ATUR F N AL O R T E N S E O U M R T C R E A S STATE OF MICHIGAN P E DNR D M ICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES SR40 January 2007 The Walleye Population and Fishery of the Muskegon Lake System, Muskegon and Newaygo Counties, Michigan in 2002 Patrick A. Hanchin, Richard P. O’Neal, Richard D. Clark, Jr., and Roger N. Lockwood Bigelow Creek Fremont Lake Croton Pond . Penoyer Creek Croton Dam Cedar Creek Brooks CreekMinnie Creek Sand Creek Muskegon River Bear Lake Bear Creek Maple River Lake Michigan Muskegon Lake 0 2 4 Miles www.michigan.gov/dnr/ FISHERIES DIVISION SPECIAL REPORT 40 MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES FISHERIES DIVISION Fisheries Special Report 40 January 2007 The Walleye Population and Fishery of the Muskegon Lake System, Muskegon and Newaygo Counties, Michigan in 2002 Patrick A. Hanchin, Richard P. O’Neal, Richard D. Clark, Jr., and Roger N. Lockwood MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (DNR) MISSION STATEMENT “The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the State’s natural resources for current and future generations.” NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION (NRC) STATEMENT The Natural Resources Commission, as the governing body for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, provides a strategic framework for the DNR to effectively manage your resources. The NRC holds monthly, public meetings throughout Michigan, working closely with its constituencies in establishing and improving natural resources management policy. MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES NON DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) provides equal opportunities for employment and access to Michigan’s natural resources. Both State and Federal laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, age, sex, height, weight or marital status under the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 as amended (MI PA 453 and MI PA 220, Title V of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility, or if you desire additional information, please write: HUMAN RESOURCES Or MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL RIGHTS Or OFFICE FOR DIVERSITY AND CIVIL RIGHTS MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES CADILLAC PLACE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PO BOX 30028 3054 W. GRAND BLVD., SUITE 3-600 4040 NORTH FAIRFAX DRIVE LANSING MI 48909-7528 DETROIT MI 48202 ARLINGTON VA 22203 For information or assistance on this publication, contact the MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Fisheries Division, PO BOX 30446, LANSING, MI 48909, or call 517-373-1280. TTY/TDD: 711 (Michigan Relay Center) This information is available in alternative formats. ATUR F N AL O R T E N S E O U M R T C Printed under authority of Michigan Department of Natural Resources R E A S P E DNR D Total number of copies printed 60 — Total cost $246.92 — Cost per copy $4.12 M ICHIGAN Suggested Citation Format Hanchin, P. A., R. P. O’Neal, R. D. Clark, Jr., and R. N. Lockwood. 2007. The walleye population and fishery of the Muskegon Lake System, Muskegon and Newaygo counties, Michigan in 2002. Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Special Report 40, Ann Arbor. ii Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1 Study Area .............................................................................................................................. 2 Methods .................................................................................................................................. 3 Fish Community .................................................................................................................................. 4 Walleye ............................................................................................................................................... 4 Size structure .................................................................................................................................. 4 Sex composition .............................................................................................................................. 4 Abundance ...................................................................................................................................... 4 Mean lengths at age........................................................................................................................ 6 Mortality........................................................................................................................................... 6 Recruitment ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Movement........................................................................................................................................ 7 Angler Survey...................................................................................................................................... 8 Summer........................................................................................................................................... 8 Winter .............................................................................................................................................. 9 Estimation methods......................................................................................................................... 9 Results .................................................................................................................................. 10 Fish Community ................................................................................................................................10 Walleye ............................................................................................................................................. 10 Size structure ................................................................................................................................10 Sex composition ............................................................................................................................ 10 Abundance .................................................................................................................................... 10 Mean lengths at age...................................................................................................................... 11 Mortality......................................................................................................................................... 11 Recruitment ................................................................................................................................... 12 Movement...................................................................................................................................... 12 Angler Survey.................................................................................................................................... 13 Summer 2002................................................................................................................................13 Winter 2003 ................................................................................................................................... 13 Annual totals for summer 2002 through winter 2003 .................................................................... 13 Discussion............................................................................................................................. 14 Fish Community ................................................................................................................................14 Walleye ............................................................................................................................................. 14 Size structure ................................................................................................................................14 Sex composition ............................................................................................................................ 14 Abundance .................................................................................................................................... 14 Mean lengths at age...................................................................................................................... 16 Mortality......................................................................................................................................... 16 Recruitment ................................................................................................................................... 18 Movement...................................................................................................................................... 18 Angler Survey.................................................................................................................................... 19 Comparison to other large lakes ................................................................................................... 19 Management Implications ..................................................................................................... 20 Acknowledgements..............................................................................................................