l:-=t­ MAR () 91SSO N296 ~ Y'"f S¢•2 ATE LIBRARY OF JOW DES MOINES, IOWA Iowa CONSERVATIONIST CONTENTS March 1990, Vol. 49, No.3 STAFF Ross Hamson •• Bureau Ch11 JuheSparb • Ed1tor Tammra K Pavlicek Mat~~~gmg Ed1tor Lowell Washburn .. •• ~\nter/Photographtr Larry Pool _ . ...• Graph1c Arhst Ron Johnson .•...• .. • Photographtr Ken Forman~k ... ••• •• Photographtr NATURAL RESO URCE COMMISSION Douglas R Sm;llley Cha1rpason ..• . Dl'S Momt> Richard C Young, Vuy-Chalrptr.SOn Wattrloo John 0 F1dd. S«rctary Hamburg Manan K1effer .. Btlltt ut Barbara :-.:elson .•........ Rutht'tPI (Mrs.) ~tanon J Po1ttcr.on .. ... Cedar Rap1ds Thurman Ga•kall Conollh ENVIRONME TALPROTECI10N COMMISSION Charlotte Mohr, ChaarptrSOPI .•. ... Eldridge Clark A Yeager Vice-Chaa1JJt7SOII • ••.•• . ...••....•.. Ottumwa Nancylee A Sacbcnmann. Stcrttary .. ••• • Cedar Rapids \<ltke Earley . ·- .. Waterloo Pagt 16 Page 24 Wilham Ehm .. .•. .• . Crl'SIOPI Richard Harbuck . .. ..... Dr!S Momes Rozanne Kmg .. ..... •... .. Mol!damm \<largaret M Prahl •... •. Swu.r Catv Gary C Pnebe ... .•... ...... .... A/got~~~ 3 1990 Fishing Forecast DIRECTOR Larry J Wibon 13 Earth Day 20 --Offerings For Iowa Teachers by Ross Hamson Environmental awareness was the focus 20 years ago with the first Earth Day. Today, that DEPUTY DIRECTOR awareness has evolved mto envrronmental achon- witnessed m Iowa classrooms Robert Fagerland DIVISION ADMINISTRATORS 14 It's Only Skin Deep bv Julie Sparks Stan Kuhn Admam;tralrl't' Sm>aces Because fish store many harmful contaminants in thetr fat depos1ts, fish tissue testmg has given james Combs ... Coord11~1IWP1 and Information Larry Bean .. EnaJ(II and Gtologlca/ Resourct; scientists a way to measure the health of Iowa s env1ronment as well as keep anglers and Allan Stokes •. •. Entnrollmtnta/ Prot.xl1011 consumers safe from potential hazards Allen Fams ..... ...... ...... ... FISh and Wildlife Wtlham Fams ...... Forests al!d Forestry Mlchael Carraer 16 The Dollars and "Sense" of Fishing by Don Bonneau Parks, Recreat1on and Preserves Teresa 0 !lay How popular IS fishmg m Iowa? The amount anglers spend on fishing-related Waste Managemmt Authonty activities speaks for itself ti SPECIAL PHONE NUMBERS 26 Fish Iowa! by Barbara D. Cigar DNR Central Ofhcc 1-515/281·5145 Aquatic educahon IS catching on in Iowa's classrooms. From fish tdentificahon to spmcashng Emergency Spall R~ponse . 1-515/281-8694 Telecommun•cataon~ DeVlce techniques, students are learning first-hand the importance of Iowa's fishery resource for the Deaf 1-515/242·5967 Groundwater Hothne ..... 1-800/532-1114 Past and Present -- The Decorah Hatchery by Bruce Admr Tum an Poache,.., (TIP) 1-800/532-2020 28 After 50 years of use, the Decorah hatchery was showmg severe signs of wear, particularly m its water supply system Today, after two years and more than $2 million m renovation, the Iowa Con~ervahona~t !USPS 268-780) rs pub­ lashed montlaly by tile Iowa Dl'pllrtment of Natural hatchery is better than ever. Resources, Wallace State Office Bwldmg, Des Momes, Iowa 50319·0034 Second class postage paad m Des Momt,, II1Wil, and addalfoiiQ/ malli11g 30 Creel Surveys Tell It All by Leo Schlunz offices . Subscnption ra tes: $6 for one year or The next time a creel clerk questions you, be sure not to "bait" them with mismformahon. Creel SU for th ree years Include IIIQalmg label for renewals awf addrt· changes POSTMASTER surveys hold valuable information needed to manage Iowa's sport fishenes Send c/umges to lht Iowa Con~ervatiorust, De­ partmmt of Natural Rt-so:~rces , Wallace Stale Of· fict Bu1/dmg, Dl'S Momes, l111.toa 50319-0034 19 Warden's Diary. 