Hardisty Lake - huge fish die-off
 

Seen this post on Facebook.

Justin Devey

Well would ya look at that! To bad FISH LAKE IN HARDISTY has an aerator that was installed years ago but hasn’t been turned on in years. Here is the outcome! Thousands of dead fish. Just when the population was on the upslope! So to all those people saying to stock fish lake instead of Hardisty lake this is what would happen. Kind of pointless. The aerator needs to be on every year to make this lake any kind of a fishery because of the amount of weeds in it.

Somebody has to answer to this.

Hardisty Lake
 

Is this from Hardisty Lake which is right in Hardisty by the rodeo grounds, or is it Fish Lake that is a couple of miles west of Hardisty. I’m thinking Fish Lake because of the pike in the picture. Also, what kind of fish are in the last picture? At Fish Lake they did install an aerator, but it’s been not running for a long time now.

Hardisty Lake
 

Sorry, I re read your post and you did say it was Fish Lake. Are the fish in the last picture perch? Is this from this winter?

The original poster of the post said he took the pictures this morning.

The original poster of the post said he took the pictures this morning.

Hardisty Lake
 

I might have to go take a look. I live close to there. I would be interested to see if those are dead perch in the last pic.

Fish lake.

All pike. Perch your gonna see orange fins.

It used to have perch in it many years ago but judging from the pike in the pic doubtful they had much chance of survival.

Hardisty Lake
 

They have a great aeration system in place. Why they go through the expense and trouble of installing it, and then not turning it on, is beyond me.

I’m guessing that there might be concerns about open water hazards.

Hardisty Lake
 

Went and took a look this morning. The dead fish are all small pike about 8” long. There are a bunch of bigger pike jammed in there too that have not died yet. Trying to get a bit a oxygen to survive as long as they can. As soon as it freezes over they will be done. One little muskrat run is full of pike struggling to survive. They can’t even get turned around in there. Beautiful aeration system in a nice building sitting just down the shore from there, but not running.

Ol mother nature can be cruel... the pike in fish lake are small by nature so I can see with no harvest or aeration, oxygen would be at a premium. I remember they netted a bunch of perch out of clear lake by wainwright and thru them in fish lake, always wondered if they took hold, doesn't look like it. Its a shame, not many fishing opportunities in that area, somebody paid good money for that aerator, to prevent exactly what is happening...from happening.

Is it worth while call Fish and Wildlife and find out why it’s not running

Hardisty Lake
 

I don’t know that fish and wildlife could or would do much about it. Probably boils down to dollars like everything else. Too expense to run all winter? Maybe they are worried about open weather in the winter. If so, why not put snow fence around the dangerous spots and post signage? Complete waste. If a person wanted to they could just reach down and grab a bunch of pike for the table. Lots of nice sized live ones there now until it freezes and they all die. Not sure if that would be legal. Would have to phone the fish cops on that one. I remember them stocking some perch in there and have wondered if they took, but it sure doesn’t look like it. This early in the winter, you can bet that it will be a complete winter kill there.

Definitely report this to F&W.
There could be several reasons for this kill.

I have a feeling this might have to do with the recent legislation that made Fish and Game Association's possibly liable if someone went through the ice due to the aerator's the club was running. Might be worth calling the local Fish and Game club for that area if F&W doesn't give any info on the reasoning the aerator is not running.

Hardisty lake
 

Reported this to Fish and Wildlife today. The officer says they are well aware of it, and that the regional biologist has been notified. They are considering it a normal winter kill, due mostly to the vegetation in the waterbody and the lack of oxygen. Would have been nice to see that aerator running though?

That’s for sure. Wasteful

Surprised that their comment is "normal winter kill".
This is only the second week of January...typically winter kill would occur later on.

Also someone mentioned that there was open water there?
Things don't seem to add up here...