wisconsin department of natural resourcesmay 05, 2012 · jake jacobson and mac mcinroy filled in...
TRANSCRIPT
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES CREEL SURVEY REPORT
SAND LAKE BARRON COUNTY
2012-2013
Treaty Fisheries Publication
April, 2013
INTRODUCTION
The Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources regularly conducts fishery surveys
of area lakes and reservoirs to gather
information on species composition,
population size, reproductive success,
size/age distribution, and growth rates. The
information from the netting and
electrofishing surveys helps the WDNR
determine the best management practices for
that body of water. Another important
aspect of a fishery is the amount of harvest
that is occurring on the lake. This
information is collected by creel census or
creel survey.
On lakes in the Ceded Territory of
Wisconsin, harvest of fish is divided
between sport anglers and the six Chippewa
tribal bands. The six Chippewa tribal bands
harvest fish under rights governed by federal
treaties of 1837 and 1842. Most tribal fish
harvest is done by spearing during a short
period of time in the spring. All speared fish
are individually counted by tribal creel
clerks, allowing for a complete “census” of
the tribal fish harvest in the spring.
Information is also collected on the effects
of sport angler harvest on fish populations.
Because it would be impractical and costly
to conduct a complete “census” of the fish
harvested by sport anglers on area lakes, a
creel survey is conducted to estimate the
amount of fish harvested by sports anglers.
A creel survey is a sampling tool used to
measure the fishing activities of the sport
anglers and to estimate the amount of fish
harvested on a body of water. Creel surveys
are designed to have a creel clerk on a lake,
working random shifts, and forty hours each
week throughout the fishing season. Each
month these shifts cover a sample of all the
daylight hours.
Creel clerks travel their lakes using a boat,
snowmobile or vehicle to count and to
interview anglers.
The information collected from anglers
during the interview includes the species of
fish being targeted, catch and harvest,
lengths of harvested fish, and hours of
fishing effort. Typically only anglers that
have completed their fishing trip are
interviewed because it provides the most
accurate information and it avoids the need
to disturb anglers while they are fishing.
You may have encountered one of the DNR
creel clerks on a recent fishing trip. The
survey only takes a moment of your time and
we appreciate your cooperation during an
interview. The information collected gives
the DNR valuable knowledge required for
management of the fishery.
The data collected during the survey is
processed by a computer program and
summarized by month to calculate estimates
of the total fishing pressure, fishing effort
directed at each species, catch and harvest
rates, and the number of fish caught and
harvested.
This creel survey report will provide you
with four types of estimated information for
this body of water:
1. Overall fishing pressure
2. Fishing effort directed at each species
3. Catch and harvest rates
4. Numbers of fish caught and harvested.
Also included in this report are physical
information about the lake, discussion of
results of this survey and detailed summaries
by species.
GENERAL LAKE INFORMATION
Location Sand Lake is located northwest of
Cumberland, Wisconsin in Barron County.
Physical Characteristics Sand Lake is a 322 acre drainage lake with a
maximum depth of 57 feet. The lakes water
clarity is moderate. There is a public boat
landing in the southeast corner of the lake.
Seasons Surveyed An open water creel survey was conducted
from the opening day of gamefish season on
May 5, 2012 and ran through the end of
October. Winter creel was conducted in
December 1st through the close of the
gamefish season on March 3, 2013.
Harvest Regulations The following seasons, daily bag limits, and
length limits were in place on this lake in
2012-2013:
Species SeasonBag
LimitMin. Size
Largemouth Bass 5/05-3/03 5 14"
Smallmouth Bass 5/05-3/03 5 14"
Musky 5/26-11/30 1 40"
Northern Pike 5/05-3/03 5 none
Walleye* 5/05-3/03 3 15"
Panfish all year 25 none
*The walleye bag limit may have been reduced due to
tribal declarations.
SPECIES CATCH AND HARVEST INFORMATION
Angling information is summarized on a
single page for each species. If a page for a
particular species is not present in this
section it is because no one reported fishing
for that species and/or none were caught.
Each species page has up to five graphs
covering the following:
FIGURE 1. ESTIMATED FISHING EFFORT
Total calculated number of hours
during each month that anglers spent
fishing for this species.
FIGURE 2. ESTIMATED ANGLER CATCH
AND HARVEST RATES Calculated number of hours it takes
an angler to catch or harvest a fish of
this species. Only information from
anglers who were specifically
targeting this species is reported
here.
FIGURE 3. ESTIMATED ANGLER CATCH
AND HARVEST Calculated number of fish of this
species caught or harvested by all
anglers. This estimate also includes
the incidental catch and harvest of
fish by anglers that were not
specifically targeting this species.
