As businesses located around Lake Delton gear up for the return of tourists, the state is continuing efforts to bring fishing back as a pasttime on the water.
The shoreline breach last June that drained the lake took away all the fish with it, meaning the state had to start from scratch after the water levels were restored. Earlier this year, minnows were restocked. On Tuesday, the one year anniversary of the lake draining, about 9,000 walleye fingerlings were added back in as well.
Department of Natural Resources Secretary Matt Frank says they hope to reintroduce panfish species this fall.
Frank says the disaster that drained the lake last summer may actually help improve the fishery in the long run, since they were able to remove the carp that had become established in the water.
Frank says the state will spend about $70,000 this year to help restore the fishery, with more to be spent in the coming years. That's on top of over $200,000 raised by Wisconsin Dells-area groups to help restock the lake.
