Zumbro lake

I drive over lake zumbro everyday for work. Been watching the shoreline receed everyday.

Is there a fall drawdown?

FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:

I drive over lake zumbro everyday for work. Been watching the shoreline receed everyday.

Is there a fall drawdown?

Yup. 2 to 4 feet until April.

Jimmy, thanks.
Why is this done?

It’s two-fold. First it allows shoreline owners to do any maintenance. Secondly, and more importantly, it is a flood control measure should an inordinate amount of spring or late-winter precip threaten to cause flooding.

Usually it’s done for some specific reason/s:

-reduce ice damage (generally done on larger lakes with permanent infrastructure near shorelines)

-develops a buffer to handle rapid spring runoff/melting

-creates a predictable timeslot to do shoreline maintenance

-helps manage certain invasive weeds that grow up shallow (exposure then freezing can slow the spread year after year)

***My relatives have an annual drawdown on a lake they live on in Northern WI and it’s generally for the purpose of giving “space” for spring runoff. With the unusually dry year their drawdown was only a foot versus the 2+’ normal. It’s also been linked to slowing some of the undesired weed growth. I’m not sure who makes the executive decision for the drawdown though???

Thanks guys. Was certainly curious why the drastic drop. Looks like some skinny water under the bridge.

On the Zumbro it also offers a time to freeze out the Zebra Mussels that have used shallower structures. Its nothing to get 20″ of ice which also helps out in the mussel endeavor.

Should probably drop the boat in there and check it out someday . Just keep going back to the river . Anyone convince me otherwise ? Half the drive .

isu22andy wrote:

Should probably drop the boat in there and check it out someday . Just keep going back to the river . Anyone convince me otherwise ? Half the drive .

No first hand evidence, but I know of people who get on crappies out there. An old coworker swore it was pretty easy to locate 10-11” crappies with little effort

I have hit it 5-6 times since October. What has worked for me is either jig trolling or finding them on the edge of the basin and drop jigging raps on em. I seem to catch bigger ones 12-13″ trolling but way more 9-11″ vertical dropping jigging raps on em. You will also find a bunch of nice striped bass mixed in and even bluegill. Love the LZ especially now with very little traffic.

It’ll be pretty tough with the levels down now and the dnr pulls the dock at the Ponderosa landing. The Fisherman’s in landing is county owned and the docks get pulled there when the water is down.

Went out on zumbro for a change of scenery yesterday afternoon. Wouldn’t recommend it unless you can push pole your boat over a mud flat. I had the prop in the mud 1/2 throttle for a bit.

North landing has gravel pile exposed. Drag a boat access only. South access is very steep but usable… pretty difficult to get to the channel though. I think the level dropped a small amount while on the water making the trip back across the mud flat quite the challenge!

Caught some little crappie.

They take it down to a maintenance level initially so people can do shoreline work. It’ll remain at that level for a while, then it’ll be brought back up to winter pool level. Fishing right now would be the pits. Drooping the lake by this much send fish into a tizzy.

In past years it has happened that ice formed before the rise to winter pool making for some sketchy access for a while when the water was brought back up. They’ve also been known to drop the water for repair purposes after the ice had formed a decent sheet and that created some interesting stuff when the level was brought back up.

When the water is brough back to winter pool level one might be able to use the Fisherman’s landing if careful. They should be pulling docks at the accesses if they haven’t already.

I’m seeing a drop of about 4 feet as of this morning. Normal winter pool is two feet below the top of the dam or thereabouts.

eyeguy507 wrote:

striped bass

Do you mean white bass? A striper in LZ would make the news lol

Like in the Mississippi River, they’re referred to as stripers because the stripes are distinct and there isn’t much white about them. White bass is what putzs north of the Cities catch.

Jimmy Jones wrote:

Like in the Mississippi River, they’re referred to as stripers because the stripes are distinct and there isn’t much white about them. White <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>bass is what putzs north of the Cities catch.

Gotcha. Thanks

Thanks Jimmy. I do remember some funky ice some 10 years when I’d go there to catch channel cats before ice went out. Could get into some nicer sized ones by fisherman’s.

I didn’t realize I don’t have it mapped on my bird. May have to get out there this fall and scan it quick if water levels allow but likely won’t make it a priority.

Appreciate you sharing what you know

gimruis wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>eyeguy507 wrote:</div>
striped bass

Do you mean white bass? A striper in LZ would make the news lol

striper, wiper, white bass, or whatever they are. i usually call em wipe a$$ so lets go with that. i can never keep them straight but there are some nice ones in there.

Thanks Jimmy, you must live by Rochester, hmmm.

gimruis wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>eyeguy507 wrote:</div>
striped bass

Do you mean white bass? A striper in LZ would make the news lol

As a kid, I used to fish from one of my dad’s friends docks on Lake Zumbro – with nothing but a bare hook and catch dozens of “striped bass.” Yes, better known as White Bass, Silver Bass, etc.

My first trip to the lake was in the summer of 1961. Been fishing it ever since. Lots of change over the years, some good, some not so good.

FYI
Water level has been rising last 3 days.

Pretty close right now but it’ll need a few cold, cold days to set the shoreline ice up.