Leech Lake action plan moves forward; anglers pleasantly surprised by walleye, bass, muskie opportunities (2005-06-28)

Just 10 months after a pivotal public meeting in Walker, where area residents and resort owners sought immediate action to improve walleye fishing on Leech Lake, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Leech Lake Reservation Division of Resources Management (DRM) are well on their way to delivering on the promises they made to improve the lake's fishery. Fisheries managers report the DNR is making progress in all areas of its four-part plan for the lake: special fishing regulations, experimental walleye stocking, cormorant control and lake habitat improvements.

PROTECTING BROOD STOCK WITH SPECIAL FISHING REGULATIONS

Immediately following the August 2004 meeting, the DNR set the wheels in motion to implement experimental walleye regulations on the lake, including a protective slot of 18 to 26 inches, a four-fish bag limit and a one-over-26-inch possession limit. Public support for the regulation was overwhelming, with 80 percent favoring the regulations during a public comment period on the proposal in December. New regulations went into effect on opening day this year; reports about angling experiences on the lake have been positive.

"I think the prevailing message that started to spread was that the Leech Lake fishery was dead," remarked Henry Drewes, regional fisheries manager for the DNR's Northwest Region. "That was unfortunate, because the lake has the third strongest level of walleye brood stock we've ever measured in it right now. Those fish have the potential to produce strong future year classes if they're protected and the conditions are right. What's important for anglers is those fish are still out there in the lake to be caught. In our angler surveys, we're actually hearing walleye fishing on Leech has been better than expected, even though anglers aren't able to keep a lot of walleye."

Fisheries biologists will be monitoring the impacts of the experimental regulations over the next five years with annual walleye sampling and angler surveys in 2005 and 2010.

EXPERIMENTAL WALLEYE FRY STOCKING

In early May, the DNR stocked 7.5 million marked walleye fry into the lake in an effort to better understand the lake's natural walleye production. This information is important, according to Drewes, because the target population goal for the lake's double-crested cormorant colony will be at least partially based on that information. The lake's colony of cormorants, which can consume up to a pound of fish per day per bird, ballooned to nearly 10,000 birds last summer. The colony is being blamed for the absence of younger age classes of walleye in Leech Lake in recent years.

The level of natural reproduction will be measured by estimating the ratio of marked to unmarked fish collected this summer in trawling and seining samples, according to Harlan Fierstine, Walker area fisheries supervisor for the DNR. "Beginning in early July and throughout the summer, we'll be sending biologists out to collect young-of-the-year walleye to determine what the ratio of natural versus stocked walleye is in the lake," said Fierstine. "This information will help determine the optimal level of brood stock in the lake and provide insight into the level of natural reproduction that is occurring on Leech Lake."

CORMORANT DAMAGE CONTROL

The DNR cooperated with the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe's Division of Resources Management (DRM), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services program to complete an environmental assessment, which cleared the way for cormorant management on Leech Lake.

The USDA's Wildlife Services program, under a contract with the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and with funding from the DNR, reduced the cormorant colony on Little Pelican Island to about 600 nesting pairs in May and June.

The culling operation on Little Pelican Island was suspended in late June to protect the other colonial water birds on the island, according to the Leech Lake DRM. The sharpshooters will continue to take about 20 birds per week by pass shooting throughout the summer for a diet study, however. That study, which will be conducted by graduate students from the University of Minnesota, will help determine a sustainable population level for cormorants on Leech Lake.

HABITAT PROTECTION

The final part of the Leech Lake action plan is habitat protection. According to Drewes, a primary focus will be controlling invasive species, Eurasian watermilfoil, curly leaf pondweed and the Chinese mystery snail, which appeared in the lake in the summer of 2004.

Eurasian watermilfoil was found in five harbors in the summer of 2004. Efforts to control the invasive species late last summer were largely successful. The DNR is offering resort owners and guests personal training on how to identify the aquatic plant and clean boats to prevent its further spread. The DNR is also planning additional treatment for the harbors where the plant was found this summer. A survey was conducted earlier this year looking for curly leaf pondweed, but none was discovered.

"I'm really encouraged by what I'm seeing and hearing on Leech Lake," said Drewes. "Angler success for larger walleye has been good and we are approaching the peak season for bass and muskie fishing."

Leech Lake is one of the premier muskie waters in the Upper Midwest and is gaining attention as one of the best bass lakes in Minnesota, noted Drewes. "Overall, we are very pleased with the progress that has been made in the first few months since our action plan was initiated."

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