OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) – Final tests confirmed that VHS disease caused a large fish die-off in Lake Winnebago this April.
“It was primarily Sheepshead that was affected.”
It is not expected to have an effect on the Winnebago fishery, but DNR Fisheries Supervisor Kendall Kamke says VHS is going to be a concern for a while.
“Once we have it now, it seems that it is here and it will creep up when the conditions are right for it and we get that perfect storm.”
Kamke said the best thing that water users can do it not spread it.
He says that means washing, drying and disinfecting boat and gear.
“The prevention comes from not moving it to other water bodies.”
The consequence for not doing so may be more detrimental.
“The potential is there for this to affect some of our larger game fish and that is kind of the boogie man that we have been able to avoid so far.”
The first VHS outbreak on Lake Winnebago was in 2007.
