Recent Lake Survey Summaries
Here are preliminary summaries of recent sampling not yet posted on LakeFinder, or are survey types not found there. Different gear target fish species and sizes quite differently; for example, northern pike and walleye are better caught by gill nets, while bluegill are better caught with trap nets. Values of black crappie might be from either net type. Spring ("ice-out") sampling targets northern pike, walleye, or muskellunge. Our net-based surveys under-sample largemouth bass; electrofishing better evaluates bass abundances and size structures, but requires extra sampling with different equipment.
Spring Sampling 2013
Within two weeks after ice-out, we checked Lake Waconia walleye to see size and age composition of larger adult fish. In 30 net sets, 105 walleyes were caught, as well as 4 pure-strain muskellunge. Summary results are:
| Lake (County) Date |
Fish Species | No. per net | Average Length (in) | Max. Length (in) |
| Waconia (Carver) |
Walleye | 3.5 | 22.4 | 29.5 |
| 5/1-4 | Muslellunge | 0.1 | 32.0 | 42.1 |
2012 Fish Survey Preliminary Summaries
| Lake (County) Date | Species | Number/net | Average length (in) | Max length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round (Hennepin) 6/4/12 |
Bluegill | 76 | 7.3 | 8.5 |
| Largemouth Bass |
0.3 | 13.5 | 13.9 | |
| Ann (Carver) 6/4/12 |
Northern Pike |
15 | 25.2 | 35.9 |
| Bluegill | 69 | 6.1 | 8.6 | |
| Largemouth Bass |
0.2 | 15.6 | 19.7 | |
| Lucy (Carver) 6/13/12 |
Northern Pike |
17 | 22.4 | 34.8 |
| Bluegill | 33 | 6.2 | 9.0 | |
| Auburn (Carver) 6/18/12 |
Northern Pike |
15 | 21.0 | 29.9 |
| Bluegill | 77 | 6.5 | 8.2 | |
| Black Crappie |
12 | 6.7 | 9.7 | |
| Little Long (Hennepin) 6/25/12 |
Northern Pike |
3 | 20.9 | 27.4 |
| Bluegill | 52 | 5.8 | 7.6 | |
| Minnetonka [Lower Lake] | Walleye | 4 | 17.2 | 21.5 |
| (Hennepin) | Northern Pike |
15 | 22.1 | 31.6 |
| 6/18/12 | Yellow Perch |
0.6 | 6.6 | 7.0 |
| Bluegill | 24 | 6.4 | 7.7 | |
| Minnetonka [Upper Lake] | Walleye | 4 | 20.0 | 24.4 |
| (Hennepin) | Northern Pike |
7 | 23.4 | 33.5 |
| 6/18/12 | Yellow Perch |
26 | 6.2 | 8.3 |
| Bluegill | 44 | 6.1 | 7.6 | |
| Minnetonka [N & W Bays] |
Walleye | 6 | 19.0 | 24.3 |
| (Hennepin) | Northern Pike |
10 | 23.9 | 33.7 |
| 6/19/12 | Yellow Perch |
19 | 6.5 | 9.6 |
| Bluegill | 37 | 6.1 | 7.4 | |
| Lake (County) Date | Species | Number/net | Average length (in) | Max length (in) |
| Medicine | Walleye | 1.4 | 20.0 | 26.8 |
| (Hennepin) | Northern Pike |
14 | 26.8 | 35.1 |
| 7/9/12 | Black Crappie |
8 | 7.0 | 8.7 |
| Bluegill | 31 | 6.2 | 7.7 | |
| Bryant (Hennepin) 7/16/12 |
Northern Pike |
10 | 23.6 | 35.8 |
| Walleye | 4 | 17.5 | 24.3 | |
| Bluegill | 40 | 5.4 | 8.5 | |
| Hybrid (Tiger) Muskie |
0.3 | 32.0 | 32.4 | |
| Upper Prior | Walleye | 3 | 17.9 | 27.5 |
| (Scott) | White Bass |
2 | 15.0 | 18.1 |
| 7/16/12 | Black Crappie |
18 | 9.4 | 11.2 |
| Bluegill | 30 | 6.9 | 8.8 | |
| Lower Prior | Walleye | 4 | 15.6 | 25.1 |
| (Scott) | White Bass |
3 | 15.8 | 16.6 |
| 7/23/12 | Northern Pike |
3 | 25.2 | 35.3 |
| Bluegill | 13 | 5.9 | 8.9 | |
| Spring | Walleye | 3 | 16.3 | 19.4 |
| (Scott) | Northern Pike |
5 | 20.1 | 31.5 |
| 7/30/12 | Black Crappie |
40 | 6.8 | 10.8 |
| Bluegill | 9 | 4.7 | 9.2 | |
| Waconia [gill nets only] |
Walleye | 7 | 17.2 | 26.2 |
| (Carver) | Northern Pike |
0.6 | 28.7 | 31.5 |
| 8/13/12 | Black Crappie |
7 | 7.2 | 11.0 |
Electrofishing 2012
We sample using electrofishing-- running electricity through the water with a specialized boat, typically at night-- from late spring to early fall for two types of studies: 1) largemouth bass are best sampled using this method, as they are under-sampled in lake survey nets. 2) in autumn, we check some waters where we stock walleye to measure the success of fish stocked earlier in the year. In this sampling, fish are temporarily stunned and brought into the boat for counting and measuring, then returned live to the water.
| Lake (County) Date | Species | Number per hour | Average length (in) | Max length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wacona (Carver) 10/2-3/12 |
LMB | 41 | 9.7 | 18.5 |
| WAE | 12 | 12.1 | 23.2 | |
| Medicine (Hennepin) 10/1/12 |
LMB | 57 | 8.4 | 17.5 |
| WAE | 1 | 11.7 | 12.3 | |
| Round (Hennepin) 9/26/12 |
LMB | 33 | 7.2 | 12.3 |
| Cleary (Scott) 9/24/12 |
BLG only |
8 other gamefish: |
4.9 bullhead & small |
5.9 sunfishes |
| Parley (Carver) 9/20/12 |
LMB | 107 | 8.5 | 18.5 |
| Cedar (Scott) 9/19/12 |
LMB | 24 | 8.3 | 19.6 |
| WAE | 15 | 10.7 | 12.5 | |
| Spring (Scott) 9/14/12 |
LMB | 22 | 8.9 | 16.0 |
| Auburn (Carver) 5/29/12 |
LMB | 19 | 11.7 | 21.3 |
| Ann (Carver) 5/24/12 |
LMB | 41 | 10.5 | 19.4 |
| Bryant (Hennepin) 5/9/12 |
LMB | 23 | 12.0 | 18.4 |
Spring Sampling 2012
Within two weeks after ice-out, we 1) checked the Lake Waconia walleye before the 2012 Governor's Fishing Opener and 2) continued evaluation of the Lake Ann largemouth bass and northern pike special regulations.
| Lake (County) Date |
Fish Species | No. per net | Average Length (in) | Max. Length (in) |
| Ann (Carver) |
Northern Pike |
4.2 | 20.2 | 33.5 |
| 3/19-22 | Largemouth Bass |
1.4 | 17.4 | 21.7 |
| Waconia | ||||
| (Carver) 3/26-28 |
Walleye | 6 | 22.4 | 27.4 |