Biologists studying the long-term effects of stocking muskies in a small northern Indiana natural lake say fewer, but bigger, largemouth bass are now present. The result should help quell concerns that muskie stockings harm bass fishing.

Since 1996, muskie fingerlings have been stocked periodically in Upper Long Lake, an 86-acre natural lake located southwest of Albion, in an effort to increase muskie fishing opportunities in the area.

The initial stockings were paid for by members of the local lake association, while recent stockings have been funded by the Lake Webster Musky Club of North Webster. The muskies have been purchased from commercial fish hatcheries and stocked with permission of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW).

“We’ve seen a 20 percent reduction in the overall number of bass, but a doubling of the number of 14-inch and larger bass since muskies were first stocked in the lake,” said Jed Pearson, DFW biologist. “This percentage is probably within the normal range of natural variation in bass populations even where muskies are not present.”

Pearson’s estimates are based on bass electro-fishing he conducted in April and May 1995, and again this spring. Because sampling methods were identical, the results are comparable.
“We tried to match what we did in 1995 before muskies were stocked, to what we did this year, to evaluate how muskies may have impacted bass,” he said.

In 1995 Pearson captured 535 bass, including 89 marked and later recaptured. The numbers generated a population estimate of 1,067 bass in the lake (12.4 per acre). This year he caught 505 bass, including 97 recaptured ones, for an estimate of 861 (10 per acre). The electro-fishing catch rate also dropped from 101 per hour in 1995 to 83 per hour.

Even though fewer bass are present, the number of 14-inch and larger bass increased from 135 before muskies were stocked, to 296 currently. The number of 12- to 14-inch bass also increased from 186 to 267.

The decline in overall bass numbers occurred among 8- to 12-inch bass, dropping from 745 in 1995 to 297 this year. With fewer small bass present, bass surviving or escaping muskie predation may now be growing faster.

Because bass anglers are typically less interested in catching lots of small bass and more interested in catching big bass, Pearson said the change is positive at Upper Long Lake.

“I think most bass anglers who may have been concerned about the muskie stockings would be happy to know there are now actually more big bass in the lake,” he said.

Pearson plans to continue sampling at the lake this summer to examine the effects of muskies on other fish and fishing quality.
State parks/reservoirs

Photo contest ends Dec. 31
Photographers 18 years of age or older may participate in the DNR Division of State Parks and Reservoirs’ photography contest, which runs through the end of 2010.

Photos of plants, wildlife, scenic beauty, events, historic facilities and features, and individual or family outdoor recreation images taken at Indiana State Parks and Reservoirs in all seasons may be entered. Eligible locations from which photographs may be taken are listed at www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2392.htm

A winning photograph will be announced each month, and the winning photographer will be awarded a prize from Mother Nature’s Mercantile. Winning photographs will appear in the DNR’s photo galleries at www.dnr.IN.gov

The monthly winners will be judged at the end of the contest, and the grand prize winner will receive a $50 gift certificate from Indiana State Park Inns and a 2011 entrance pass for all state parks/reservoirs.

Second- and third-place winners will receive a one-year subscription to Outdoor Indiana magazine and a copy of the DVD “State Parks and Reservoirs: Treasures in Your Own Back Yard.” For complete rules, see www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/5997.htm

Mistake in Hoosier bass
fishing written regulations

The six-page fishing regulations document distributed across the state earlier this year contains an error under “Largemouth Bass” on page 3.

The Sugar Creek verbiage under “20-inch minimum size and one-fish daily limit” should be listed under a new separate section called “Special Stream Black Bass Regulations,” along with the 12- to 15-inch slot size limit information for the Blue River, which is also incorrectly listed in the Largemouth Bass section on page 3. “Black bass” includes largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass.

A corrected online version of the document can be viewed at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2347.htm by clicking on “compact version.” The DNR regrets the error.

New fishing guide now posted online
The 2010 DNR Fishing Guide online publication is available for viewing at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2347.htm by selecting “large format.” The large-format version of the guide is an expanded version of the printed guide that was available in past years.
In addition to basic regulations, the new online guide includes feature articles on bank fishing, creel surveys, the Brookville Lake bass survey and fishing for walleye, as well as a list of where to fish in Indiana, and many color photos.

The change to an online publication was made to save on printing costs. In lieu of the old printed guide, a six-page regulations brochure was printed and distributed across the state earlier this year.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Jack Spaulding may contact him by e-mail at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.