Federal Aid to Fish Restoration Completion Report. Natural Lakes InvestigationsProject No. F-135-R

摘要

Spirit Lake, and East and West Okoboji Lakes support important walleye fisheries.In addition, these lakes are the main source of brood stock walleye for the Spirit Lake Hatchery. The densities of walleye in these lakes were not sufficient to meet the demands of the angler or to satisfy the needs of the Spirit Lake Hatchery. This investigation consisted of two parts, stabilizig recruitment by developing an optimal stocking regime, and managing the adult walleyes with regulations that maximize recruitment into the broodstock population. Futhermore, the successful development of a year-class of fish is dependent upon the survival and consequent recruitment of larval fish. This investigation determined larval fish and zooplankton densities, measured and recorded water temperatures and water levels in an attempt to develop models capable of predicting the successful development of year classes of fishes in these lakes.