Lake information report

Name: Leech

Nearest Town: Walker Primary County: Cass Survey Date: 06/02/2008 Inventory Number: 11020300

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Public Access Information

Fishing Regulations:

Lake Characteristics

Fish Sampled for the 2008 Survey Year

Length of Selected Species (Trapnet, Gillnet) Sampled for the 2008 Survey Year

Fish Stocking Activity

Fish Stocked by Species for the Last Ten Years

Fish Consumption Guidelines

These fish consumption guidelines help people make choices about which fish to eat and how often. Following the guidelines enables people to reduce their exposure to contaminants while still enjoying the many benefits from fish.

Pregnant Women, Women who may become pregnant and Children under age 15

General Population

DOWID - MN DNR, Divion of Waters' lake ID number.

Contaminants listed were measured at levels high enough to warrant a recommendation to limit consumption.

Listing of consumption guidelines do not imply the fish are legal to keep, MN DNR fishing regulations should be consulted.

Dioxin
Mercury
PCBS - Polychlorinated biphenyls
PFOS - Perfluorooctane sulfanate

Status of the Fishery (as of 06/02/2008)

Leech Lake is the third largest lake entirely within the boundaries of Minnesota and has approximately 112,000 surface acres. The lake is geographically located in three glacial zones and has an irregular shape with many large and small bays. The deepest area of the lake is located in Walker Bay where depths reach around 150 feet deep. Approximately 80% of the lake is less than 35 feet deep. Similar to other large lakes in Minnesota, the fish community is dominated by species in the perch and pike families. Walleye, northern pike, and muskellunge are the primary predator species, while yellow perch and cisco serve as the principal forage. Leech Lake is well known among anglers as a tremendous multi-species fishery, including excellent fishing opportunities for walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, muskellunge, largemouth bass, sunfish, and black crappie.

Leech Lake has been surveyed annually with standardized assessments since 1983. Establishment of long-term data sets on Leech Lake and Minnesotas other large walleye lakes allow biologists to compare current observations against historical averages. These long-term data sets can also provide insight into other lakes having similar physical and biological properties that are not sampled as frequently. Population metrics for a particular species, such as the highs and lows in gill net catch rates or the growth rates of fish, are constantly changing as they move from one extreme of their observed normal range to the other, much like a pendulum. While highs and lows are normal and rarely sustained past one year, consecutive observations at either extreme can be indicative of changes to an ecosystem. Such changes include exotic species introductions, shifts in habitat availability and/or quality, beneficial or adverse environmental conditions, and increased or decreased competition for resources between species or among year classes of the same species or among several species with similar requirements. Regardless, it is important to remember that all populations of flora and fauna fluctuate dramatically and that this natural variability is strongly influenced by the changing environment in which they live as well as the other species of plants and animals they share it with.

Humans have had dramatic impacts on fish populations by degrading or destroying habitat necessary for successful reproduction, growth, and survival. In particular, lakeshores are highly sensitive areas that are vital to the overall health of our lakes. Terrestrial vegetation provides habitat for birds, mammals, and amphibians and buffers lakes from runoff that carry chemicals and sediment. Near-shore aquatic vegetation provides protection and food for the early life-stages of some species, such as walleye, and serves as year-round habitat for others, such as bluegill and largemouth bass. Any changes that have a negative effect on these areas will have a negative impact on the fishery. Therefore, protection of these sensitive areas is paramount to ensuring the sustainability and quality of Minnesotas precious water resources for future generations.

Due to recent trends in yellow perch and walleye catch data, a five-year action plan was initiated in 2005. Action plan objectives were to increase the relative abundance and to stabilize the population size structure of these two species. Management activities used to meet these objectives have included more restrictive regulations for walleye, cormorant control, walleye stocking, and an increased focus on habitat protection. The annual fishery survey using experimental gill nets was completed by the Walker Area Fisheries office, MN DNR, between 1 September and 12 September 2008. A summary of trawling data, which has been completed annually during August and is used to index the relative abundance of young-of-year (YOY) walleye, is also included.

Walleye: Since the Large Lake Program began in 1983, walleye gillnet catch rates have ranged from 4.6 fish/net (1993) to 13.4 fish/net (1988). The 2008 catch of walleye per experimental gillnet set was 9.1 fish/net, well above the 1983-2008 average of 7.5 fish/net. The increase in the walleye gillnet catch rate is due to the large year classes of walleyes produced during 2005, 2006, and 2007; 79% of walleye caught during the 2008 gillnet survey were from these three year classes. Walleye sampled in experimental gillnets ranged in length from 8.9 to 26.0 inches with an average length of 15.5 inches. Gillnet catch rates were higher in the main lake (12.3 fish/net) than in the western bays (5.1 fish/net).

