MIDDLE EAU CLAIRE LAKE - Wisconsin DNR...Middle Eau Claire is located north of Hayward on Hwy 27 in...
Transcript of MIDDLE EAU CLAIRE LAKE - Wisconsin DNR...Middle Eau Claire is located north of Hayward on Hwy 27 in...
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES CREEL SURVEY REPORT
MIDDLE EAU CLAIRE LAKE BAYFIELD COUNTY
2019-2020
Treaty Fisheries Publication
March 2020
INTRODUCTION
The Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources regularly conducts fishery surveys
of area lakes and reservoirs to gather
information on species composition,
population size, reproductive success,
size/age distribution, and growth rates. The
information from the netting and
electrofishing surveys helps the WDNR
determine the best management practices for
that body of water. Another important aspect
of a fishery is the amount of harvest that is
occurring on the lake. This information is
collected by creel census or creel survey.
On lakes in the Ceded Territory of
Wisconsin, harvest of fish is divided
between sport anglers and the six Chippewa
tribal bands. The six Chippewa tribal bands
harvest fish under rights governed by federal
treaties of 1837 and 1842. Most tribal fish
harvest is done by spearing during a short
period of time in the spring. All speared fish
are individually counted by tribal creel
clerks, allowing for a complete “census” of
the tribal fish harvest in the spring.
Information is also collected on the effects
of sport angler harvest on fish populations.
Because it would be impractical and costly
to conduct a complete “census” of the fish
harvested by sport anglers on area lakes, a
creel survey is conducted to estimate the
amount of fish harvested by sports anglers.
A creel survey is a sampling tool used to
measure the fishing activities of the sport
anglers and to estimate the amount of fish
harvested on a body of water. Creel surveys
are designed to have a creel clerk on a lake,
work random shifts, and forty hours each
week throughout the fishing season. Each
month these shifts cover a sample of all the
daylight hours. Creel clerks travel their lakes
using a boat, snowmobile or vehicle to count
and to interview anglers.
The information collected from anglers
during the interview includes the species of
fish being targeted, catch and harvest,
lengths of harvested fish, and hours of
fishing effort. Typically, only anglers that
have completed their fishing trip are
interviewed because it provides the most
accurate information and it avoids the need
to disturb anglers while they are fishing.
You may have encountered one of the DNR
creel clerks on a recent fishing trip. The
survey only takes a moment of your time and
we appreciate your cooperation during an
interview. The information collected gives
the DNR valuable knowledge required for
management of the fishery.
The data collected during the survey is
processed by a computer program and
summarized by month to calculate estimates
of the total fishing pressure, fishing effort
directed at each species, catch and harvest
rates, and the number of fish caught and
harvested.
This creel survey report will provide you
with four types of estimated information for
this body of water:
1. Overall fishing pressure
2. Fishing effort directed at each species
3. Catch and harvest rates
4. Numbers of fish caught and harvested.
Also included in this report are physical
information about the lake, discussion of
results of this survey and detailed summaries
by species.
GENERAL LAKE INFORMATION
Location Middle Eau Claire is located north of
Hayward on Hwy 27 in Bayfield County.
Physical Characteristics Middle Eau Claire is a drainage lake in the
St. Croix River basin that covers 902 acres
and has a maximum depth of 66 feet. There
is one public boat landing located on the
south end of the lake off Hwy 27.
Seasons Surveyed An open water creel survey was conducted
from opening day of gamefish season on
May 4, 2019 and ran through the end of
October. Winter creel was conducted from
December 1st through the close of the
gamefish season on March 1, 2020.
Harvest Regulations The following seasons, daily bag limits, and
length limits were in place on this lake in
2019-2020:
Species Season
Bag
Limit
Min.
Size
Walleye 5/4-3/1 3 special*
Largemouth Bass 5/4-3/1 5 No Min
Smallmouth Bass 5/4-3/1 1 18"**
Muskellunge 5/25-11/30 1 40"
Northern Pike 5/4-3/1 5 none
Panfish all year 10 none
* No minimum length limit, but walleye from 14”-18” may
not be kept and only one over 18” is allowed. **SMB catch and release 5/4-6/14, bag in combination
with LMB from 06/15-03/1.
