fisheries management in swan lake - maine.gov lake fisheries management.pdf · fisheries management...

Fisheries Management

in Swan Lake

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Region B Fisheries – Wes Ashe, Jason Seiders, Scott Davis

Swan Lake Lake Info

• ~1,400 surface acres

• Average depth = 34 ft., Max depth = 87 ft.

• Above average water quality

• Oligotrophic – low nutrient content & algal production

• Moderate development along perimeter

Swan Lake – Current Regulations

Ice Fishing:

• Open in January & February only

• 2 lines/angler

• Daily bag limit – 2 salmon - 14”, 2 togue - 18”

Open Water Fishing:

• Open April – September

• Closed October – December - togue spawning

• Same daily bag limits

Regulations

Swan Lake – Stocking History Stocking

YEAR BROOK TROUT SALMON

2000 7450 850

2001 4100 850

2002 4100 850

2003 4100 850

2004 5320 850

2005 4100 0

2006 4100 0

2007 2285 600

2008 2200 500

2009 2250 600

2010 2350 600

2011 2350 600

2012 2400 600

2013 2500 600

2014 2500 600

2015 2000 600

Swan Lake – Fish Assemblage Fishes

Landlocked salmon

Lake trout

Brook trout

Rainbow smelt

Smallmouth bass

Largemouth bass

White perch

Yellow perch

Chain pickerel

White sucker

Brown bullhead

American eel

Pumpkinseed sunfish

Several minnow species

**21 total fish species**

Togue & Salmon Togue &

Salmon

Swan Lake Togue

-Stocked by MDIFW from 1971-1981

-Population now wild & self-sustaining

-Consume a variety of fish & insects

-Stocked by MDIFW since 1940

-Stocking numbers have fluctuated

-Population has few wild fish

-Consume smelt almost exclusively

Swan Lake Salmon

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015

Year

Inch

es

Average Salmon Length – Volunteer Anglers

Volunteer

Anglers

2 fish, 14” Bag Limit:

0

20

40

60

80

100

1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015

Year

Salmon Catch Rates – Volunteer Anglers

Volunteer

Anglers


An

gli

ng H

ou

rs p

er F

ish

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015

Year

Inch

es

Average Togue Length – Volunteer Anglers

Volunteer

Anglers

1 fish, 23” 2 fish, 18” Bag Limit:

Year

An

gli

ng H

ou

rs p

er F

ish

Togue Catch Rates – Volunteer Anglers

Volunteer

Anglers

1 fish, 23” 2 fish, 18” Bag Limit:

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015

Average Salmon Length - Trapnetting

Trapnet

Data

14

16

18

20

22

1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016

Inch

es

Year


Average Salmon Length - Trapnetting

Trapnet

Data

14

16

18

20

22

1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016

Remember, no salmon were

stocked in 2005 & 2006

Inch

es

Year


1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016

Average Salmon Weight - Trapnetting

Trapnet

Data P

ou

nd

s

Year


Average Togue Length - Trapnetting Trapnet

Data In

ches

Year

20

22

24

26

28

1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016

1 fish, 23” Bag Limit: 2 fish, 18”

2

4

6

8

1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016

Average Togue Weight - Trapnetting Trapnet

Data P

ou

nd

s

Year

Bag Limit: 2 fish, 18” 1 fish, 23”

Winter Creel Survey Results Winter

Creel Survey

Swan Lake - 2015 Lake St. George - 2014

Acreage 1388 1040

Swan

Lake

Lake St.

George


Creel Survey


Acreage 1388 1040

Ice Fishing Season Jan & Feb Jan & Feb


Creel Survey


Acreage 1388 1040


# of Anglers 843 2872


Creel Survey


Acreage 1388 1040



# of Parties 286 1053


Creel Survey


Acreage 1388 1040




# of Brook Trout Harvested 33 435


Creel Survey


Acreage 1388 1040





# of Salmon Harvested 23 168


Creel Survey


Acreage 1388 1040





# of Salmon Harvested 23 168

# of Togue Harvested 73 --

Summary Summary

• Salmon (& brook trout) are stocked at high densities, especially

in a water w/ wild togue & sensitive rainbow smelt populations

• Volunteer angler data showed decline in salmon/togue size, and a

dramatic increase in catch rates

• Trapnet data revealed a precipitous decline in salmon/togue size

over past two decades

• Creel survey indicated low angler use and few salmon (or brook

trout) harvested

Future Management Future

Management

1) Decrease salmon stocking number from 600 to 400

2) Extend ice fishing season to include March

3) Reduce brook trout stockings

• Provide year-round brook trout program in Goose R.

4) Assess togue and salmon populations with more frequent

trapnetting and creel surveys moving forward

Thank you.

Questions? Comments? The End

fisheries management in swan lake - maine.gov lake fisheries management.pdf · fisheries management...

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