FIGURE 4. LENGTH DISTRIBUTION OF
HARVESTED FISH MEASURED BY THE CREEL CLERK All fish of this species measured by
the clerk during the entire creel
survey season.
FIGURE 5. AVERAGE LENGTH AND
LARGEST FISH HARVESTED Average length and the largest fish of
this species harvested each month.
Only those fish measured by the
creel clerk are reported here.
Seasonal Angler Effort Summary
The table provides a summary by month of
the total angler hours and total angler hours
per acre. Also, the table compares county
average and statewide average to current
survey results.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This survey could not have been completed
if not for the efforts of the technical staff of
the Treaty Fisheries Unit, especially Ben
Hines and Mike Christner who collected the
angler interviews. Gene Hatzenbeler
provided logistic support for the survey.
Todd Brecka delivered and maintained all
equipment. Jill Sunderland assisted with
training and the scheduling for the creel
clerks. Misty Rood and Mac McInroy were
responsible for data entry and quality
assurance. Jake Jacobson and Mac McInroy
filled in when clerks needed a day off.
The Department would like to thank Gary
Klund. He generously allowed the
department to keep a boat during the open
water creel survey.
We would also like to thank all the anglers
who took the time to offer information about
their fishing trip to the survey clerk.
Without your cooperation this survey would
not have been possible.
Additional copies of this report and those
covering other local lakes can be obtained
from Treaty Fisheries Biologist in Spooner
WI or WDNR Webpage.
Question about the report can be directed to
Gene Hatzenbeler
WDNR Spooner Office
810 W. Maple Street
Spooner, WI 54801
Phone: (715)635-4164
Email: [email protected]
2.3
0
1
2
3
4
5
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
HO
UR
S P
ER
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
May - October, January - March Est. Angler Catch and Harvest Rates = 0
FIGURE 2. ESTIMATED ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST RATES
17
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
May - October, January - March Est. Angler Catch and Harvest = 0
FIGURE 3. ESTIMATED ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST
0
2
4
6
8
10
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
INCHES
No Walleyes Measured
FIGURE 4. LENGTH DISTRIBUTION OF HARVESTED FISH MEASURED BY CLERK
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
INC
HE
S
MONTH
AVERAGE LARGEST
No Walleyes Harvested
FIGURE 5. AVERAGE LENGTH AND LARGEST FISH HARVESTED
85 89
22
40
26
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
AN
GL
ING
HO
UR
S
MONTH
FIGURE 1. ESTIMATED FISHING EFFORT
WALLEYE
2.8 2.4 3.8 3.1
14.3
0.8 0.7
3.7 5.3
3.1 3.7
1.7
7.7
20.0
0
5
10
15
20
25
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
HO
UR
S P
ER
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 2. ESTIMATED ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST RATES
138
168 193
169
105 94
373
33 7
45 45 21
162
16 2
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 3. ESTIMATED ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST
1 1
6
1
5
4
1
3
5
3
1
4
1
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
INCHES
FIGURE 3. LENGTH DISTRIBUTION OF HARVESTED FISH MEASURED BY CLERK
22.5 22.0
25.3
27.8
22.7
27.8
23.0 23.5
28.1
31.1
27.1 27.8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
INC
HE
S
MONTH
AVERAGE LARGEST
FIGURE 5. AVERAGE LENGTH AND LARGEST FISH HARVESTED
98
129
244
53
88
9
79
275
120
40
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
AN
GL
ING
HO
UR
S
MONTH
FIGURE 1. ESTIMATED FISHING EFFORT
NORTHERN PIKE
33.3
20.0
100.0
20.0 25.0
0.0
20.0
40.0
60.0
80.0
100.0
120.0
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT.
HO
UR
S P
ER
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 2. ESTIMATED ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST RATES
12
72
10
51
13
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT.
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 3. ESTIMATED ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST
0
1
2
3
4
5
32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
INCHES
No Muskellunge Measured
FIGURE 4. LENGTH DISTRIBUTION OF HARVESTED FISH MEASURED BY CLERK
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT.
INC
HE
S
MONTH
AVERAGE LARGEST
No Muskellunge Harvested
FIGURE 5. AVERAGE LENGTH AND LARGEST FISH HARVESTED
422
1411
1633
1052
711
341
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT.