SPECIES CATCH AND HARVEST INFORMATION
Angling information is summarized on a
single page for each species. If a page for a
species is not present in this section, it is
because no one reported fishing for that
species and/or none were caught. Each
species page has up to five graphs covering
the following:
FIGURE 1 ESTIMATED DIRECTED
FISHING EFFORT Total calculated number of hours
during each month that anglers spent
fishing for this species.
FIGURE 2 ESTIMATED DIRECTED
ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST RATES Calculated number of hours it takes
an angler to catch or harvest a fish of
this species. Only information from
anglers who were specifically
targeting this species is reported
here.
FIGURE 3 ESTIMATED TOTAL ANGLER
CATCH AND HARVEST Calculated number of fish of this
species caught or harvested by all
anglers. This estimate also includes
incidental catch and harvest of fish
by anglers that were not specifically
targeting this species.
FIGURE 4 LENGTH DISTRIBUTION OF
HARVESTED FISH MEASURED BY CLERK
All fish of this species measured by
the clerk during the entire creel
survey season.
FIGURE 5 AVERAGE LENGTH AND
LARGEST FISH HARVESTED Average length and the largest fish of
this species harvested each month.
Only those fish measured by the
creel clerk are reported here.
Seasonal Angler Effort Summary
The table provides a summary by month of
the total angler hours and total angler hours
per acre. Also, the table compares county
average and ceded territory average to
current survey results.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The completion of this survey was possible
because of the efforts of the following
Treaty Assessment Staff: Gene Hatzenbeler,
Todd Brecka, Misty Rood, Bill Sobaski,
Don Jacobson, Reed Miller, and Brooke
Smith. We would especially like to
recognize the efforts of our creel clerk Marty
Kangas who collected the angler interviews.
The Department would like to thank Quentin
and Helen Ruprecht. They generously
allowed the department to keep a boat and
snowmobile at their property during this
survey.
We would also like to thank all the anglers
who took the time to offer information about
their fishing trip to the survey clerk. Without
your cooperation this survey would not have
been possible.
Additional copies of this report and those
covering other local lakes can be obtained
from the Treaty Fisheries Biologist in
Spooner or WDNR Webpage.
Questions about the report can be directed to
Gene Hatzenbeler
WDNR Spooner Office
810 W. Maple Street
Spooner, WI 54801
Phone: (715)635-4164
Email: [email protected]
WALLEYE
7.0 6.1 5.110.7
1.0
12.5
26.2 26.4
34.8
25.6
4.0
81.3
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
HO
UR
S P
ER
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 2. ESTIMATED DIRECTED ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST RATES
79
55
7975
3
72
104
2115
11
31
3
18
3 4
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 3. ESTIMATED TOTAL ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST
1
2
1
8
2
3
6
3
0
2
4
6
8
10
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
INCHES
FIGURE 4. LENGTH DISTRIBUTION OF FISH MEASURED BY CLERK
18.9
21.1
18.317.5
21.1
15.4
20.6
19.2
22.7 22.5
18.5
21.0 21.1
18.3
20.7
19.6
15
20
25
30
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
INC
HE
S
MONTH
AVERAGE LARGEST
FIGURE 5. AVERAGE LENGTH AND LARGEST FISH HARVESTED
549
317
400
804
29
157
71109
38 31
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
AN
GL
ING
HO
UR
S
MONTH
FIGURE 1. ESTIMATED DIRECTED FISHING EFFORT
NORTHERN PIKE
2.2 1.83.2 2.9 1.9
6.4
3.25.4
15.2
19.6
15.9
11.3
38.6
6.88.7
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
HO
UR
S P
ER
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
462
640
188
371332
392 15
104
1635 40 4722 2 5
455
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 3. ESTIMATED TOTAL ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST
5
8
11 11
7 7
5
3
2
1 1
2 2
1 1
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
INCHES
FIGURE 4. LENGTH DISTRIBUTION OF HARVESTED FISH MEASURED BY CLERK
23.5
21.2
23.0 23.7
20.0 20.0
23.321.9
29.1
24.2
29.5
25.0
20.021.7
35.5
23.8
15
20
25
30
35
40
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
INC
HE
S
MONTH
AVERAGE LARGEST
FIGURE 5. AVERAGE LENGTH AND LARGEST FISH HARVESTED
429
791
411
625
244
1252
304
46
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
AN
GL
ING
HO
UR
S
MONTH
FIGURE 1. ESTIMATED DIRECTED FISHING EFFORT
FIGURE 2. ESTIMATED DIRECTED ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST RATES
MUSKELLUNGE
INFORMATION PROVIDED FOR OPEN WATER CREEL SURVEY
29.0
56.8
24.3
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT.
