david kittaka, district 5 fisheries biologist debra king, district 5 assistant fisheries biologist...
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West Boggs Creek ReservoirFisheries Renovation Project
(To Be Completed: Fall 2014)
David Kittaka, District 5 Fisheries BiologistDebra King, District 5 Assistant Fisheries Biologist
Indiana Department of Natural ResourcesDivision of Fish and Wildlife
Managing Partners for West Boggs Lake
Park: Daviess-Martin Joint County Parks and Recreation Department (Daviess-Martin JCPR)
Fishery: IDNR’s Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW)
What is a Fisheries Renovation?Goal:
To restore a balanced, self-sustaining fish population.
StepsLess strict fishing regulations. Lower the lake level.Chemically eradicate the fish population in the
lake.Chemically eradicate fish in streams that flow
into West Boggs Lake.Restock with desirable game fish species.
Why is a renovation necessary?Fishery has declined since the introduction of
gizzard shad in 2000.Limited success of lake drawdowns to
improve the fishery.Angler attendance is steadily declining.Bass recruitment is declining and panfish
growth is stunted.The number of harvested fish and bass
caught and released has declined dramatically.
What happened?
Gizzard shad are
established.
Gizzard shad compete with bluegill and small bass for food.
Bass eat gizzard shad
instead of bluegill
Bluegill continue to
reproduce at current rates.
Large numbers of bluegill with poor growth
due to competition
Bass recruitment slows due to
direct competition
for food resources
Bass population
cannot sustain itself
Gizzard shad abundance 2010
Giz-zard shad64%
Other36%
Bluegill and Largemouth Catch Rates
Gizzard shad illustration courtesy of NOAA, Great Lakes Environmental Research
Catch rates in the hundreds/hour in 2010 Catch rates in the hundreds/hour in 2000
Largemouth bass population
Large bass Poor recruitment
Bass population that is declining in
numbers
Percent of Largemouth Bass at Age-2*
West BoggsMonroe/PatokaBrookvilleEagle CreekHardy
*All these lakes contain Gizzard Shad.
Angler attendance
1999No shad
30,778 anglers
108,905 fish harvested
2010
Shad present for 10 years
5,214 anglers
16,439 fish
harvested
Number of fishing trips by year
Fishing trips
Year of Survey1989 1999 2004 2010
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
17,895
30,778
14,039
5,214
Shad introduced
Number of Anglers in the Thousands
20101999
VS.
A total of 30,778 anglers fished West Boggs in 1999.
A total of 5.214 anglers fished West Boggs in 2010.
Angler SatisfactionIn the 2010 creel survey anglers were asked if
they felt the fishery was: •D
eclining
•Stayin
g the Same
•Improving
Overall Angler SatisfactionImproving
; 17%
Staying the same, 36%
Declining; 44%
Response by Bass anglers
Response by Bluegill anglersResponse by Catfish anglers
Catfish angler satisfaction
Improving ; 46%
Staying the same, 39%
Declining; 14%
Bass angler satisfactionImproving ;
15%
Staying the same, 31%
Declining; 50%
Bluegill angler satisfactionImproving ;
15%
Staying the same, 32%
Declining; 53%
Crappie angler satisfactionImproving ; 7.00%
Staying the same,
42.50%
Declining; 43.00%
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)Is DNR draining the lake because of small
bluegill and declining attendance?
The decision to renovate the lake, with support of the Daviess-Martin JCPRD, is based on the decline in the overall health of the fishery. The decline in angler attendance is a direct result of the poor fishing. The lake was renovated successfully in 1994, when other attempts to fix the fishery failed.
FAQs (continued)Why not manage West Boggs as a Trophy Bass
Lake?
The “big bass” population is unsustainable at West Boggs because of poor recruitment. Bass fingerling stockings to off set poor recruitment is not cost effective, and is not likely to increase predation on bluegill.
FAQs (Continued)Where can I get copies of the past West Boggs
Fish reports?
http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3352.htmSearch by water body “West Boggs”
For additional questions/commentsEmail additional questions and comments to
An open house will be scheduled for sometime in
August to discuss the renovation with the public.