Sport Fishery Harvest at Spirit Lake, 1973-74 by R.H. McWilliams, 1973

(1973) Sport Fishery Harvest at Spirit Lake, 1973-74 by R.H. McWilliams, 1973. Natural Resources, Department of

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Abstract

Fishery surveys have been conducted at Spirit Lake to estimate catch statistics since the 1940's. From 1945 through 1953 a contact survey was used, collecting data from angler interviews, from boat rental liveries and interested parties. From 1953 to 1956, anglers were contacted and interviewed as they fished. Since 1956 an expandable creel survey has been used. Previous results have been reported by Rose (Quarterly Biology Reports, Vol. I-Vol. XI), Moen (Quarterly Biology Reports, Vol. XII-Vol. XXV), Jennings (Quarterly Biology Reports, Vol. XVII-Vol. XXV), and McWilliams (1972, 1973). Spirit Lake, adjacent to the Iowa-Minnesota border, is part of a chain of lakes formed by the Wisconsin glacier drift. It is the largest natural lake in Iowa, containing 2,300 ha (5,684 a), with a maximum depth of 7.3 m (24 ft). The bowl-shaped basin has gradually sloping sides, rocky shoal areas and several prominent rock reefs. The surrounding land is flat to gently rolling. The lake is subject to prevailing winds which are partially responsible for the lack of thermal stratification. Overflow from the lake drains into adjoining East Okoboji Lake through a man-made spillway located in the southeast part of the lake. The objectives of the present creel survey were four-fold. First, estimate the total number of anglers and hours expended; second, estimate the number and weight of the fish caught by species; third, determine the order of species preference; and fourth, record the ratio of marked to unmarked walleye for population estimates.