LAKE DELTON, Wis. -- With 15,000 lakes in Wisconsin, it's not surprising that the state is the No. 2 fishing destination in the country.

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"We have one of the most diverse and thriving fisheries in North America," said local outdoor expert Dan Small.

"Between Lake Delton, the Wisconsin River, Mirror Lake, and Devil's Lake State Park we're so fortunate to have so many fantastic bodies of water that have great fishing," said Wisconsin Dells Visitor's Bureau's Melanie Platt-Gibson.

But the $2.75 billion annual industry took a hit in the Wisconsin Dells over the summer when Lake Delton emptied down the Wisconsin River.

"There's been a lot of suffering in Wisconsin this year," said Small.

The community's first priority was rebuilding and refilling Lake Delton.

"This was certainly not in the state budget, not in the Lake Delton Village budget when this disaster occurred," said Small.

"The village is strapped, you might say, for funds," said Lake Delton village board member Gordon Priegel.

There was no money in the budget to restock the fishery.

"Restoring the fishery will help rebuild the multi-faceted recreational opportunities here in Lake Delton and in the Wisconsin Dells area," said Small.

Small and another local outdoor expert, Ben Hobbins, collaborated on a project to use big outdoor names to help draw attention to the problem and hopefully draw private donations.

"Any donation of any amount will help restore the fishery and fish habitat," said Small.

Small said Gander Mountain and other names associated with outdoor recreation will place a link on their Web site which will send consumers to www.restorelakedeltonfisheries.com, a Web site where they can make donations to help restore the fish on Lake Delton.

"For $15 you can adopt a fingerling or for a larger donation you can have naming rights to a fishing reef," said Small.

Department of Natural Resources fishing expert Tim Larson said the cost of restocking the lake could be as much as $200,000.

"The DNR is not able to transfer fish like we were a few years ago due to the VHS disease and Large Mouth Bass virus," said Larson. "Most of these fish will have to be purchased from hatcheries with disease-free certified fish."

But Larson said there is much work that needs to be done even before the lake is refilled.

"We need to chemically treat the creek and pond in front of the dam," said Larson. "We need to do that when the dam is closed in December."

Larson said even before that, the vegetation that has grown on what is essentially the lake bottom will need to be removed in an environmentally safe way. He estimates that could cost around $100,000.

"There are treatments that have to be done because there are rough fish in the lake," said Small.

Rough fish like carp, which have been building in number in Dell Creek, need to be removed before the creek is re-directed to fill the lake.

Larson said he'd also like to have more fish habitats, reefs and cribs constructed before the lake is refilled.

"What an opportunity to install a fish habitat when you can actually see where it's going," said Larson.

But Larson said they will only be able to do as much as donors are willing to give.

"My guess is that the fishing will be slow to start because it costs a lot of money to put a lot of fish in the lake," said Small. "Over the course of the next few years you'll see the fishing improve steadily and within four to five years it will be better than it ever was."

The DNR is also considering a catch and release restriction on Lake Delton that could extend for 10 years in order to allow the fish population to grow.