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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.
State Forest Nursery -
Looking for Good Nuts
DES MOINES - The Iowa
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) forestry bureau is looking
for people in central Iowa whose lawn and sidewalk will become
covered with acorns over the next couple of weeks.
"Don't throw them away," said
John Walkowiak, chief of the DNR's forestry bureau. "Those
acorns are important. The State Forest Nursery can use those
acorns again this year to grow new oak trees for the future."
The DNR began accepting donated
acorns in the Des Moines metro area September 1 at the State
Capitol complex. The new drop-off site is in a large parking lot
just south of the Hoover State Office Building.
"We are asking residents to bag
their acorns in paper sacks or open cardboard boxes and drop
them off at the new drop off site in the northwest corner of the
parking lot just south of the Hoover State Office Building at
the intersection of E Court Ave and E 13th Street," Walkowiak
said. Acorns should not be placed in plastic bags as the plastic
captures the acorn's heat, which damages the seed. Acorns that
have been run through the lawn mower are usually damaged and
have little value to germinate.
According to Walkowiak, white
oak acorns must be picked up almost as soon as they hit the
ground since they germinate in the fall, whereas red, bur and
other oak acorns germinate in the spring but need to be planted
in the fall to break the hard seed coating.
If possible, different types of
acorns should be kept in separate bags or containers to allow
ease in sowing the seed. "It is fairly easy to identify the
various types of acorns. Bur oak acorns possess a hairy,
fuzzy-like cap that covers most of the acorn, where white oak
acorns are long, light brown to purple in color and have a small
cap. Red oak acorns are fat, dark brown in color and also have a
small cap," said Walkowiak. "But if you are unsure of the type
of acorn, that's okay. Any acorn donation will help in our
effort to reforest oak trees across Iowa."
The acorn is the fruit of
Iowa's state tree, the oak, and has multiple values for mast or
food for Iowa's native wildlife such as white-tailed deer, wild
turkey and even blue jays. "With the increased interest in tree
planting in Iowa to aid water quality protection, we need acorn
seed to grow new oak trees that can take up to two years to
reach six to 12 inches in height," he added.
For landowners wanting to plant
to several hundred native oak trees, the State Forest Nursery
operation has good numbers of seedlings for next spring ready to
be ordered. To place an order for new oak tree seedlings or any
of the 40-plus native tree and shrub conservation seedlings,
contact the State Forest Nursery directly at 1-800-865-2477 or
go online to place your order at www.iowadnr.com/forestry/.
For more information, contact
Walkowiak at 515-242-5966, or by email at john.walkowiak@dnr.state.ia.us
Lake Draw Down Results
in Fish Kill at Viking Lake
STANTON - A substantial fish
kill has occurred at the 137-acre Viking Lake in Montgomery
County as the lake is in the process of being drained.
The DNR had planned to use
chemical applications on Wednesday to kill fish, but oxygen
depletion due to the lake being drained has already resulted in
substantial fish loss.
For more information, contact
Kevin Baskins at 515-249-2814.
Recognizing Leadership
and Innovation in Natural Resources
DES MOINES - Iowa businesses,
organizations and individuals are invited to apply for the 2006
Governor's Iowa Environmental Excellence Awards. This premier
environmental awards program, sponsored by Governor Vilsack and
the State of Iowa, recognizes leadership and innovation in the
protection of Iowa's water, land and air.
"Our natural resources are one
of our state's greatest treasures," said Jeffrey Vonk, director
of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. "We are honored to
recognize those Iowans who work to protect and enhance the
environment."
Awards will be given for
overall environmental excellence and special recognition in
water quality, waste management, energy efficiency/renewable
energy, air quality and habitat restoration/development.
Categories for the awards
include:
- Agriculture (operation,
farm or other ag-related business or organization)
- Community/Local Government
- Small Business or Industry
(up to 200 employees)
- Large Business or Industry
(more than 200 employees)
- Institution/Public Sector
Facility (hospital, college, school, etc.)
- Service/Civic/Nonprofit
Organization (Kiwanis, Lions Club, Pheasants Forever, etc.)
The awards are sponsored by the
Governor's Office, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Iowa
Department of Economic Development, the Iowa Department of
Education, the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Iowa
Waste Reduction Center.
The application deadline is
November 13, 2006. To obtain an application, visit
www.iowadnr.com/other/ee/index.html, or contact: Jill Cornell
with the Iowa DNR at (515) 281-0879 or by e-mail: Jill.Cornell@dnr.state.ia.us.
