| Fishery
biologists from Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company (WVIC) and the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) surveyed
the Big Eau Pleine Reservoir from April 13 through May 6,
2003, to determine the health of its fishery. The survey design focused on
sampling adult walleye and northern pike. The Big Eau Pleine, with its
surface area of 6,830 acres, over 66 miles of shoreline, an average depth of
16 feet and a maximum depth of 43 feet at full pool, was a challenge to
adequately sample. The interim results, provided courtesy of the WDNR, are included below: |
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Walleye We conducted a mark-recapture survey of the Big Eau Pleine's adult walleye population from April 13-22, 2003. We captured and marked 11,915 adult walleye in nine days of fyke netting. Five crews sampled the reservoir with electro-fishing boats on April 22nd and captured 1,820 adult walleye. Approximately 27% (488) of those walleye bore the mark given during fyke netting. Based on those results, we estimated that the Big Eau Pleine was home to 43,695 adult walleye. The majority of adult walleye (66%) were between 12 and 14.9 inches in length. Approximately 13% were 15 inches long or larger. The largest walleye we captured was a female just over 30 inches long. |
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| Smallmouth Bass Smallmouth bass were not a primary target of our survey of the Big Eau Pleine. Sampling occurred prior to peak smallmouth spawning. However, we did capture 121 smallmouth bass, 8-inches or larger, during our fyke netting and electro-fishing sampling. Nearly one-third (40) of those smallmouth were 14 inches long or larger (5 > 18 inches). The largest smallmouth we captured was 20.2 inches long. |
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Largemouth Bass Largemouth bass were also an incidental catch in our survey of the Big Eau Pleine. We captured 16 largemouth bass, 8 inches or larger, during our fyke netting and electro-fishing sampling. Ten of those largemouth were over 14 inches long. The biggest largemouth bass we captured was 17.6 inches long. |
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| Northern Pike We captured 1,375 adult northern pike in fyke nets fished in the Big Eau Pleine from April 13-21, 2003. We captured abundant small northern pike in the 9-20 inch size range. However, there were good numbers of quality-size northern pike in our sample too. Nearly 20% (271) of the northern pike we captured were 26 inches long or larger. Approximately 3% (38) of the northern pike in our catch were 32 inches long or larger. The largest northern pike we captured was a 43-inch female. |
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Muskellunge Muskellunge were not a primary target of our sampling of the Big Eau Pleine Reservoir. We did not sample during the peak of muskellunge spawning. We captured 44 adult muskellunge during our fyke netting and electro-fishing sampling for walleye and northern pike. Approximately 41% (18) were 34 inches long or larger (2 > 40"). The largest muskellunge we captured was a 42-inch male. |
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| White Bass White bass were first documented to inhabit the Big Eau Pleine Reservoir during a fall 2001 survey. We captured a total of 89 white bass during our fyke netting and electro-fishing sampling in 2003. We captured two distinct size classes of white bass. One size group ranged from 6 to 7 inches long, the other from 11 to 12 inches long. |
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Other Species We captured 10 species of fish
in our fyke netting and electro-fishing sampling of the Big Eau Pleine
Reservoir in addition to the game fish mentioned above. Shorthead redhorse,
common carp, yellow perch, golden shiners and white sucker were common in
our fyke net catches. We also caught moderate numbers of black crappie,
yellow bullhead, black bullhead, bluegill and pumpkinseed. Additional
sampling of panfish is planned for late summer 2003. Young-of-year walleye
will be sampled in fall 2003. Table 1. General Fishing Regulations for the Big Eau Pleine Reservoir, Marathon County, 2003
A brief summary of selected fishing regulations for the Big Eau Pleine Reservoir is included above (Table 1). While the regulatory information provided was current at the time the surveys were conducted, it is not comprehensive and should not be used as a substitute for the current fishing regulation pamphlet. You may obtain a copy of current fishing regulations when you purchase your fishing license, or download a copy from:
This report is interim only; data and findings should not be considered
final. Results of creel surveys should be available by June 2004. If you are
interested in a summary of the creel survey or want an update on this year’s
fyke netting and electro-fishing survey results, contact:
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