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FISHING IN LAKE MINOCQUA AND LAKE KAWAGUESAGA

With the intensity of boating and fishing on the two lakes, it is natural to ask the question, “How is fishing in our waters?”. This section will report information to conclude that fishing is not too bad in either lake.

Periodically the DNR conducts “creel” surveys of fishermen asking what they are catching, how many are they catching and what are they keeping (harvesting). Statistically they expand this sample data to the entire population of fisherman for an entire year (including ice fishing). We have creel survey data for both lakes for three different periods: 1992-1993, 1998-1999 and 2009-2010. This data is extremely important for us to be able to observe trends in total catch and in species. We must conclude that the catch number of 218,489 for Minocqua Lake for 1998 –  1999 was in error being more than two times either of the two other periods.  Each period is a statistical projection and the sample data appears to be entirely too high for 1998 – 1999.

Lake Minocqua Catch

Species 92-93 98-99 09-10 Change from 98-99
Northern Pike 2510 3996 2638 -1358
Muskellunge 1023 486 284 -202
Rock Bass 2745 4896 2899 -1997
Pumpkinseed 5592 7958 990 -6968
Bluegill 46816 67638 36263 031375
Smallmouth Bass 498 1578 4337 2759
Largemouth Bass 3297 3144 21407 18263
Black Crappie 5095 9715 13852 4137
Yellow Perch 33081 112107 8129 -103978
Walleye 4167 6971 618 -6353
Total 104824 218489 91417 -127072

Lake Kawaguesaga Catch

Species 98-99 09-10 Change from 98-99
Northern Pike 2962 1577 -1385
Muskellunge 483 322 -161
Smallmouth Bass 1724 3790 2066
Largemouth Bass 1748 7682 5934
Yellow Perch 22273 16120 -6153
Bluegill 13691 37119 23428
Pumpkinseed 1425 260 -1165
Rock Bass 2374 10240 7866
Black Crappie 722 2322 1600
Walleye 2131 914 -1217
Total 47402 79432 32030