HO
UR
S P
ER
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 2. ESTIMATED DIRECTED ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST RATES
5
8
5
18
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT.
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 3. ESTIMATED TOTAL ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST
0
1
2
40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
INCHES
FIGURE 4. LENGTH DISTRIBUTION OF HARVESTED FISH MEASURED BY CLERK
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT.
INC
HE
S
MONTH
AVERAGE LARGEST
FIGURE 5. AVERAGE LENGTH AND LARGEST FISH HARVESTED
48
147
276 279
372
241
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT.
AN
GL
ING
HO
UR
S
MONTH
FIGURE 1. ESTIMATED DIRECTED FISHING EFFORT
No Fish Measured
SMALLMOUTH BASS
4.4 1.5
12.16.8
1.110.5
116.3
72.5
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
HO
UR
S P
ER
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 2. ESTIMATED DIRECTED ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST RATES
45
242
109
136
41
5 13 8
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 3. ESTIMATED TOTAL ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST
1 1
0
1
2
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
INCHES
FIGURE 4. LENGTH DISTRIBUTION OF HARVESTED FISH MEASURED BY CLERK
18.7
20.0
18.7
20.0
10
12
14
16
18
20
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
INC
HE
S
MONTH
AVERAGE LARGEST
FIGURE 5. AVERAGE LENGTH AND LARGEST FISH HARVESTED
144
350
862
570
29 5 14
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
AN
GL
ING
HO
UR
S
MONTH
FIGURE 1. ESTIMATED DIRECTED FISHING EFFORT
LARGEMOUTH BASS
2.1 1.4 1.2 3.2 2.0 4.2
20.7
114.9
45.9
11.8 10.94.2
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
HO
UR
S P
ER
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 2. ESTIMATED DIRECTED ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST RATES
194
829
627
436
201
2 14 7 321 32 15
8732 14 5 3
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 3. ESTIMATED TOTAL ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST
2
4
1 1
5
14
8
6
3
1
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
INCHES
FIGURE 4. LENGTH DISTRIBUTION OF HARVESTED FISH MEASURED BY CLERK
14.7 14.6 14.4
12.6
14.6
17.0 16.917.5 17.3
16.3 16.3
15.6
18.9
16.9
10
12
14
16
18
20
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
INC
HE
S
MONTH
AVERAGE LARGEST
FIGURE 5. AVERAGE LENGTH AND LARGEST FISH HARVESTED
250
1033
667
891
311
28 50
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
AN
GL
ING
HO
UR
S
MONTH
FIGURE 1. ESTIMATED DIRECTED FISHING EFFORT
BLUEGILL
0.6
0.2 0.20.4 0.3 0.3 0.2
0.3
2.4
0.8
1.2 1.2
1.7
0.6 0.70.9
0
1
2
3
4
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
HO
UR
S P
ER
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 2. ESTIMATED DIRECTED ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST RATES
326
4044
6978
2930
492737
2834
19876
1085 1243900
97 299
896
74
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 3. ESTIMATED TOTAL ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST
29
357
123
20
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
5 6 7 8 9 10
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
INCHES
FIGURE 4. LENGTH DISTRIBUTION OF HARVESTED FISH MEASURED BY CLERK
7.97.6 7.6 7.5 7.5
7.8 7.87.6
8.68.8
8.48.6 8.6
8.89.1 9.1
5
6
7
8
9
10
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
INC
HE
S
MONTH
AVERAGE LARGEST
FIGURE 5. AVERAGE LENGTH AND LARGEST FISH HARVESTED
174
913
1489
1053
167
11
186
619
67
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
AN
GL
ING
HO
UR
S
MONTH
FIGURE 1. ESTIMATED DIRECTED FISHING EFFORT
PUMPKINSEED
0.30.5
2.1
0.9
1.5
6.3
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
HO
UR
S P
ER
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 2. ESTIMATED DIRECTED ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST RATES
41
335
45
12 117
122
221
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 3. ESTIMATED TOTAL ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST
