The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Tower Area Fisheries Office has announced their schedule for conducting lake and stream surveys and fish population assessments for the summer of 2006. Tower Area Fisheries crews will conduct fish population assessments on 23 lakes, resurvey 4 lakes, and complete a fish population assessment on the East Two River. Most lake surveys and assessments will involve the use of gill nets and trap nets to assess fish populations. In addition, shoreline seining will be done on Lake Vermilion, and electro-fishing will be done on Lake Vermilion. Physical habitat evaluations, aquatic plant surveys, standard water chemical analyses, and shoreline seining or small mesh trap netting for young-of-the-year assessment will also be completed on lakes with full resurveys.

Survey frequency varies on each lake based on ongoing management evaluations and a priority system. Fish populations on Lake Vermilion are assessed every year, other large lakes in the area may be assessed every four to six years, while smaller and more remote lakes are generally assessed less frequently.

Lake survey and population assessment data are used to evaluate management activities and provide an update on the status of the fish community. The data is reviewed and then incorporated into an individual Fisheries Lake Management Plan. The plan identifies goals for the key species in the lake and outlines specific management activities.

Lakes where fieldwork for population assessments has already been completed this spring:

Lake Name

Vermilion (muskie assessment on West Vermilion)

Alruss Chant

Ennis Found

Hanson Louis

Glacier Pond 2

Bass (south of Biwabik; trapnetting)



Scheduled dates for surveys and assessments on other lakes (GN + gill nets & TN = trap nets):

LAKE

Vermilion - June 13-23 (night electro-fishing)

Twin (between Ely and Tower)

June 19-23 (GN & TN)

North Twin (south of Aurora)

June 26-30 (GN & TN)

Minister July 3-7 (GN & TN)

Vermilion July 3-7, 10-14, 17-21, 24-28 (shoreline seine)

Knife July 10-14 (GN)

Little Knife July 10-14 (GN)

Cypress July 10-14 (GN)

Whisper July 17-21 (GN)

Perch July 17-21 (GN & TN)

Burntside July 17-21 (GN)

Astrid

July24-28 (GN)

Vermilion July 24-28 & July 31-August 4 (TN)

Trout July 31–August 4 (GN)

Nels July 31-August 4 (GN & TN)

Arrowhead August 7-11 (GN & TN)

Wynne August 7-11 (GN & TN)

Sabin August 14-18 (GN & TN)

Bass (south of Biwabik)

August 14-18 (GN)

Cedar (near Ely) August 21-25 (GN & TN)

Birch (near Babbitt)

August 21-25 (GN)

Vermilion August 28 – Sept. 1, Sept. 5-8, & 11-15 (GN)

Slim August 28-Sept.1 (GN)

Stuart Sept. 5-8 (GN)

Vermilion Sept. 18-22 & 25-29 (night electro-fishing)


Scheduled dates for surveys and assessments are subject to change. If you have any questions please contact the Area Fisheries Office in Tower at 218-753-2580 ext. 221 or 222 or in writing at Tower Area Fisheries, MN DNR, 650 Hwy 169, Tower, MN 55790.