Quote Originally Posted by livemusic View Post
It is common for lakes around here to draw down in the winter because of vegetation but I am not sure about hydrilla. I am aware of a lake very nearby, much larger, maybe 800 acres but it is private, owned by a wealthy man. I heard that hydrilla made the bass fishing fantastic until it went beyond the point of reason and they had to drain it because it took over. The hydrilla there has not come back. I don't know what they did other than drain it but he has the money to do whatever. I will ask someone who should know.

It was said above that lakes have a life. Then what? Does a lake ever become completely useless?

Vegetation is a regular problem around here. I recall lakes having trouble with coontail moss, hydrilla and the one for the past about 20 years has been salvinia. This town lake does not have any salvinia. That stuff can sure ruin a lake. They draw lakes down for that but they also spray herbicide. I seem to recall they also found a bug that kills the plant.

EDIT: We have had a few winters here that been the coldest of my life and I'm almost 70. Getting down to single digits, even zero degrees, I think if you drain a lake and it's exposed, that temp kills just about anything.
they actually turn into a vast wetland swamp before they completely die , so useless wouldnt be the appropriate terminology, useful to migrating waterfowl and other shore birds and amphibia galore as well as other wildlife in the area .
unfortunately fishing isnt in the realm at that point so useless for fish ketchn would be a good description .