TOWN OF MARQUETTE (WMSN) -- The shores of Puckaway Lake became a fish graveyard this week.



The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says some commercial fishermen -- who were awarded the contract to get rid of carp from the lake -- did not follow proper procedure, and game fish were accidentally killed.



Now, people on Puckaway Lake are trading their fishing poles for pitchforks and shovels. They've got an unpleasant job to do.



Walleye, northern pike, white bass -- thousands of prized game fish -- dead.



"It's absolutely shocking," said Phil Anastasi, lake resident. "It's to the point where you don't want to believe what your eyes are seeing."



Puckaway Lake is a large, shallow lake in eastern Green Lake County -- about 5,000 acres and nine feet deep. The DNR says the fish died when commercial fishermen who were using a type of netting to remove carp, did not separate the game fish from the rough fish.



"I don't believe they had enough personnel for whatever reason," said Carl Mesman, DNR conservation warden supervisor. "That's what they're contract requires. They failed to do that."



Lake residents say clean-up could take weeks, or even months, because dozens of fish float up from the bottom every day.



Seagulls and hawks are helping, but residents are still left with thousands of rotting fish carcasses and a very unpleasant smell.



Anglers say they're outraged to see game fish -- some as long as 30 inches -- wasted.



"The resource is not unlimited," said Anastasi. "Fish pressure on all lakes in the state and the United States is at an all time high."



"We have a pretty healthy lake, but it's hard to tell the percentage that were killed," said Roger Swanke, lake resident. "Hopefully, we'll survive."



The investigation is ongoing, and the DNR says charges against the commercial fishermen they believe are responsible could be pending.



The DNR said this was the contractors' first time removing rough fish from Puckaway Lake.



Residents want the state to restock the lake, but finding the resources to do that may be difficult.



The DNR says it can't even afford to start a large clean-up effort. Homeowners are allowed to remove the fish from their properties, but need to check with the local waste disposal on how to get rid of them.



Online reporting by Jeff Angileri

DNR Investigating Massive Fish Kill