16
5
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
5 6 7 8 9 10
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
INCHES
FIGURE 4. LENGTH DISTRIBUTION OF HARVESTED FISH MEASURED BY CLERK
8.2
7.67.9
7.6
8.6
8.28.5
7.6
5
6
7
8
9
10
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
INC
HE
S
MONTH
AVERAGE LARGEST
FIGURE 5. AVERAGE LENGTH AND LARGEST FISH HARVESTED
13
175
73
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
AN
GL
ING
HO
UR
S
MONTH
FIGURE 1. ESTIMATED DIRECTED FISHING EFFORT
BLACK CRAPPIE
1.0
0.7
1.3
2.2 2.2
3.6
1.8
3.0 3.0
2.5
3.8
1.8
0
1
2
3
4
5
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
HO
UR
S P
ER
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 2. ESTIMATED DIRECTED ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST RATES
826
109137
47 68 8222
287
3161 77
22
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 3. ESTIMATED TOTAL ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST
7
34
28
1719
11
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
INCHES
FIGURE 4. LENGTH DISTRIBUTION OF HARVESTED FISH MEASURED BY CLERK
10.6
10.0
11.011.3
10.7
13.3
12.8
13.513.8
13.5
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
INC
HE
S
MONTH
AVERAGE LARGEST
FIGURE 5. AVERAGE LENGTH AND LARGEST FISH HARVESTED
864
64112 106
20 25
143
288
38
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
AN
GL
ING
HO
UR
S
MONTH
FIGURE 1. ESTIMATED DIRECTED FISHING EFFORT
YELLOW PERCH
2.6
0
1
2
3
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
HO
UR
S P
ER
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 2. ESTIMATED DIRECTED ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST RATES
5
34
25
11
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 3. ESTIMATED TOTAL ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST
0
1
2
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
INCHES
FIGURE 4. LENGTH DISTRIBUTION OF HARVESTED FISH MEASURED BY CLERK
5
7
9
11
13
15
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
INC
HE
S
MONTH
AVERAGE LARGEST
FIGURE 5. AVERAGE LENGTH AND LARGEST FISH HARVESTED
12
43
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
AN
GL
ING
HO
UR
S
MONTH
FIGURE 1. ESTIMATED DIRECTED FISHING EFFORT
No Fish Measured
ROCK BASS
NO PICTURE AVAILABLE
0.4
1.1
0.60.6
1.5
0.6
0
1
2
3
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
HO
UR
S P
ER
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 2. ESTIMATED DIRECTED ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST RATES
5
226217
80
19
15
51 54
16
0
50
100
150
200
250
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
MONTH
CATCH HARVEST
FIGURE 3. ESTIMATED TOTAL ANGLER CATCH AND HARVEST
9
8
4
1
0
2
4
6
8
10
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
NU
MB
ER
OF
FIS
H
INCHES
FIGURE 4. LENGTH DISTRIBUTION OF HARVESTED FISH MEASURED BY CLERK
10.2
8.1 8.2 8.1
10.6
9.39.7
9.1
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
INC
HE
S
MONTH
AVERAGE LARGEST
FIGURE 5. AVERAGE LENGTH AND LARGEST FISH HARVESTED
18
66
8
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
MAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR.
AN
GL
ING
HO
UR
S
MONTH
FIGURE 1. ESTIMATED DIRECTED FISHING EFFORT
TOTAL ANNUAL ANGLER DIRECTED EFFORT BY SPECIES
This graph illustrates the percentage of time that anglers spent fishing for each species during the entire creel survey. The percentages are based on the species of
fish anglers told the clerk they were fishing for, not what they actually caught. If a particular species is not present in the graph it is because no one reported they
were fishing for that species.
Middle Eau Claire Lake 2019-20
Walleye13.4%
Northern Pike15.6%
Muskellunge7.3%
Smallmouth Bass
10.6%Largemouth Bass
17.0%
Bluegill25.0%
Pumpkinseed1.4%
Black Crappie8.9%
Yellow Perch0.3%
Rock Bass0.5%
SEASONAL ANGLER EFFORT SUMMARY
Estimated angler fishing effort on Middle Eau Claire Lake for each month surveyed and by season(Summer and Winter).
