Fisheries Management in Swan Lake
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Region B Fisheries – Wes Ashe, Jason Seiders, Scott Davis Lake Info Swan Lake • ~1,400 surface acres
• Average depth = 34 ft., Max depth = 87 ft.
• Above average water quality
• Oligotrophic – low nutrient content & algal production
• Moderate development along perimeter
Regulations Swan Lake – Current Regulations
Ice Fishing: • Open in January & February only • 2 lines/angler • Daily bag limit – 2 salmon - 14”, 2 togue - 18”
Open Water Fishing: • Open April – September • Closed October – December - togue spawning • Same daily bag limits
Stocking Swan Lake – Stocking History
YEAR BROOK TROUT SALMON 2000 7450 850 2001 4100 850 2002 4100 850 2003 4100 850 2004 5320 850 2005 4100 0 2006 4100 0 2007 2285 600 2008 2200 500 2009 2250 600 2010 2350 600 2011 2350 600 2012 2400 600 2013 2500 600 2014 2500 600 2015 2000 600 Fishes Swan Lake – Fish Assemblage
Landlocked salmon Lake trout Brook trout Rainbow smelt Smallmouth bass Largemouth bass White perch Yellow perch Chain pickerel White sucker Brown bullhead American eel Pumpkinseed sunfish Several minnow species **21 total fish species** Togue & Salmon Togue & Salmon
Swan Lake Togue Swan Lake Salmon -Stocked by MDIFW from 1971-1981 -Stocked by MDIFW since 1940
-Population now wild & self-sustaining -Stocking numbers have fluctuated
-Consume a variety of fish & insects -Population has few wild fish
-Consume smelt almost exclusively
Volunteer Anglers Average Salmon Length – Volunteer Anglers
Bag Limit: 2 fish, 14”
17
16
15
14 Inches
13
12
11 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 Year Volunteer Anglers Salmon Catch Rates – Volunteer Anglers
Bag Limit: 2 fish, 14”
100
80
60
40
20 Angling Hours per Fish AnglingHours per
0 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 Year Volunteer Anglers Average Togue Length – Volunteer Anglers
Bag Limit: 1 fish, 23” 2 fish, 18” 25
24
23
22
Inches 21
20
19
18 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 Year Volunteer Anglers Togue Catch Rates – Volunteer Anglers
Bag Limit: 1 fish, 23” 2 fish, 18”
60
50
40
30
20
10 Angling Hours per Fish AnglingHours per
0 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 Year Trapnet Data Average Salmon Length - Trapnetting
Bag Limit: 2 fish, 14” 22
20
18 Inches
16
14 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 Year Trapnet Data Average Salmon Length - Trapnetting
Bag Limit: 2 fish, 14” 22
20
18 Inches
16 Remember, no salmon were stocked in 2005 & 2006
14 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 Year Trapnet Data Average Salmon Weight - Trapnetting
Bag Limit: 2 fish, 14”
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5 Pounds 2.0
1.5
1.0 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 Year Trapnet Data Average Togue Length - Trapnetting
Bag Limit: 1 fish, 23” 2 fish, 18” 28
26
24 Inches
22
20 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 Year Trapnet Data Average Togue Weight - Trapnetting
Bag Limit: 1 fish, 23” 2 fish, 18” 8
6 Pounds 4
2 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 Year Winter Creel Survey Winter Creel Survey Results
Swan Lake - 2015 Lake St. George - 2014 Acreage 1388 1040
Swan Lake St. Lake George Winter Creel Survey Winter Creel Survey Results
Swan Lake - 2015 Lake St. George - 2014 Acreage 1388 1040 Ice Fishing Season Jan & Feb Jan & Feb Winter Creel Survey Winter Creel Survey Results
Swan Lake - 2015 Lake St. George - 2014 Acreage 1388 1040 Ice Fishing Season Jan & Feb Jan & Feb # of Anglers 843 2872 Winter Creel Survey Winter Creel Survey Results
Swan Lake - 2015 Lake St. George - 2014 Acreage 1388 1040 Ice Fishing Season Jan & Feb Jan & Feb # of Anglers 843 2872 # of Parties 286 1053 Winter Creel Survey Winter Creel Survey Results
Swan Lake - 2015 Lake St. George - 2014 Acreage 1388 1040 Ice Fishing Season Jan & Feb Jan & Feb # of Anglers 843 2872 # of Parties 286 1053 # of Brook Trout Harvested 33 435 Winter Creel Survey Winter Creel Survey Results
Swan Lake - 2015 Lake St. George - 2014 Acreage 1388 1040 Ice Fishing Season Jan & Feb Jan & Feb # of Anglers 843 2872 # of Parties 286 1053 # of Brook Trout Harvested 33 435 # of Salmon Harvested 23 168 Winter Creel Survey Winter Creel Survey Results
Swan Lake - 2015 Lake St. George - 2014 Acreage 1388 1040 Ice Fishing Season Jan & Feb Jan & Feb # of Anglers 843 2872 # of Parties 286 1053 # of Brook Trout Harvested 33 435 # of Salmon Harvested 23 168 # of Togue Harvested 73 -- Summary Summary
• Salmon (& brook trout) are stocked at high densities, especially in a water w/ wild togue & sensitive rainbow smelt populations
• Volunteer angler data showed decline in salmon/togue size, and a dramatic increase in catch rates
• Trapnet data revealed a precipitous decline in salmon/togue size over past two decades
• Creel survey indicated low angler use and few salmon (or brook trout) harvested
Future Management Future Management
1) Decrease salmon stocking number from 600 to 400
2) Extend ice fishing season to include March
3) Reduce brook trout stockings • Provide year-round brook trout program in Goose R.
4) Assess togue and salmon populations with more frequent trapnetting and creel surveys moving forward
The End Questions? Comments?
Thank you.