Crosby Report

[BioDiver]

Dove Alstead West yesterday.  Very fun dive.  The water is much warmer now with surface temps at 59 and 50 at 30 feet.  Visibility was good (about 20 feet) but there were some cloudy spots.

Lots of trees, one car, and a lot of fish.  Saw many bluegills (which would follow us around for much of the dive), one black crappie, many perch, one rainbow trout, and one eelpout.  I didn't even know there were pout in the pits.  I have heard of other people talk about them but I was dismissing those sightings as mistaken identity.  Now I believe.

Total dive time for the night - 69 minutes.  31 feet max depth.

[LKunze]

I've seen eelpout on several occasions in Louise, Mahnomen-2 and Joan.  Some pretty big ones too.  I've seen them on a couple of occasions just laying on the bottom at 60 - 70 feet.  If you get too close they take off in the blink of an eye.

[BioDiver]

This was a pretty big one too and yes, it too took off like a rocket.  I wonder how they got in there.  I can't imagine anybody putting them in there.  I also don't think the DNR put any in there.  Over the years of stocking there must have been at least a few mixed in with the other stocked fish.  I'll try to find out more.  It is good habitat for them though.

[MAXFACTOR]

Several weeks ago, we saw a eel pout  down by the electric pole area.   It wasn't that big though.

Maxfactor.

[LKunze]

I've seen one there as well.  Maybe that's one of their prime places to hang out.

[DiverQueen]

So it wan't an "Electric" Eel was it?  Ha Ha Ha!

[MAXFACTOR]

Come to think of it,  in LOUISE,    Diver Dave and I saw one in the boat to the right of the road as you enter Louise....  just sitting on the seat . 

Very funny    electric eel pout.....hahahaha

Max

[BioDiver]

Here is the reply I got from the local fisheries department:

Alstead mine goes to Arco mine then a creek goes to Mahnomen lake and eventually the Mississippi river which has burbot. The creek from Arco to Mahnomen lake(not Mahnomen mine pit) was once more passable for fish before we  installed a  semi-barrier to prevent fish movement into the mine pits. Also Serpent lake has a few burbot and the outlet eventually leads to Mahnomen lake.  The reality is that the DNR has only stocked trout in the mine pits, yet all the mine pits have numerous species of fish present. Portsmouth has walleye, largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike etc. Many of the mine pits with no inlets or outlets, yet they have numerous species present.  These were established illegally by anglers intentionally.

Dale Lockwood
Fisheries Specialist
Brainerd Area Fisheries
218-828-2751

[scott1611]

Will be doing my AOW this weekend (27th & 28th).  Hoping I can get down there Friday afternoon with a tank...maybe find someone willing to dive Friday?

I believe our AOW class will be diving Portsmouth, really looking forward to seeing the trees and fish.  Will post on Monday conditions and what I did see.  :-)

[LKunze]

Interesting info. their Adam.  Thanks for posting that.