IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ANNUAL REPORT Virgil Moore, Director SALMON REGION 2013 Jordan Messner, Regional Fisheries Biologist Greg Schoby, Regional Fisheries Manager Marsha White, Regional Fisheries Technician Jon Flinders, Regional Fisheries Biologist Jon Hansen, Regional Fisheries Biologist Brent Beller, Pacific States Fisheries Technician Tom Curet, Regional Supervisor May 2015 IDFG # 15-103 TABLE OF CONTENTS ALPINE LAKES ........................................................................................................................... 1 ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 2 OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................................................. 2 Alpine Lake Stocking................................................................................................................ 2 Mountain Lake Surveys ............................................................................................................ 2 STUDY AREA AND METHODS .................................................................................................. 3 Alpine Lake Stocking................................................................................................................ 3 Mountain Lake Surveys ............................................................................................................ 3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION .................................................................................................... 4 Mountain Lake Stocking ........................................................................................................... 4 Mountain Lake Surveys ............................................................................................................ 4 MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................................................................... 5 LOWLAND LAKES AND RESERVOIRS ................................................................................... 12 EVALUATING CONDITION OF HATCHERY TROUT AFTER WINTER HOLDOVER ............... 12 ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................... 12 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 13 OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................................... 13 STUDY AREA AND METHODS ................................................................................................ 13 Iron Lake ................................................................................................................................ 13 Meadow Lake ........................................................................................................................ 14 Wallace Lake ......................................................................................................................... 14 Yellowjacket Lake .................................................................................................................. 14 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION .................................................................................................. 15 Iron Lake ................................................................................................................................ 15 Meadow Lake ........................................................................................................................ 16 Wallace Lake ......................................................................................................................... 16 Yellowjacket Lake .................................................................................................................. 17 MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................... 17 ZOOPLANKTON QUALITY MONITORING AND EVALUATION ............................................... 23 ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................... 23 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 24 OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................................... 25 STUDY AREA AND METHODS ................................................................................................ 25 Herd Lake .............................................................................................................................. 25 Jimmy Smith Lake .................................................................................................................. 25 Wallace Lake ......................................................................................................................... 26 Plankton sampling .................................................................................................................. 26 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION .................................................................................................. 26 Herd Lake .............................................................................................................................. 26 Jimmy Smith Lake .................................................................................................................. 27 Wallace Lake ......................................................................................................................... 27 MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................... 27 i CARLSON LAKE BROOK TROUT REDUCTION EFFORTS .................................................... 32 ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................... 32 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 33 OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................................... 33 STUDY AREA AND METHODS ................................................................................................ 34 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION .................................................................................................. 34 MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................... 35 MOSQUITO FLAT RESERVOIR – REMOTE CREEL SURVEY ................................................ 39 ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................... 39 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 40 OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................................... 40 STUDY AREA AND METHODS ................................................................................................ 40 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION .................................................................................................. 41 MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................... 43 WILLIAMS LAKE RAINBOW TROUT EGG TAKE ..................................................................... 47 ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................... 47 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 48 OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................................... 48 STUDY AREA AND METHODS ................................................................................................ 48 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION .................................................................................................. 49 MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................... 49 FISH COMPOSITION IN YELLOWBELLY LAKE ...................................................................... 50 ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................... 50 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 51 OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................................... 51 STUDY AREA AND METHODS ................................................................................................ 51 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION .................................................................................................. 52 MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................... 53 RIVERS