Edward
R. Braun, Fisheries Biologist
Indiana
Department of Natural Resources
Division
of Fish and Wildlife
402
West Washington Street, W273 IGC South
Indianapolis,
IN 46204
Pike
Lake is a 228 acre natural lake located at the north side of Warsaw in
Kosciusko County, Indiana. A city park on the south shore provides a
handicap accessible boat ramp, temporary mooring pier, parking lot,
swimming beach, and campground. Hybrid walleye (female walleye X male
sauger) fingerlings were stocked five of six years 1990-1995 in June.
In 1996 both hybrids and pure walleye were stocked. Beginning in 1997,
only walleye were stocked. Fingerlings were 1.0-2.0 inches in length
when stocked. Stocking density varied from 141.4 per acre to 38.7 per
acre. First year survival determined by fall electrofishing was very
good all years. A 14 inch size limit on walleye and largemouth bass
went into effect in August 1996. An angler creel survey was conducted
10 April-29 September, 2000 to measure angling effort, catch, and
harvest of walleye and other species.
Fishing
pressure during the six month creel survey was 40.4 hours per acre.
May accounted for 25% of the fishing pressure and June 23%. Average
trip length was 2.84 hours. Boat anglers accounted for over 58% of the
fishing pressure. About 31% of anglers were fishing for walleye while
56.5% percent said they were fishing for anything that was biting.
Total harvest was an estimated 1,007 fish of nine species. Bluegills
accounted for 35.6% of the harvest at 1.57 per acre. Walleye ranked
second with 273 harvested (1.2 per acre). Most walleye harvest
occurred in April and May. Another 1,314 were caught and released.
Catch rate for walleye was 0.32 per hour Average length of walleye
harvested was 15 inches. White bass harvest was estimated at 0.98 per
acre, channel catfish at 0.35 per acre, crappie at 0.16 per acre,
largemouth bass at 0.08 per acre, and yellow perch at 0.07 per acre.
Walleye
survival and growth at older ages appears to have been better than
hybrids. Anglers had no
preference
for one or the other. Catch rates were not significantly different.
Support for the stocking
program
and 14 inch size limit remain very high.
