|
<------Click on the picture to enlarge
Cagles mill lake .... information
provided by Indiana DNR
(Camping)
(Interpretive
Services) (See
Swim Alert)
http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/publications/notes/cagles_walleye.pdf
This
1,400-acre flood control reservoir, located in Putnam and Owen counties
off
I-70
about halfway between Indianapolis and Terre Haute, has been stocked
with 1.3- 4.3 million fry 11 consecutive years (1992-2002) to utilize
the large gizzard shad population.
In 2000, both fry and fingerlings were stocked in Cagle’s Mill.
Stocking density in ‘01 and ‘02 averaged 2.8 million fry.
In
1996, 1,742 walleye weighing 2,106 pounds were harvested at Cagle’s
Mill. These fish ranged
from 8- 21˝ inches long and averaged 15.2 inches.
An additional 2,563 walleye were caught and released.
Ten percent of the anglers interviewed during the
1996 creel survey indicated they fished for walleye or walleye in
combination with another species.
Anglers
harvested 558 walleye weighing 952 pounds from Cagle’s Mill in 2001.
These fish ranged from 11 to 26˝
inches long and averaged 16 inches.
An additional 4,656 walleye were caught and released.
Best fishing was in May and July.
In 2001, 14% of the fishermen interviewed stated they were
fishing for walleye or walleye and another species.
A
daily or annual fee is charged to launch boats and outboard motors are
permitted.
 
Survey
More
info
Fish and Wildlife Research and Management Notes
| |
Author:
Douglas C. Keller, Fisheries Biologist |
| Date: January 10, 2002
|
Title:
Cagle's Mill Reservoir Angler Survey - 2001 |
INTRODUCTION
Cagle's Mill Reservoir, commonly referred to as Cataract Lake, is a
1,400 acre Army Corps of Engineers impoundment located approximately
seven miles southwest of Cloverdale, Indiana. Much of the land
surrounding Cagle's Mill is under the jurisdiction of two state
properties, Lieber State Recreation Area and Cataract Falls State
Recreation Area.
Walleye stockings in the 1970's were unable to create a successful
walleye fishery due to the lack of suitable forage and predation by a
dense crappie population. Walleye stockings resumed in the middle
1980's following the introduction of gizzard shad, a preferred forage
species for walleye. From 1994 through 2000, the goal was to stock 4.2
million walleye fry annually. Based on fall evaluations, all walleye
stockings since 1994 have been successful. An angler survey conducted
in 1996 proved that a successful walleye fishery had been created.
Surprisingly, an estimated 1,742 walleye were harvested in 1996
despite low angler use due to extremely high water levels during much
of the season (Dorsett, 1997).
Fisheries surveys in 2000 indicated that the walleye population had
probably peaked (Keller, 2001). Although walleye growth was still
above the central Indiana average, walleye growth had declined
considerably at the lake. If the walleye population continued to
expand faster than they were removed through angler harvest or natural
mortality, then growth would likely continue to slow. To maintain good
growth of walleye, it was recommended that walleye stockings be
reduced. In the spring of 2001, walleye stockings were reduced from
3,000 fry per acre to 2,000 per acre for a total annual stocking of
2.8 million fry.
Another angler use survey was conducted at Cataract Lake in 2001 to
determine fishing pressure, angler preference, and harvest. Due to the
history of the walleye stocking program at Cagle's Mill Reservoir, the
main focus is on angler interest for walleye and walleye harvest.
METHODS
A personal contact angler survey was conducted at Cagle's Mill
Reservoir from April through October of 2001. A total of 147 days was
sampled during the period. Sampling areas included the Cunot boat
ramp, Lieber State Recreation Area boat ramp, the tailwater area, and
lower Cataract Falls at the extreme upper end of the lake.
Probabilities for these sampling sites are shown in Appendix 1. The
angler survey was conducted using a non-uniform probability design. A
single angler analyst was employed for the survey. Sampling was
divided into two 7.5 hour periods: morning (6:30am to 2pm) and evening
(2pm to 9:30pm). These periods were based on probabilities generated
from previous creel surveys (0.25 for morning periods and 0.75 for
evenings). The probabilities used for fishing activity were 0.051 for
weekends and 0.025 for weekdays.
The angler analyst interviewed anglers upon completion of their
fishing trips. Trip length, number of anglers in each party, angler
preference, and county of residence were recorded for each party. At
times, many anglers were leaving the lake at the same time, so all of
them could not be interviewed. The angler analyst listed the number of
anglers that had completed their day of fishing but were not
interviewed for each day. Harvested fish were identified, counted, and
measured to the nearest 0.5 inch. Anglers were asked to recall the
number and approximate size of any walleye or largemouth bass
released. Anglers were asked whether they were aware of the walleye
stocking program at Cagle's Mill Reservoir and if they were satisfied
with the lake's fishery.
