In the Spring our fish populations spawn, but the young-of-the-year (YOY) fingerlings do not grow large enough to be clearing visible until August.  Now that they are visible, they are also large enough to seine for the purpose of determining the success of the earlier spawn.  On August 11th members of our Lakes Commission seined several beach or sandy locations on Lake Waterford and Lake Linden and filed with following report.

 

2003 Fisheries Seining Report

For Lake Waterford and Lake Linden

 

Go to 2004 Seining Report
Chairman Bill Roesler and Commissioner John Bear performed seining on Lakes Waterford and Linden on August 11, 2003.  The day was overcast with a Northeast wind of 10-15 knots.  The water temperature was 78°F.   The Village boat was used to motor to several beaches and sandy locations on the main portion of Lake Waterford.   Gear used: 20’ x 4’ x’ 3/16” square mesh net.
Bill and John at the West end Bill recording data for the report to the Village

Lake Waterford

Three seinings at the West end behind homes on Beck Road produced the following result:

 

YOY bluegill - 16 (1/2 - 1 in., 2 cohorts)   

YOY largemouth bass - 1 (3 in.)

 

One seining at the East end behind homes on Whispering Pine produced the following result:

 

YOY bluegill - 9 (1/2 - 1 in., 2 cohorts)

Yearling bluegill - 3 (3 in.)

YOY largemouth bass - none.

 

One seining at the North end behind a home on Red Rock Rd. produced the following result:

 

YOY bluegill - 17 (1/2 - 1 in., 2 cohorts)

Yearling bluegill - none

YOY largemouth bass - 1  (2 in.)   

 

Total:

YOY bluegill - 42

Yearling bluegill - 3

YOY largemouth bass - 2 

 

One LM Bass YOY and two BG YOY cohorts (separate spawns)Evidence of successful spawning in Lake Waterford

 

 

 

 

 

It is encouraging to see YOY in Lake Waterford since none were visible when seining took place last year.  This signifies that the lake is relatively healthy, but has not yet reached carrying capacity.  The presence of an extremely high population of crappie is probably reducing the number of observed YOY.  Crappies are voracious YOY piscivores, compete with largemouth bass and are not recommended for small aquatic systems.

 

YOY crappie did not appear in the survey even though they are reproducing because they are still off shore in deeper waters at this time of year.

 

Bill and John at Linden Landing

Lake Linden  

Three seinings at Linden Landing produced the following result:

 

YOY bluegill - 3000 (1/2 - 1 in.,2 cohorts)

Yearling bluegill – none

YOY largemouth bass - 3 (1 - 3 in.)
Lake Linden appears to be very healthy, in dynamic balance, and at capacity.  There is plenty of natural forage for the larger fish as they begin the process of  fattening up for the Winter.

Click for live action video