AN
GL
ING
HO
UR
S
MONTH
FIGURE 1. ESTIMATED FISHING EFFORT
MUSKELLUNGE
0.6 0.5 0.6 1.6 1.7
11.1
25.0 25.0
16.7
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
HO
UR
S P
ER
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 2. ESTIMATED ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST RATES
October - March Est. Angler Catch and Harvest Rates = 0
1027
1440
1706
408
201
10 58 36 30 45
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 3. ESTIMATED ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST
December - March Est. Angler Catch and Harvest = 0
1
6
8
1
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
INCHES
FIGURE 4. LENGTH DISTRIBUTION OF HARVESTED FISH MEASURED BY CLERK
14.9
13.9
15.8
15.0 15.5
14.5
16.0 15.6
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
INC
HE
S
MONTH
AVERAGE LARGEST
FIGURE 5. AVERAGE LENGTH AND LARGEST FISH HARVESTED
524
613
816
529
224
9
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
AN
GL
ING
HO
UR
S
MONTH
FIGURE 1. ESTIMATED FISHING EFFORT
December - March Est. Fishing Effort = 0
LARGEMOUTH BASS
1.1 0.4 0.8 0.4 0.2 0.8 0.1 0.2
3.8
33.3
20.0
0.2 1.6
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
HO
UR
S P
ER
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 2. ESTIMATED ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST RATES
235
1309
209
774
1010
30
1065
257
74 12 11 13
538
39
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 3. ESTIMATED ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST
7
8
4
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
INCHES
FIGURE 4. LENGTH DISTRIBUTION OF HARVESTED FISH MEASURED BY CLERK
7.0
8.0
6.8
7.2 7.4
8.0
6.8
8.1
5
6
7
8
9
10
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
INC
HE
S
MONTH
AVERAGE LARGEST
FIGURE 5. AVERAGE LENGTH AND LARGEST FISH HARVESTED
257
376
30
299
229
24
116
64
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
AN
GL
ING
HO
UR
S
MONTH
FIGURE 1. ESTIMATED FISHING EFFORT
BLUEGILL
1.8
0.4
3.2
0
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
HO
UR
S P
ER
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
June - December, February - March Est. Angler Catch and Harvest Rates = 0
FIGURE 2. ESTIMATED ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST RATES
414
18
100
231
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
July - December, February - March Est. Angler Catch and Harvest = 0
FIGURE 3. ESTIMATED ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST
1
8
2
1
2 2
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
INCHES
FIGURE 4. LENGTH DISTRIBUTION OF HARVESTED FISH MEASURED BY CLERK
11.5
14.7
5
7
9
11
13
15
17
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
INC
HE
S
MONTH
AVERAGE LARGEST
FIGURE 5. AVERAGE LENGTH NAD LARGEST FISH HARVESTED
748
278
32 7
41
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
AN
GL
ING
HO
UR
S
MONTH
FIGURE 1. ESTIMATED FISHING EFFORT
BLACK CRAPPIE
7.1
9.1
1.4
0.1 0.1 0.4 0.5
2.9
0123456789
10
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
HO
UR
S P
ER
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 2. ESTIMATED ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST RATES
223 295
50 56 122
15
266
1139
163
12 50
6
159
20
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 3. ESTIMATED ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST
2
3 3
1
0
1
2
3
4
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
INCHES
FIGURE 4. LENGTH DISTRIBUTION OF HARVESTED FISH MEASURED BY CLERK
10.2
7.3
10.2
8.3
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
INC
HE
S
MONTH
AVERAGE LARGEST
FIGURE 5. AVERAGE LENGTH AND LARGEST FISH HARVESTED
130
109
47
29
85
58
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
AN
GL
ING
HO
UR
S
MONTH
FIGURE 1. ESTIMATED FISHIHNG EFFORT
YELLOW PERCH
ROCK BASS
NO PICTURE AVAILABLE
0.5
0.7
0.5
0.7
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
HO
UR
S P
ER
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
July - March Est. Angler Catch and Harvest Rates = 0
FIGURE 2. ESTIMATED ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST RATES
1550
589
60 79 13 8
97 194
10 34 13
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 3. ESTIMATED ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST
December - March Est. Angler Catch and Harvest = 0
1
4
10
3
2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
INCHES
FIGURE 4. LENGTH DISTRIBUTION OF HARVESTED FISH MEASURED BY CLERK
8.2
8.9
7.7 8.2
10.5 10.2
8.0 8.2
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
INC
HE
S
MONTH
AVERAGE LARGEST
FIGURE 5. AVERAGE LENGTH AND LARGEST FISH HARVESTED
29
115
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
AN
GL
ING
HO
UR
S
MONTH
July - March Est. Fishing Effort = 0
FIGURE 1. ESTIMATED FISHING EFFORT
TOTAL ANNUAL ANGLER DIRECTED EFFORT BY SPECIES
This graph illustrates the percentage of time that anglers spent fishing for each species during the entire creel survey. The percentages are based on the species of
fish anglers told the clerk they were fishing for, not what they actually caught. If a particular species is not present in the graph it is because no one reported they
were fishing for that species.
