does not store enough oxygen to sustain a lot of fish through the winter, and the population dies off substantially. I was out there during December, and did see lots of little perch swimming around under the ice. However, I would not expect the fishery to rebound to where it was in the early 2000’s until water management changes.
Thanks for pointing out that the website is not up to date. I’ll see if we can get that updated.
Dan Garren
Regional Fisheries Manager
208-525-7290
[signature]