Electrofishing

of Lake Waterford

Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Fisheries Biologists Frank Jakubicek, Vic Santucci and Scott Bartell completed an electrofishing sampling of Lake Waterford on September 5, 2007.  Electrofishing utilizes a boat specially equipped with an electric generator which supplies a current into the water through electrodes on booms placed ahead of the bow of the boat.  The shocked fish are stunned and float to the surface where two biologists at the bow railing with long handled nets scoop them into a holding tank supplied with oxygen.  After a designated collection time each fish is identified, measured and weighed, logged and then released UNHARMED. 

The results of the survey will not be available for awhile, but the catch per unit effort (CPUE) was high and the populations of Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Channel Catfish are very healthy.  The No undesirable species were detected.  Come to our meetings for the complete results of the survey. 

Click photo to enlarge.

Movies are very large files

Movie

Movie

The crew

The crew in action

Netting a big one

The booms & electrodes 

Identified

Measured

Weighed

Big Bluegill

Channel Catfish

A big one!

Nice Bass

The gear