wisconsin department of natural resourcesmay 05, 2012 · jake jacobson and mac mcinroy filled in...

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


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


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


AN

GL

ING

HO

UR

S

MONTH


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


HO

UR

S P

ER

FIS

H

MONTH

CATCH HARVEST


138

168 193

169

105 94

373

33 7

45 45 21

162

16 2

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400


NU

MB

ER

OF

FIS

H

MONTH

CATCH 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


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


INC

HE

S

MONTH

AVERAGE LARGEST


98

129

244

53

88

9

79

275

120

40

0

50

100

150

200

250

300


AN

GL

ING

HO

UR

S

MONTH


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


12

72

10

51

13

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80


NU

MB

ER

OF

FIS

H

MONTH

CATCH 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


32

34

36

38

40

42

44

46

48

50


INC

HE

S

MONTH

AVERAGE LARGEST

No Muskellunge Harvested


422

1411

1633

1052

711

341

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800


AN

GL

ING

HO

UR

S

MONTH


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


HO

UR

S P

ER

FIS

H

MONTH

CATCH HARVEST


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


NU

MB

ER

OF

FIS

H

MONTH

CATCH 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


14.9

13.9

15.8

15.0 15.5

14.5

16.0 15.6

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17


INC

HE

S

MONTH

AVERAGE LARGEST


524

613

816

529

224

9

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900


AN

GL

ING

HO

UR

S

MONTH


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


HO

UR

S P

ER

FIS

H

MONTH

CATCH HARVEST


235

1309

209

774

1010

30

1065

257

74 12 11 13

538

39

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400


NU

MB

ER

OF

FIS

H

MONTH

CATCH 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


7.0

8.0

6.8

7.2 7.4

8.0

6.8

8.1

5

6

7

8

9

10


INC

HE

S

MONTH

AVERAGE LARGEST


257

376

30

299

229

24

116

64

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400


AN

GL

ING

HO

UR

S

MONTH


BLUEGILL

1.8

0.4

3.2

0

1

1

2

2

3

3

4


HO

UR

S P

ER

FIS

H

MONTH

CATCH HARVEST

June - December, February - March Est. Angler Catch and Harvest Rates = 0


414

18

100

231

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450


NU

MB

ER

OF

FIS

H

MONTH

CATCH HARVEST

July - December, February - March Est. Angler Catch and Harvest = 0


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


11.5

14.7

5

7

9

11

13

15

17


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


AN

GL

ING

HO

UR

S

MONTH


BLACK CRAPPIE

7.1

9.1

1.4

0.1 0.1 0.4 0.5

2.9

0123456789

10


HO

UR

S P

ER

FIS

H

MONTH

CATCH HARVEST


223 295

50 56 122

15

266

1139

163

12 50

6

159

20

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200


NU

MB

ER

OF

FIS

H

MONTH

CATCH 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


10.2

7.3

10.2

8.3

5

6

7

8

9

10

11


INC

HE

S

MONTH

AVERAGE LARGEST


130

109

47

29

85

58

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140


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


HO

UR

S P

ER

FIS

H

MONTH

CATCH HARVEST

July - March Est. Angler Catch and Harvest Rates = 0


1550

589

60 79 13 8

97 194

10 34 13

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800


NU

MB

ER

OF

FIS

H

MONTH

CATCH 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


8.2

8.9

7.7 8.2

10.5 10.2

8.0 8.2

5

6

7

8

9

10

11


INC

HE

S

MONTH

AVERAGE LARGEST


29

115

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140


AN

GL

ING

HO

UR

S

MONTH

July - March Est. Fishing Effort = 0


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

wisconsin department of natural resourcesmay 05, 2012 · jake jacobson and mac mcinroy filled in...

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