Angling Characteristics and Vital Statistics of Fish Populations in Long Lake, Fond Du Lac County, Wisconsin
File(s)
Date
1988-12Author
Scheirer, Jeffrey Wm.
Publisher
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, College of Natural Resources
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
We used fyke netting, electrofishing, tagged fish, and
a creel survey to evaluate the angling characteristics and
vital statistics of northern pike (Esox lucius), largemouth
bass (Micropterus salmoides), walleye (Stizostedion
vitreum), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), pumpkinseed
(Lepomis gibbosus), yellow perch (Perea flavescens), black
crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus), rock bass (Ambloplites
rupestris), and bullhead (Ictalurus sp.) populations in
185-hectare Long Lake in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin in
1986 - 87. The fyke nets selected the larger fish of most
species, except bluegills.
Estimated fishing pressure was 1.33 hrs/ha/day for the
period May 3, 1986 - May 1, 1987 and 2.79 hrs/ha/day from
May 3 - August 31, 1986. Monthly fishing pressure peaked in
May and February. Monthly harvest rates ranged from 0 to
406 fish/100 hours of angling. The estimated annual harvest
included 2,186 northern pike, 1,498 largemouth bass, 330
walleyes, 53,709 bluegills, 8,235 yellow perch, 4,936 black
crappies, and 2,529 pumpkinseeds.
Proportional Stock Densities (PSD) for largemouth bass
and bluegills captured by electrofishing in spring were 69
and 34%, respectively. Weighted predator and prey PSD fell
in the optimal area formed by intersecting objective ranges
for predators and prey. Relative weights (Wr ) of largemouth
bass, bluegills and black crappies were satisfactory, but Wr
of walleyes was below the recommended range. Northern pike
in Long Lake weighed less for their length than pike from
Michigan lakes. Floy tags did not affect the condition of
tagged northern pike, but tagged pike grew slower than
untagged pike. I found differences between ages -of northern
pike determined from scales and cleithra from the same fish
and descrepancies in number of annuli on scales taken from
tagged pike in successive years. Largemouth bass,
bluegills, pumpkinseeds, rock bass, and black crappies grew
at an average rate, but northern pike and yellow perch grew
slower than those statewide.
Petersen estimates of population size were 40.1, 43.6,
and 25.2 fish/ha and exploitation rates, determined from tag
returns, were 18, 27, and 7% for largemouth bass of 250 mm
or longer, and northern pike and walleyes 381 mm long or
longer, respectively. Annual mortality rates from catch
curves were 42, 63, 73, 73, 69, 55, and 59% for largemouth
bass, northern pike, bluegills, black crappies, pumpkinseeds,
rock bass, and yellow perch, respectively. The estimated
total annual mortality rates for bluegills and black
crappies were high and exploitation of largemouth bass and
walleyes, low in comparison with other populations.
Fish and crayfish (Orconectes sp.) were the main food
items in of 16 of 25 stomachs from largemouth bass captured
by angling and electrofishing.