23 Classroom Corner The Iowa Dq>Jrlmmt of Natural Resources offers 20 Conservation Update 24 County Conservation Board eq11al opportumty regardless of race, color, crud. national ongm, or drsaba/1ty. If you {tel you haue been dascrrmmattd agam;t, please contact us . COVER: Front-- Perch fishing on Iowa Great Lakes. Photo by Ron Johnson Back­ Bluegills. Photo by Ron Johnson. Prmted on recycled paper 2 Iowa ConSt>rvallontst/ March 1990 rs- Comments Average size in 1989 was 2.75 pounds! Low water levels may change preferred loca­ tions. Good winter fishing in southern portion of lake. Early spring and fall fishing will be best. Aeration plus good survival of young fish equals good fishing. Large number of smaller fish. Plenty of action. Length limit. Excellent fishing during past two years -- 11 +­ pounder in 1989! Spring (below obstructions). Fall (deep pools). Weed lines offer excellent opporhmity . .'\llarch 1990/ lowa Conservabo~t 3 Species Location, County Comments Yellow Perch East Okoboji, Dzckznson Weed beds are holdmg more ftsh 1989 harvest doubled 1988 catch Spirit Lake, Dzckznson Good number of 6- to 8-znch ftsh avazlable. West Okoboji, Dickinson Improvzng. Fzsh may be m deeper water during warm months. Bullhead Black Hawk, Sac 8- to 9-mch ftsh. Start at the znlet Center Lake, Dzckznson Large nwnber Good shore/me access Cornelia, Wrzght Best bet 111 north-central Iowa. 7 to 10 inches. Crawford Creek, Ida Lots of fish in the 9- to 11-mch range. Ingham Lake, Emmet May and June are best months Numbers down slzgh tly. Silver Lake, Dzckmson Conszstently good. Spirit Lake, Dzckmson Phenomenal m 1989. Don't forget mght fish mg. Channel Catfish Black Hawk, Sac Shad entrails are excellent bait. Clear Lake, Cerro Gordo Fzsh range from 3/4 pound to 1-1/2 pounds. Cornelia, Wright In creasmg m populanty. One to 1-1/2 pounds. East Okoboji, Dickm son Best bet for large fi~h. 2- to 6-pound fish common. ~ Storm Lake, Buena Vista Large fish. islands and submerged reef are !:l good locations. ~ Big Sioux River, Lyon & Sioux Fish generally average 1/2 pound to 2 pounds. .J Large numbers are common . .J ~ Boone River, Hamilton Summer months offer the best fislmzg. g Des Moines River, Kossuth & Water condit1ons - winter seventy - drought Hum bolt effects will tell the stan; for 1990 Contact ( fishen; biologist for current condztzons. ' Iowa River, Hardin Little Sioux River, Clay & Cherokee Muskellunge Clear Lake, Cerro Gordo Fish range from 30 to 40 mches. Rock reefs and pomts. East Okoboji, Dicki11son Good populatwn of sublegnl fish (less than 30 inches). b West Okoboji, Dickinson Most consistent producer. Late summer and fall . Bluegill Briggs Wood, Hamilton ActiOn . Fish range from 6 to 8 mches 4 Iowa Con~rvahOn~t / March 1990 White bass enthusiasts should Species look to Storm Lake (Buena Vista Location, County Comments County) and the Okobojis (Dickin­ son County). Fish will range from 10 to 16 inches and will be most Crystal Lake, Hancock Recent renovation has provided excellent active during spring and fall fishing. periods. A jig and minnow, or a Gustafson, Buena