Sand Lake 2012-13
Walleye 2.0%
Northern Pike 8.9%
Muskellunge 43.6%
Largemouth Bass 21.2%
Bluegill 10.9%
Black Crappie 8.7%
Yellow Perch 3.6%
Rock Bass 1.1%
SEASONAL ANGLER EFFORT SUMMARY
Estimated angler fishing effort on Sand Lake for each month surveyed and by season.
Month
Number of
Angler Party
Interviews
Total Angler
Hours
Total Angler
Hours/Acre
Barron County
Average
Hours/Acre
Statewide
Average
Hours/Acre
May 77 1487 4.6 4.8 5.8
June 32 2520 7.8 6.8 6.1
July 34 2449 7.6 6.5 6.4
August 34 1660 5.2 4.3 5.4
September 25 1073 3.3 2.5 3.8
October 16 374 1.2 0.6 1.6
December 4 103 0.3 1.9 1.7
January 13 469 1.5 2.7 1.5
February 9 184 0.6 2.8 1.3
March 2 40 0.1 **
*Summer Total 218 9563 29.7 25.6 29.1
*Winter Total 28 796 2.5 7.4 4.5
Grand Total 246 10359 32.2 33.0 33.6
*"Summer" is May-October; "Winter" is December-March
**Too few lakes have been surveyed in March to give a meaningful statewide average.
2012-13
Statewide Average Hours/Acre is the average angler effort in hours per acre for inland lakes in the state surveyed
between 1990 and 1995. This value can be used to compare this lake to other lakes statewide.
Number of Angler Party Interviews is the number of groups of anglers interviewed by the creel clerk. A party is
considered the members of a group who fish together in the same boat, ice shanty, or from shore. The clerk fills out one
interview form for each group of anglers. The number of individual anglers actually contacted by the clerk is usually
much greater than the number of groups listed in this table since most groups consist of more than one angler.
Total Angler Hours is the estimated total number of hours that anglers spent fishing on this lake during each month
surveyed.
Total Angler Hours/Acre is the total angler hours divided by the area of the lake in acres. This is useful if you wish to
compare effort on this lake to others.
County Average Hours/Acre is the average angler effort in hours per acre for county lakes that have been surveyed since
1990. This value can be useful in comparisons as well.
CREEL SURVEY HISTORY/SYNOPSISSAND LAKE, BARRON COUNTY
CREEL YEAR: 2012-13
SPECIES
DIRECTED
EFFORT
(Hours)
PERCENT
OF TOTAL
TOTAL
CATCH
SPECIFIC
CATCH
RATE
(Hrs/Fish)
TOTAL
HARVEST
SPECIFIC
HARVEST
RATE
(Hrs/Fish)
MEAN
LENGTH OF
HARVESTED
FISH
Walleye 262 2.05% 17 14.3 0 0.0 NA
Northern Pike 1135 8.88% 1280 1.7 291 5.3 25.4
Muskellunge 5570 43.57% 158 33.3 0 0.0 NA
Largemouth Bass 2715 21.24% 4792 0.7 169 20.0 14.9
Bluegill 1395 10.91% 4889 0.3 687 2.1 7.2
Black Crappie 1106 8.65% 532 2.2 231 4.8 11.5
Yellow Perch 458 3.58% 2329 0.3 247 2.6 7.6
Rock Bass 144 1.13% 2299 0.6 348 0.6 8.4
CREEL YEAR: 1999-2000
SPECIES
DIRECTED
EFFORT
(Hours)
PERCENT
OF TOTAL
TOTAL
CATCH
SPECIFIC
CATCH
RATE
(Hrs/Fish)
TOTAL
HARVEST
SPECIFIC
HARVEST
RATE
(Hrs/Fish)
MEAN
LENGTH OF
HARVESTED
FISH
Walleye 4739 18.69% 1821 2.8 239 20.4 17.0
Northern Pike 5065 19.97% 4061 2.5 453 12.7 20.9
Muskellunge 4219 16.64% 96 83.7 0 0.0 NA
Largemouth Bass 3352 13.22% 2217 2.0 149 26.3 15.7
Bluegill 4100 16.17% 9406 0.5 3024 1.4 7.1
Black Crappie 3635 14.33% 5375 0.7 3583 1.0 10.0
Yellow Perch 108 0.43% 695 0.5 160 1.5 8.6
Rock Bass 140 0.55% 715 4.2 121 15.6 8.0