Massive Fish Kill Just Happened at Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks

There are few things more unsettling than going to your favorite Missouri water place and discovered hundreds of fish dead. That's what has just happened in the Lake of the Ozarks according to a new report from state authorities.

The Missouri Department of Conservation just shared that a massive fish kill is being investigated at Lake of the Ozarks. While some mysterious fish die offs are caused by "pollution, chlorinated drinking water, or chemical spills", in this case the state believes what just happened in the Lake of the Ozarks is due to natural causes.

Why do fish die in large number naturally in Missouri sometimes?

The Missouri Department of Conservation blames this fish kill on gizzard shad which they say came to shallower water because they ran out of food sources during the winter. The shallower water is cold during the winter which results in fish perishing. This could be good news for bass fishermen though as the authorities said this:

"Fish kills of this type frequently occur around this time of year, and bass and crappie may benefit as the shad population will spawn heavily in response to the fish kill".

So maybe this fish kill is just nature's way of providing bass fishermen a great Spring? We will find out soon enough. In the meantime, this recent fish kill in Lake of the Ozarks appears to be nothing to worry about.