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Location: Alex or Alek? | As many of you may know by following the Great Muskie War in MN, our good friend Dave Majkrzak requested that the DNR do a full blown survey on muskies and all other game fish in "his" lake, hoping to use the data to show that muskies ravage and deplete all the other game fish. Well the results were posted on the MN muskie alliance page. A big thanks to them for everything they have done to keep this great sport alive in MN.
Here are the results of the latest lake survey for Pelican, We've had enough of the lies and deception. That lake is in fantastic shape.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
1509 1st Avenue North
Fergus Falls MN 56537
[email protected]
6/7/2016
2015/2016 DNR Fisheries Survey Information
Pelican (and connected lakes)
Walleye: The Walleye gill net catch rate was 10.3 fish/net; similar to the historical average for Pelican Lake. The walleye gill net
catch rate has been above the lake average the past five surveys (16 years). Sizes of walleye sampled in 2015 ranged from 9.9” to
28.5” with a mean length of 16.2”. This represents at least 10 year classes of walleye (eight consecutive) in Pelican Lake. The 2009,
2011, 2012 and 2013 year classes should provide good walleye fishing for several years.Walleye (cont.) The walleye catch rate for Pelican Lake is the third highest of the 12 larger lakes (excluding Otter Tail Lake) in Otter
Tail County. Annual fall electrofishing for Young-of-the-Year Walleye was reinstated in 2014. Zero YOY Walleye were sampled in
2014 and 2015. Walleye fingerling stocking will be considered if the 2016 electrofishing catch rate is below average.
Yellow Perch: The Yellow Perch gill net catch rate in Pelican Lake in 2015 was at a historical high (39.7 fish/net); 2.8 times greater
than the previous high from the 2005 survey (14.3 fish/net). Yellow perch are a primary forage fish for predator fish in the lake.
Northern Pike: The Northern Pike gill net catch rate in Pelican Lake was at a historical low in 2015 (3.0 fish/net), continuing a
downward trend since the 2005 survey (7.3 fish/net). This is good news! Pelican Lake has historically had an overabundant pike
population with few quality sized fish. Average size has increased from 20.5” in 2011 to 22.8” in 2015. In 2011, 23% and 1% of the
Northern Pike sampled were 24” and 30” or greater in length compared to 42% and 7% in 2015, respectively.
Bluegill: The Bluegill trap net catch rate in Pelican Lake increased from 21.0 fish/net in 2011 to 30.9 fish/net in 2015. While
abundance went up the average size declined. Still there are good numbers of fish over 7” and 8” the past 10 years compared to
previous years. A spring bluegill trap net assessment was done on Little Pelican Lake in 2014. Nine consecutive year classes were sampled and sizes ranged from 3.1 to 9.1 inches. Sixty-eight and thirteen percent of the bluegills were 7-inches and 8-inches in length and greater, respectively. This was the first time since the 1967 survey that bluegill over 9-inches were sampled in Little Pelican Lake.
Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass: A spring electrofishing assessment on June 8th, 2015 in sampled four Largemouth and four Smallmouth Bass. Largemouth Bass sampling occurred in Fish Lake while Smallmouth Bass sampling occurred in Pelican Lake. Many empty Smallmouth Bass nests were observed in Pelican Lake, indicating that bass may have been harvested off the nests.
Muskie: A total of 49 adult Muskies were caught and marked using trap nets and night boat electrofishing in 2015 in the Pelican
Chain of Lakes. In 2016, a total of 33 adult Muskie were sampled using night boat electrofishing over five nights in the Chain. The
population estimate of Muskie in the Pelican Chain of Lakes is 242 adult Muskie (95% confidence interval 120-530 fish) or 1 adult
Muskie per 19 surface acres. MNDNR manages Muskie for low density, high quality angling opportunities with densities usually
ranging from 1 adult Muskie per 4-10 surface acres.
As part of an on-going Muskie population evaluation in the Pelican Chain of Lakes, all Muskie stocked into Pelican Lake will be marked with individual numbered internal tags. This will allow the DNR to determine survival of stocked fingerlings, survival to adult size and determine the extent of natural reproduction.
That's about one adult Muskie for every 14.4 football fields including the end-zones. I'd like to show these people what 19 acres looks like, maybe have them pick rocks out of it. |
| Unfortunately, folks like the anti musky group on this lake are all about emotion, not facts. When people say you cannot swim in a lake because of the fear of being bitten by a musky, that is all you need to know. Bill Engvall (sp?) had it right when he said the stupid people should have a sign, then you don't have to bother trying to reason with them. "Oh, excuse me, I didn't see your sign or I never would have tried to educate you with facts. " |
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