Status of the Fishery (as of 06/17/2002)
Lake Minnewaska is primarily managed for walleye with sunfish
being species of secondary management importance. The walleye
fishery has improved greatly in recent years due to the
production of an extremely strong year class in 1999.
Walleye catches averaged 8.9 fish per gill net in 2002, the
highest catch rate documented since 1989. Size structure
of the population is good with the mean length being 17 inches
and the mean weight being approximately 2 pounds. Another
extremely strong year class was produced in 2001, which should
provide quality angling experiences for several more years.
Based on current growth rates, fish from the 2001 year class
should recruit to the fishery by 2004.
Northern pike numbers are relatively low and most fish are
smaller individuals. Yellow perch abundance has decreased
since the last survey but the size structure is favorable to
anglers. In fact, 46% of the 2002 gill-net sample exceeded
eight inches, which is the best size structure documented in
over 10 years.
Sunfish angling has improved in recent years, likely due to
improvements in water quality that resulted in increases in
water clarity and aquatic vegetation abundance. Survey
data indicate moderate numbers of medium-sized sunnies.
Eighty-six percent of the 2002 trap-net sample exceeded 6 inches
but only two percent exceeded 8 inches. The crappie
population resembles the bluegill population; numbers and size
structure are both moderate. The largemouth bass
population has also benefited from the recent improvements in
water quality. Largemouth bass are moderately abundant and
12- to 15-inch fish comprise the majority of the population.
Smallmouth bass are also present in Lake Minnewaska.
Although no sampling that specifically targets smallmouth bass
is undertaken, incidental gill-net catches and angler reports
suggest numbers are relatively low but most fish are large
individuals. |