Vtsta Improving fishery. spinner, fished over a firm, prefera­ bly sand, bottom will provide Minnewashta, Dickinson Excellent fishing in 1989. Weed beds holding plenty of action. fish. The freshwater drum is available Pahoja, Lyon High density. Good size structure. in large numbers in West and East Okoboji. In fact, it is difficult to Swan Lake, Carroll Large number of 7- to 8-inch fish. fish a jig in these waters and not hook a "sheepshead" at some time. Upper Gar, Dickinson Good fishing. Again-- weed beds holding A piece of era wdad tail on the jig fish. virtually ensures success. These Upper Pine, Hardin 6- to 7-inch fish. Beautiful lake. fish are the fourth most commonly caught fish on the Mississippi West Okoboji, Dickinson Consistently excellent fishery. River. If flathead catfish is what you are Yell ow Smoke, Crawford Excellent size. Lots of action. looking for, try the Missou ri River in Woodbury and Monona coun­ Crappie ties, or,if the d rought doesn' t hurt Crystal Lake, Hancock Excellent population. Renovated in 1986. us too bad, try the Raccoon River in Sac, Carroll and Greene counties. Storm Lake, Buena Vista Real"slabs." 10 to 14 inches. Fish in the 30-pound class have been caught d uring the past few Swan Lake, Carroll Population estimate -- 35,000. All size years. Flathead fishing is a game of classes. patience. Most successful anglers Yellow Smoke, Crawford Fish range from 8 to 10 inches-- up to 14 use some type of live bait such as inches. chubs, goldfish or small carp. Fish large, deep, quiet pools which hold 1s. Northern Pike structure such as log jams or rocks. Spirit Lake, Dickmson Excellent. Spring. Fish developing weed beds. Traditional favorites and unique opportunities -- the decision West Okoboji, Dickinson Consistent. Fish developing weed beds. is yours! It may be paper­ mouthed crappies or snaggle­ Winnebago River, Cerro Gordo April and May. Especially near tile outlets toothed pike . It may be "why­ and feeder streams. don' t-they-bite" walleyes or Smallmouth Bass "where-are-they-now" yellow unds. Boone River, Hamilton Fish rocky substrate in slack water or eddy perch. It may even be streakers areas. (yellow bass) or stripers (white Iowa River, Hardin Low runoff creating excellent water clarity. bass). With more than 75 lakes and hundreds of miles of streams to !ght Spirit Lake, Dickinson Shallow water rock structures. Practice catch choose from in northwest and ct and release. north-central Iowa, the decision is West Okoboji, Dickinson Quality and quantity. Catch and release simplicity itself-- just do it! fishing vert} popular. Winnebago River, Cerro Gordo Use crayfish imitating lures. Largemouth Bass Briggs Wood, Hamilton High density. Variety of size. Submerged timber. Dog Creek, O'Brien 1989 surveys revealed good number of 15-inch fish. Indian Lake, Hancock Most fish between 15 and 18 inches. Pahoja, Lyon Good numbers. Catch and release encouraged. Thomas W. Gengerke is the northwest district fisheries supervisor located at Spirit Lake West Okoboji, Dickinson Excellent year class strength. Spring is best. \>1arch I 990 Iowa Conserva horust 5 •?J- What IS m store for northeast Iowa anglers m 1990?' Has the drought caused senous damage to our fish population? Will our fishing be better, poorer, or about the same? Let us take a look at what the answers to these ques­ tions might be.