Statistics from the 2008 creel survey described one of the best walleye angling seasons ever recorded on Leech Lake. Walleye were caught at a rate of 0.278 fish/hour and harvested at a rate of 0.115 fish/hour across all anglers; anglers specifically targeting walleye caught fish at a rate of 1.064 walleye/hour and harvested fish at a rate of 0.459 walleye/hour. These statistics, in particular the targeting catch and harvest rates, are among the highest ever observed on Leech Lake. For comparison, respective walleye catch and harvest rates for targeting anglers were higher on Leech during 2008 than during 2007 on Mille Lacs (0.391 and 0.129 fish/hour), Lake of the Woods (0.550 and 0.290 fish/hour), and Winnibigoshish (0.545 and 0.229 fish/hour).

Northern Pike: The 2008 gillnet catch rate of northern pike was 5.6 fish/net. Northern pike gillnet catch rates have remained relatively stable since 1983, ranging from 3.6 fish/net (1993) to 6.2 fish/net (1995) with an average of 4.8 fish/net. Northern pike captured in 2008 gillnet sets ranged in length from 8.5 inches to 33.5 inches with an average length of 22.3 inches.

Anglers targeting northern pike during 2008 caught pike at a rate of 0.881 fish/hour and harvested pike at a rate of 0.339 fish/hour. Similar to targeting catch rates for walleye, statistics for Leech were higher than similar observations on Mille Lacs, Lake of the Woods, and Winnibigoshish during 2007.

Muskellunge: No muskellunge were sampled in experimental gillnet sets during 2008. Muskellunge are typically low in abundance and exceed sizes that are effectively sampled with gillnets.

Muskie anglers averaged 0.022 fish/hour, or 1 fish/50 angler-hours, during the 2008 fishing season. This is higher than the long-term average for targeting anglers (0.018 fish/hour) and is considerably higher than during the 2004-2005 creel survey (0.009 fish/hour). Muskie anglers tended to catch fish more frequently in the western bays (0.027 fish/hour) than in the main lake (0.017 fish/hour) and were most successful during July. For comparison, the season catch rate by anglers targeting muskies on Leech Lake was nearly double the estimate on Vermillion (0.013 fish/hour) and considerably higher than on Mille Lacs (0.004 fish/hour) during 2008.

In cooperation with various Muskies Inc. chapters and other anglers, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will begin efforts to estimate the size of the muskellunge population. Anglers will be asked to collect scale samples and other information from muskies they catch while fishing Leech Lake during 2009-2010. If you will be fishing muskies on Leech Lake during 2009-2010 and would like to assist, please contact the Walker Area Fisheries office.

Yellow Perch: Gillnet catch rates of yellow perch have ranged from 12.9 fish/net (2005) to 37.7 fish/net (1995). The 2008 catch rate of yellow perch in experimental gillnet sets was 26.6 fish/net. This is above the 1983-2008 average of 21.7 fish/net. Yellow perch sampled in 2008 gillnet sets ranged in length from 5.2 inches to 12.7 inches. Of the 956 total perch caught, 36% were 8 inches and longer and 11% were 10 inches and longer; both of these proportions have increased during recent years.

Anglers targeting yellow perch averaged a catch rate of 6.881 perch/hour and a harvest rate of 2.730 perch/hour during 2008. Catch and harvest rates were highest during September.

Cisco: The 2008 catch rate of cisco per gillnet set was 1.61 fish/net. Gillnet catch rates of cisco have varied considerable, ranging from 0.6 fish/net (2006) to 18.5 fish/net (1987), and the 1983-2007 average is 5.6 fish/net. Warmer summers resulting in summer kills have probably been the source of cisco catch rates remaining below average since 1995.

Leech Lake also provides quality angling opportunities for largemouth bass, black crappie, and sunfish in shallow, vegetated bays. These species are not effectively sampled with gillnets. Anglers also occasionally report catches of smallmouth bass. ?

For more information on this lake, contact: Area Fisheries Supervisor 07316 State Hwy 371 NW Walker, MN 56484 Phone: (218) 547-1683 Internet: Walker Fisheries E-Mail: Walker.Fisheries@state.mn.us	Lake maps can be obtained from: Minnesota Bookstore 660 Olive Street St. Paul, MN 55155 (651) 297-3000 or (800) 657-3757 To order, use B0050 for the map-id.
For general DNR Information, contact: DNR Information Center 500 Lafayette Road St. Paul, MN 55155-4040 TDD: (651) 296-6157 or (888) MINNDNR Internet: www.dnr.state.mn.us E-Mail: info.dnr@state.mn.us	Turn in Poachers (TIP):     Toll-free: (800) 652-9093