Fishing pressure and fish harvest were estimated by month. These
estimates represented the fishing activity which occurred at the four
sites which were sampled, and do not include fishing activity at other
sites on the lake. Weights of harvested fish were estimated using both
central Indiana averages and length-weight regression tables.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Angling Effort
Estimated fishing pressure at Cagle's Mill Reservoir during the
seven month period of April through October of 2001 was 136,200 hours
(97 hours per acre) (Table 1). In 1996, angler effort at Cataract Lake
was around 83,000 hours. Far lower angler use occurred in 1996
compared to 2001 because of the high lake level from the end of April
to early August of 1996 which severely hampered the launching of
boats. In 2001, an estimated 31,259 anglers (22 per acre) fished at
Cagle's Mill compared to 20,504 (15 per acre) in 1996. In the present
survey, the months with the highest fishing pressure were May (26,873
hours), June (26,770), July (24,544), and April (23,271). Angler use
was extremely low in October (5,102 hours) due to poor weather
conditions and high water. Heavy rains forced the lake to begin rising
around October 10 and by the end of the month, the water level was
approximately 25 feet over the normal pool level.
Table 1. Monthly and season estimates of fishing
pressure, number of anglers,
and overall harvest rates, Cagle's Mill Reservoir, April 1 to
October 31, 2001. |
|
April
|
May
|
June
|
July
|
Aug.
|
Sept.
|
Oct.
|
TOTAL
|
| Fishing pressure (hours) |
23,271
|
26,873
|
26,770
|
24,544
|
16,328
|
13,312
|
5,102
|
136,200
|
| Fishing pressure (hrs./ac.) |
16.62
|
19.20
|
19.12
|
17.53
|
11.66
|
9.51
|
3.64
|
97.29
|
| Number of anglers |
6,426
|
5,797
|
5,309
|
5,439
|
4,465
|
2,714
|
1,109
|
31,259
|
| Number of anglers/acre |
4.59
|
4.14
|
3.79
|
3.89
|
3.19
|
1.94
|
0.79
|
22.33
|
| Harvest rate (fish/hour) |
0.319
|
0.369
|
0.154
|
0.173
|
0.244
|
0.342
|
0.694
|
0.277
|
Overall Harvest Rate
The overall harvest rate in the present survey was 0.277 fish per
hour compared to 0.438 per hour in 1996. Harvest rates were highest in
October (0.694 fish per hour), followed by May (0.369), September
(0.342), and April (0.319).
Harvest and Yield
An estimated 37,778 fish, which weighed 23,611 pounds, were
harvested from Cagle's Mill Reservoir from April to October, 2001
(Table 2). The overall harvest and yield estimates were 27.0 fish per
acre and 16.9 pounds per acre, respectively. Harvest and yield
estimates were very similar to that observed in 1996, 26.1 fish per
acre and 13.4 pounds per acre. The estimated harvest was highest in
May and April (Appendix 3).
|
Table 2. Summary of estimated harvest and yield data for
Cagle's Mill Reservoir, April 1 through October 31, 2001.
|
|
HARVEST |
YIELD |
| Species |
Number |
Percent |
Weight (lbs.) |
Percent |
| Crappie |
19,461 |
51.5 |
5,790 |
24.5 |
| White bass |
9,179 |
24.3 |
8,674 |
36.7 |
| Bluegill |
4,940 |
13.1 |
1,273 |
5.4 |
| Channel catfish |
2,693 |
7.1 |
4,536 |
19.2 |
| Walleye |
558 |
1.5 |
952 |
4.0 |
| Freshwater drum |
460 |
1.2 |
645 |
2.7 |
| Common Carp |
164 |
0.4 |
813 |
3.4 |
| Misc. sunfish |
118 |
0.3 |
17 |
0.1 |
| Flathead catfish |
77 |
0.2 |
671 |
2.8 |
| Largemouth bass |
76 |
0.2 |
151 |
0.6 |
| Bullhead |
45 |
0.1 |
16 |
0.1 |
| Blue catfish |
5 |
* |
61 |
0.3 |
| Buffalo |
2 |
* |
12 |
* |
| TOTAL |
37,778 |
|
23,611 |
|
| *Less than 0.1
percent . |
|
|
|
|
Angler Preference
Overall, one quarter of the anglers surveyed indicated they were
fishing strictly for crappie (Table 3). Crappie anglers were most
abundant in the spring and fall. Interest in crappie is up
considerably since 1996 when just over 13 percent of the anglers were
seeking this species. Catfish anglers accounted for 10.6 percent of
the angler use in the present survey compared to 6.7 percent in 1996.
