DULUTH  — Last winter’s heavy snowfall is partly to blame for a fish kill that took out tens of thousands of walleye, bass, northern pike and other species on Grand Lake near Duluth.

Dan Wilfond is a Department of Natural Resources fisheries specialist for the Duluth area. He said the kill was fairly severe, and he estimates 35,000 fish were affected.

Wilfond said the 1,600-acre Grand Lake is susceptible to winter fish kills and its oxygen concentrations are monitored annually. That said, the lake hasn’t seen a severe winter kill since the 1950s.

Because of the kill, the DNR is going to stock walleye in Grand Lake over the next three years. Wilfond anticipates anglers could see some pretty good fishing there after that.