Month
Number of
Angler Party
Interviews
Total Angler
Hours
Total Angler
Hours/Acre
Bayfield
County
Average
Hours/Acre
Ceded
Territory
Average
Hours/Acre
May 82 1790 2.0 3.2 5.1
June 90 2643 2.9 4.8 6.4
July 68 3339 3.7 5.0 6.9
August 60 2794 3.1 3.8 5.4
September 36 929 1.0 2.0 3.3
October 21 423 0.5 1.0 1.5
December 3 71 0.1 0.6 1.1
January 20 320 0.4 0.8 1.6
February 32 791 0.9 0.8 1.5
March 9 115 0.1 0.1 0.2
*Summer Total 357 11918 13.2 19.9 28.6
*Winter Total 64 1297 1.4 2.4 4.4
Grand Total 421 13215 14.7 22.2 33.0
*"Summer" is May-October; "Winter" is December-March
*March includes only data collected to the end of the gamefish season.
2019-20
Ceded Territory Average Hours/Acre is the average angler effort in hours per acre for inland lakes in the ceded
territory surveyed between 1990 and 2013. This value can be used to compare this lake to other lakes in the ceded
territory.
Number of Angler Party Interviews is the number of groups of anglers interviewed by the creel clerk. A party is
considered the members of a group who fish together in the same boat, ice shanty, or from shore. The clerk fills out one
interview form for each group of anglers. The number of individual anglers actually contacted by the clerk is usually
much greater than the number of groups listed in this table since most groups consist of more than one angler.
Total Angler Hours is the estimated total number of hours that anglers spent fishing on this lake during each month
surveyed.
Total Angler Hours/Acre is the total angler hours divided by the area of the lake in acres. This is useful if you wish to
compare effort on this lake to others.
County Average Hours/Acre is the average angler effort in hours per acre for county lakes that have been surveyed since
1990. This value can be useful in comparisons as well.
CREEL SURVEY HISTORY/SYNOPSISMIDDLE EAU CLAIRE LAKE, BAYFIELD COUNTY
CREEL YEAR: 2019-20
SPECIES
DIRECTED
EFFORT
(Hours)
PERCENT
OF TOTAL
TOTAL
CATCH
SPECIFIC
CATCH
RATE
(Hrs/Fish)
TOTAL
HARVEST
SPECIFIC
HARVEST
RATE
(Hrs/Fish)
MEAN
LENGTH OF
HARVESTED
FISH
Walleye 2505 13.4% 377 6.8 106 26.3 19.0
Northern Pike 2914 15.6% 2169 2.4 201 16.1 22.8
Muskellunge 1363 7.3% 36 54.1 0 NA 0.0
Smallmouth Bass 1974 10.6% 579 4.5 11 181.8 19.4
Largemouth Bass 3185 17.0% 2313 1.8 209 22.7 14.4
Bluegill 4679 25.0% 18539 0.3 4670 1.0 7.7
Pumpkinseed 261 1.4% 434 0.7 162 1.8 7.7
Black Crappie 1660 8.9% 1291 1.4 478 3.6 10.8
Yellow Perch 55 0.3% 75 12.0 0 NA 0.0
Rock Bass 92 0.5% 548 0.7 126 1.1 8.3
CREEL YEAR: 2016-17
SPECIES
DIRECTED
EFFORT
(Hours)
PERCENT
OF TOTAL
TOTAL
CATCH
SPECIFIC
CATCH
RATE
(Hrs/Fish)
TOTAL
HARVEST
SPECIFIC
HARVEST
RATE
(Hrs/Fish)
MEAN
LENGTH OF
HARVESTED
FISH
Walleye 3730 16.5% 556 7.3 127 34.5 18.0
Northern Pike 3334 14.8% 2896 2.9 297 11.8 23.7
Muskellunge 2361 10.5% 45 88.5 0 NA 0.0
Smallmouth Bass 1975 8.8% 1225 1.9 97 22.9 16.0
Largemouth Bass 2936 13.0% 2428 2.2 116 63.7 15.0
Bluegill 6210 27.5% 27804 0.2 7157 0.9 7.6
Pumpkinseed 44 0.2% 124 1.0 71 1.8 7.5
Black Crappie 1759 7.8% 1532 1.2 1222 1.5 11.4
Yellow Perch 80 0.4% 125 5.1 9 NA 6.9
Rock Bass 135 0.6% 509 1.4 137 1.4 8.4