Recreation and Fishing Report 2007

PARK LAKE FISHERY

Over the course of the last year, I’ve studied the results of the electroshocking and fyke netting on Park Lake looking for a glimmer of hope that the fishery might be responding to the efforts of the PLMD in the watershed and in the lake. The results are not encouraging.

I reviewed the raw data, studied the reports and graphs prepared by the WDNR and even created some graphs of my own that incorporated a trend line. Regardless of the species – bluegills, crappies, yellow bass, or largemouth - the results all seem to be the same; populations are down and continuing to decline.

The most recent results from the spring of 2007 did at least offer one interesting result, the shad population seems to be down somewhat. It will be very interesting to see what the fall results look like.

One thing is clear, the efforts to control the shad by continued stocking of walleye (bio-manipulation) was a failure. We have ceased to stock walleye in Park Lake. The bottom line here is that there are more shad than the walleyes can possibly eat, and walleye will not naturally reproduce in the lake.

Following is an excerpt from the Wisconsin DNR 2007 Fishing Report:

“(Park Lake) continues to be plagued by overabundant gizzard shad despite super stocking of walleye for the past four years…Poor survival of the 2006 walleye stock was also noted. Sportfish numbers are low and the condition of many fish is poor. Techniques to stimulate aquatic vegetation…are needed to turn the fishery around. Reducing the phosphorus and other nutrients that enter the lake is also an important issue.”

As far as the aquatic vegetation is concerned, we have seen an increase in what I will generically call “lily pads” in some areas of the lake; either new growth or expansion of other areas from previous years. This is a good thing.

However, when we talk about aquatic vegetation, what is missing here is the variety of species required to provide good fish habitat. The three or four species that we do have is a far cry for the dozen or so that would support the type of fishery that existed ten years ago. This is especially true in light of the continued threat from invasive species like purple loosestrife and curly-leaf pond weed and Eurasian water millfoil.

Respectfully submitted:

Jack K. Paulson
PLMD Board