Natural Lakes Survey Reveals Good Survival for 2006 Walleye Stockings
by Lowell Washburn

CLEAR LAKE---DNR fisheries personnel have completed their annual young of the year fish surveys. Conducted each year during late summer and early fall, the netting census is designed to gauge the production, survival, and growth of more than a dozen fish species occurring in Iowa's natural lakes.

"The number of young walleyes surveyed at Clear Lake this year is just about average," said DNR fisheries technician, Scott Grummer. "Growth was excellent and most fish measured six inches which is about as large as they get by early September. The body condition of those young walleyes was excellent."

Grummer noted that the 2006 production for yellow bass and spot-tail shiners was also about average. The annual success or failure of these species largely determines the amount of forage available to larger predator fish, such as walleye.

"This year's yellow bass production looks pretty solid," said Grummer. "Clear Lake has enjoyed pretty consistent year classes and consistent growth [of yellow bass] during the past six to eight years, and it looks as if that trend should continue," said Grummer.

"One notable exception was during the spring of 2005 when spawning conditions were extremely favorable at Clear Lake and production for almost all species was nearly double the long term average," said Grummer. "The amount of forage -- especially yellow bass -- was excessive. Walleye fishing became extremely tough as a result. This year, there are enough young of the year fish to provide predators with an adequate food base but not enough to have a negative impact on angling success. The fall and winter fishing for walleye should definitely be better than it was last year. There is currently a very good population of 14-inch to 18-inch, legal length walleyes in Clear Lake and those fish should be showing up in the harvest this winter."

SPIRIT LAKE/ OKOBOJI

"Here at Spirit Lake we surveyed a large number of spot-tail shiners which are a very important forage species," said northwest Iowa fisheries biologist, Jim Christianson. "Our yellow perch hatch was average or slightly below which was not as good as I had hoped for. Average perch numbers were a little surprising since we had high water this spring which usually favors the perch spawn."

Christianson noted that the number of young of the year largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was good in Spirit Lake, and that the numbers of five-inch young walleye were about average. High numbers of young of the year bluegills were recorded on Okoboji.

"It was a pretty good production year and we also have good populations of adult fish in the Great Lakes. I think things are looking pretty good overall, and we're anticipating this winter's ice fishing to reflect that," said Christianson.

STORM LAKE/ BLACK HAWK LAKE/ NORTH TWIN

The numbers of young of the year walleye collected at Storm Lake this month were nearly twice the five year average according to DNR Fisheries Technician, Don Herrig.

"This year's fry stocking did very well," said Herrig. "Young walleyes are measuring around 5 1/2-inches and look very good.

"Catfish numbers [at Storm Lake] were down from what we've seen during the past four years. The fish we did survey were bigger than average which is what you'd expect with a smaller year class and less competition," Herrig noted.

"Gizzard shad were way up this year, and will provide a great forage base for Storm Lake predator fish," added Herrig. "The majority of the shad we netted measured around 3 1/2-inches which is perfect for walleyes."

The number of young channel catfish surveyed at Black Hawk Lake increased 100 percent over last year, while the number of bluegills decreased slightly. The numbers of gizzard shad were slightly above average, said Herrig.

Walleye numbers remained average while largemouth bass production enjoyed its second consecutive year of increase.

At North Twin, the production of yellow bass was "way up", while the number of young bluegills, shiners, and other minnows continued to decrease. The lake's walleye numbers remain average.