High temperatures helped fuel a minor fish kill last week at Baldwin Lake.
Barry Newman, a local fisheries biologist with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, said between 350 to 400 fish were killed at the end of June after temperatures in the watery expanse built for cooling power-plant discharge topped 100 degrees.
"Every summer around this time, we lose some fish because of thermal stress," Newman said. "I know it happens in several power plant lakes across the state. You get real high temperatures in the summer combined with the heated water in the lake, that thermal stress causes some of those fish to die."
Newman said the fish that perished were mostly catfish, hybrid striper, carp, drum and a very small amount of largemouth bass.
"It's an extremely minor fish kill," Newman said. "We're talking about a lake that has tens of thousands of fish."
Mic Middleton, site superintendent of Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area, said some of the dead catfish he observed weighed between 30 and 40 pounds, and a few of the dead hybrid striper were in the 10- to 15-pound range.
"We had that high heat, and it doesn't take much for that water temperature to get up," Middleton said. "It got up to 101 on the south end. When that happens, there isn't as much oxygen in the water keeping it cool.
"Those big fish, they are more susceptible in those conditions just like an old person would be in hot weather as opposed to a young person."
It was the first fish kill at Baldwin Lake, which straddles St. Clair and Randolph Counties, since 2005. The lake is owned by the Illinois Power Company and leased to the IDNR for public recreational use.
Middleton said repair work at the power plant caused water pumps to be shut off, reducing the flow of oxygen into the lake.
"When there's no pumping in the heat of the summer, it doesn't help things out," Middleton said.
Newman said the high temperatures are not a threat to fish as long as there is a steady supply of oxygen.
"There's some deep holes in that lake, and probably a lot of the fish are going down where the water is a little cooler," Newman said. "The day I was investigating it, there were people catching fish."
IBAA tournament
The Illinois Bass Anglers Association of Southwestern Illinois is holding an open tournament Saturday on the lower Kaskaskia River.
Take-off is at Smitty's at the Marina in New Athens at 6:30 a.m. The two-man teams will fish until 2:30 p.m.
Entry fee is $70 per boat, with a limit of five bass per boat. The limit was lowered from to five from 10 because the hot weather makes it difficult to keep fish alive in the live well for a long period of time, said club secretary Tom Harrison Jr.
Anglers can contact Harrison at 531-3701 for more information.
Bowfishing tourney
The second big bowfishing tournament of the summer on the lower Kaskaskia River will take place July 25.
The tournament, which is sponsored by Southern Illinois Outdoors, will launch from Smitty's at the Marina in New Athens. Anglers will fish from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
It's a Big 10 format, meaning the 10 biggest trash fish will be weighed. Cost is $10 per bowfisher with a $5 optional Big Fish pot. Call 979-3102 for more information, or visit www.siloutdoors.com.
Firearm deer permits
Firearm and muzzleloader deer hunters are reminded that Aug. 14 is the deadline to apply for the second lottery for resident and non-resident firearm and muzzleloader deer permits for the 2009 season.
To apply online, click on the "Online Licenses" link on the home page of the IDNR Web site at http://dnr.state.il.us.
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