Schoodic Lake 2014 - Schoodic Lake Association

Nels Kramer-­‐Regional Fisheries Biologist Penobscot Region-­‐Enfield Schoodic Lake Association Meeting –August 23, 2014 Last fall, on October 18th, we set two trapnets at Schoodic Lake to check on the health, age and growth of all managed salmonids at Schoodic Lake. We have done this every year since 2005 (and alternating years before 2005) and it is an excellent way for regional staff to monitor the fisheries in the lake. One net was fished in Berry Cove and one across from Knights Landing. We fished those nets until October 30th and handled a total of 55 togue (lake trout), 124 landlocked salmon and 43 brook trout. Mean length and weight of all togue handled was 20.1” and 2.8 pounds, respectively. The mean length and weight of the landlocked salmon from trapnets are as follows: AGE Number Length Weight (inches) (pounds) 1 5 15.8 1.5 2 89 21.5 3.6 3 7 24.3 5.2 ALL 124 21.1 3.6 • There were also 23 salmon of unknown age handled as well that averaged 19.5”/3.3 lbs. We also conducted a creel survey last winter and were able to interview 1455 anglers (501 parties), measure 28 brook trout, 209 togue and 22 landlocked salmon. Anglers kept 54 brook trout and released 11 legal brook trout, kept 431 togue, released 405 legal togue and reported 5 sub-­‐legal togue released. There were 50 landlocked salmon kept, 38 legal salmon released and 18 sub-­‐legal salmon reported. The mean length and weight of all species from 2014 winter creel survey are as follows: Species Brook trout Lake trout Landlocked salmon Length (inches) 13.2 19.2 23.0 Weight (pounds) 0.9 2.4 4.0 As part of our winter census work, Schoodic Lake was flown twice a week by fixed wing aircraft throughout the winter by Warden Service pilots counting anglers fishing the lake. This was part a larger project counting anglers on a total of 14 lakes in our region, starting at Pleasant Lake in Island Falls, Millinocket, Pemadumcook, the Debsconeag’ s, the JoMary’ s, Seboeis and Schoodic, among others. Based upon those flight counts and expanding across the entire season, we estimated that a total of 2828±806 anglers fished Schoodic Lake this winter. We use all of the information gathered, including the trapnet, creel survey and aerial aircraft counts, to make management decisions to protect and enhance the fishery resources at Schoodic Lake. Presently we are planning to set trapnets at Schoodic this fall; however we will not be conducting another creel survey for a number of years. However we do have numerous Schoodic anglers that keep Voluntary Angler Record Books for us documenting their fishing throughout the year, and encourage any anglers wishing to participate in this valuable program to please contact me at 732-­‐4131x4003, or Gordon.kramer@maine.gov.