Area 4 biologists are conducting a gamefish survey of Frances Slocum Lake this year. The first part of the survey involved sampling panfish and other species with trap nets during the week of May 8, 2006. Trap net catch rates for walleye and most panfish species were very good, and lots of nice sized fish were present (see the table below). Additionally, alewife, the primary forage base for the lake, were abundant despite an assertion by some that a winter kill had wiped them out. Alosids such as alewife sometimes suffer metabolic stress due to winter conditions. Some alewife perish in association such conditions, but often most survive.

We targeted fish with trap nets in the warmer littoral zones (near shore zone) of the lake and therefore did not catch many trout, since they occupied deeper water. Anglers, however, were doing very well catching trout all week. Most of the successful trout fishermen were concentrating their efforts near the dam. We also didn’t catch many bass in the nets since they avoid capture by this sampling method. We will index bass density with electrofishing methods later this spring.

Fisheries Biologist Aide Ryan McGrady with a 28 inch walleye

Frances Slocum Lake crappies

Alewife are the primary forage base at Frances Slocum Lake

Table of fish caught during the 2006 Frances Slocum Lake trap net survey

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