�������� STATE OF MICHIGAN ��� DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Number 30 August 2004 The Fish Community and Fishery of Houghton Lake, Roscommon County, Michigan with Emphasis on Walleyes and Northern Pike Richard D. Clark, Jr., Patrick A. Hanchin, and Roger N. Lockwood ������� ���� ��� ��� �� � ���� ���� ��� �������� ���� ����� � � � ������ ���������� � � � � ���� �� � ���� �������� ���� �������� ������� �� �������� ��� � � ���� �� ����������� �� � � � � � � � � �� � � www.michigan.gov/dnr/ FISHERIES DIVISION SPECIAL REPORT MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES FISHERIES DIVISION Fisheries Special Report 30 August 2004 The Fish Community and Fishery of Houghton Lake, Roscommon County, Michigan with Emphasis on Walleyes and Northern Pike Richard D. Clark, Jr. School of Natural Resources and Environment University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1084 Patrick A. Hanchin Michigan Department of Natural Resources Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station 96 Grant Street Charlevoix, Michigan 49721-0117 Roger N. Lockwood School of Natural Resources and Environment University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1084 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, (1976 MI P.A. 453 and 1976 MI P.A. 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 the MDNR Office of Legal Services, P.O. Box 30028, Lansing, MI 48909; or the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, State of Michigan, Plaza Building, 1200 6th Ave., Detroit, MI 48226 or the Office of Human Resources, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs, 4040 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA. 22203. For information or assistance on this publication, contact the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division, Box 30446, Lansing, MI 48909, or call 517-373-1280. This publication is available in alternative formats. Printed under authority of Michigan Department of Natural Resources �������� ��� Total number of copies printed 130 — Total cost $581.12 — Cost per copy $4.47 Suggested Citation Format Clark, R. D., P. A. Hanchin, and R. N. Lockwood. 2004. The fish community and fishery of Houghton Lake, Roscommon County, Michigan with emphasis on walleyes and northern pike. Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Special Report 30, Ann Arbor. ii Table of Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................................1 Study Area....................................................................................................................................................2 Methods ........................................................................................................................................................3 Angler Survey.............................................................................................................................................3 Winter......................................................................................................................................................4 Summer ...................................................................................................................................................5 Estimation methods.................................................................................................................................5 Fish Community .........................................................................................................................................6 Walleyes and Northern Pike ......................................................................................................................6 Sex composition ......................................................................................................................................6 Abundance ..............................................................................................................................................6 Mean lengths at age................................................................................................................................9 Mortality ...............................................................................................................................................10 Recruitment...........................................................................................................................................11 Movement..............................................................................................................................................11 Results.........................................................................................................................................................11 Angler Survey...........................................................................................................................................11 Winter 2001...........................................................................................................................................11 Summer 2001 ........................................................................................................................................12 Winter 2002...........................................................................................................................................12 Annual totals for summer 2001 through winter 2002...........................................................................12 Fish Community .......................................................................................................................................13 Walleyes and Northern Pike ....................................................................................................................13 Sex composition ....................................................................................................................................13 Abundance ............................................................................................................................................13 Mean lengths at age..............................................................................................................................14 Mortality ...............................................................................................................................................14 Recruitment...........................................................................................................................................15 Movement..............................................................................................................................................16 Discussion...................................................................................................................................................16 Angler Survey...........................................................................................................................................16 Historical comparisons.........................................................................................................................16 Comparisons to other large lakes.........................................................................................................17 Fish Community .......................................................................................................................................18 Walleyes and Northern Pike ....................................................................................................................19 Sex composition ....................................................................................................................................19 Abundance ............................................................................................................................................19 Mean lengths at age..............................................................................................................................21 Mortality ...............................................................................................................................................22 Recruitment...........................................................................................................................................23 Management Implications ........................................................................................................................24 Acknowledgements....................................................................................................................................25 Figures ........................................................................................................................................................26 Tables..........................................................................................................................................................38 References ..................................................................................................................................................54