Caution; Slippery When Wet

SOMETHING’S FISHY — Torrential rains the weekend of Aug. 18 and 19 and in subsequent weeks rose water levels throughout the Rock River Basin.

Now that lakes and rivers are receding, some fish are being left behind in isolated pockets of marsh waters. As the water levels dropped, fish that journeyed across roadways, such as Blackhawk Island Road in the Town of Sumner, were left stranded.

Don Bush, regional fisheries supervisor with state Department of Natural Resources, said the scenario plays it self out along more than 100 miles of river from the Horicon Marsh and beyond.

Nets were cast Monday to determine whether a significant number of game fish needed rescuing. The catch primarily was carp by a 10-to-1 margin over bluegills, minnows, bass and crappies. More than 200 game fish were returned to the river, while the carp were left along the shoreline for scavengers to eat.

Shown above: Bush and DNR fish management representative Doug Lubke empty the nets this morning in the marshy area located between Blackhawk Island Road and Mud Lake.

Daily Union photo by Ryan Whisner.