Hamlin Lake Fisheries Management: Past, Present, and Future

Hamlin Lake Preservation Society, 8/2/2013 Mark Tonello, MDNR Fisheries Management Biologist Hamlin Lake

• Originally a natural “drowned rivermouth” lake, first dam constructed in the 1850s. • Multiple dam failures and rebuilds over the years. • Enlarged to 5,350 acres currently. Hamlin Lake dam has a head of about 12 feet.

Hamlin Lake- Recurring Historical Issues • Fish stocking (first in 1897, lake trout believe it or not!). • Fish transfers over the Hamlin Lake Dam (1920s- mid 1950s). • Winter lake levels- since at least the 1940s…

Survey History • First MDOC fisheries survey done in 1932. • Creel survey in winter 1935-36. • Subsequent fisheries surveys done in 1942, 1948, 1953, 1956, 1967, 1973, 1983, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2003, 2004, 2008/2009 (creel), 2010. 1932 Survey

• The following -largemouth bass game species -smallmouth bass -yellow perch were found: -muskellunge -rock bass -black crappie -northern pike -walleye -pumpkinseed sunfish -bluegill 1932 Survey, cont’d.

• Yellow perch abundant • Northern pike “on the decrease” • Largemouth bass more abundant than smallmouth bass • Limited number of muskies taken each year • Bluegills present, but not abundant

Hamlin Lake Stocking History • Late 1930s, early 1940s MDOC stocked smallmouth and largemouth bass fingerlings, walleye fry, bluegill fingerlings, and yellow perch fingerlings. • Fish were also lifted over the Hamlin Lake Dam, including steelhead, adult walleye, adult pike, etc. until the late 1950s. • Stocking programs discontinued after 1942, because of recommendations in the 1942 MDOC Fisheries survey. • Tiger muskies stocked from 1969 until 1988.

Common themes in fisheries surveys over the years: • Perch small, growth poor. • Northern pike mostly small, poor growth. • Population levels and growth good for other desirable species (walleye, bass, panfish).

2010 Fisheries Survey • Status of the Fishery Report written. • Detailed historical Hamlin Lake management issues, both fish and non- fish. • Must-read for those interested in Hamlin Lake. 2010 Fisheries Survey • Consisted of one week of netting with gill nets, trap nets, and fyke nets, and one night of boomshocking. • A total of 1,605 fish were captured representing 31 different species. 2010 Survey, Panfish

• Black crappie: 35 from 10-13”, average 7.4”. Growth slow. • Bluegill: 168 from 2-9”, average 7.0”. Growth good. Pumpkinseed sunfish: 139 from 2-9”, average 7.3”. Growth good. • Rock bass: 198 from 2-10”, average 7.5”. Growth average. • Yellow perch: 263 from 1-9”, average 4”. Growth slow. 2010 Survey, Gamefish

• Largemouth bass: 77 from 1-16”, growth good. • Northern pike: 73 from 15-29”, growth poor. • Walleye: 37 from 11-25”, growth average, fish represented from both stocking and non- stocking years. Good 2006 year class. • Smallmouth bass: 16 from 2-18”. • Muskellunge: 1 @ 19”. MDNR Hamlin Lake Muskellunge Stockings 2005-2011

Year Species Number Size Strain 2005 Northern muskellunge 12,510 FF MI 2006 Northern muskellunge 5,000 FF MI 2008 Northern muskellunge 12,500 FF MI 2010 Northern muskellunge 5,653 FF MI 2011 Northern muskellunge 7,019 FF MI Total: 42,682 MDNR?? Hamlin Lake Walleye Stockings 2011-2013

Year Species Number Size Strain 2011 Walleye 152,250 SF Muskegon R. 2012 Walleye 25,755 SF Muskegon R.

2013 Walleye 217,764 SF Muskegon R. Total: 395,769 Future fisheries management of Hamlin Lake • It’s about balance! We want to maintain both the panfish and gamefish fisheries. • We will continue to stock 150,000 walleye every other year. The next scheduled stocking event will be in 2015. • We will continue to stock muskies into Hamlin Lake, at a rate of 10,700 every third year. We should get some this year. • From this point on, all muskies stocked into Hamlin should be Great Lakes strain. Where do the stocked walleye come from? • The vast majority of the walleye stocked into Hamlin Lake have come from the Mason County Walleye Association ponds. • Walleye from the Mason County ponds have gone into many other area lakes, including Hackert, Big Star, Portage, Bear, the Herring Lakes, Platte Lake, Lake Mitchell, Rose Lake, Lake Missaukee, Houghton Lake, the Muskegon River, etc.

Here’s the process:

1. MDNR takes walleye eggs from the Muskegon River. Walleye raising, cont’d. 2. From there they go to Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery for a month or so to hatch out. 3. After hatching, the fry are stocked into rearing ponds all across the state. 4. After six weeks in the ponds, they’re harvested and stocked into lakes and rivers.

2008/2009 Creel Survey

• DNR conducted a creel census in the summer of 2008 and the winter of 2009. • Documented 121,731 angler hours or 31,995 angler days. • According to the USFWS, this means that the Hamlin Lake fishery generates over $1.1 million for the local economy!!. • Lots of catch and release. Summer effort much higher than winter effort. Moving Forward on Hamlin Lake

• Cooperative management will rule the day! • We will continue to work with groups like the Hamlin Lake Preservation Society, the Big Sable Watershed Restoration Committee, and the Mason County Walleye Association to manage Hamlin Lake. • By working together, we will be better able to overcome any issues we are faced with. • Here’s to a great Hamlin Lake forever! Thank you!