Anglers who said they were fishing for "anything" that would
bite accounted for 10.6 percent of the use. Only 10 percent of the
anglers were fishing strictly for bass which is down from 16.3 percent
in 1996. Interest in walleye continues to increase at Cagle's Mill
Reservoir from just 0.9 percent in 1993 (Keller and Malwitz 1994), to
5.6 percent in 1996, and finally to 7.0 percent in 2001. An additional
7.3 percent of the anglers indicated they were fishing for walleye in
combination with another species in the present survey. Anglers
seeking white bass accounted for 5.4 percent of the use. In 1996, no
anglers indicated they were fishing for white bass. At that time, the
white bass population was just beginning to expand. The white bass
population is now well established which is leading to considerable
angler interest.
|
Table 3. Monthly and seasonal angler preference (percent of
all anglers)
by species at Cagle's Mill Reservoir, 2001.
|
| Preference |
April |
May |
June |
July |
Aug. |
Sept. |
Oct. |
TOTAL |
| Crappie |
43.9 |
32.4 |
12.3 |
8.8 |
8.2 |
43.3 |
36.7 |
25.5 |
| Other species or combinations |
1.0 |
6.4 |
24.3 |
18.8 |
2.7 |
7.5 |
23.6 |
10.7 |
| Catfish |
4.5 |
5.5 |
13.6 |
19.3 |
16.9 |
7.1 |
6.7 |
10.6 |
| Anything |
16.4 |
11.9 |
7.1 |
3.5 |
21.2 |
2.0 |
0.0 |
10.6 |
| Bass |
9.2 |
4.6 |
11.5 |
14.6 |
14.9 |
7.8 |
4.2 |
10.0 |
| Walleye |
6.6 |
7.3 |
7.9 |
6.5 |
7.4 |
5.3 |
8.4 |
7.0 |
| White bass |
2.8 |
10.1 |
0.7 |
6.9 |
5.9 |
3.3 |
14.4 |
5.4 |
| Walleye/Crappie |
5.8 |
6.5 |
6.0 |
1.9 |
3.5 |
5.6 |
3.9 |
4.9 |
| Crappie/Bluegill |
0.7 |
8.5 |
2.7 |
3.6 |
7.2 |
7.4 |
0.4 |
4.4 |
| Bluegill |
0.5 |
3.1 |
3.5 |
6.3 |
4.1 |
4.3 |
0.7 |
3.2 |
| Bass/Crappie |
3.8 |
2.4 |
2.2 |
4.0 |
1.5 |
2.0 |
* |
2.7 |
| Catfish/Crappie |
2.0 |
0.4 |
5.7 |
2.0 |
3.2 |
2.8 |
0.9 |
2.5 |
| Walleye/Bass |
1.8 |
0.1 |
1.7 |
2.7 |
2.4 |
1.0 |
* |
1.5 |
| Walleye/White bass |
1.2 |
0.8 |
0.8 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
0.6 |
* |
0.9 |
| *Less than 0.1 percent . |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Composition of the Harvest
Crappie
Crappie was the most harvested species by number (51.5 percent )
and second by weight (24.5 percent ). An estimated 19,461 crappie that
weighed 5,790 pounds were harvested during the seven month creel. In
1996, crappie ranked second in the harvest by number (25.4 percent ).
Harvested crappie ranged in length from 4.5 to 13.5 inches and
averaged 8.5 inches long (Appendix 4). In 1993, crappie harvest was
nearly 30,000 fish and the average fish harvested measured 8.9 inches
long. In 1996, crappie harvest was about half that in 2001, but the
average crappie harvested was 10.1 inches long. Approximately 45
percent of the crappie harvested in 2001 were caught in April and May.
The overall harvest rate for crappie was 0.143 per hour (Table 4). The
preference harvest rate is the rate of harvest of a species by anglers
fishing specifically for that species. Anglers fishing exclusively for
crappie harvested them at the rate of 0.423 fish per hour (Table 5).
|
Table 4. Monthly and seasonal overall harvest rates in fish
per hour at Cagle's Mill Reservoir, April 1 to October 31,
2001.
|
|
April |
May |
June |
July |
Aug. |
Sept. |
Oct. |
TOTAL
|
| Crappie |
0.174 |
0.176 |
0.035 |
0.075 |
0.095 |
0.280 |
0.512 |
0.143
|
| White bass |
0.110 |
0.086 |
0.007 |
0.062 |
0.071 |
0.041 |
0.178 |
0.067
|
| Bluegill |
0.025 |
0.069 |
0.049 |
0.006 |
0.056 |
0.007 |
* |
0.036
|
| Channel catfish |
0.004 |
0.025 |
0.044 |
0.018 |
0.013 |
0.009 |
* |
0.020
|
| Walleye |
0.003 |
0.006 |
0.005 |
0.003 |
0.003 |
0.004 |
0.001 |
0.004
|
| Freshwater drum |
* |
0.005 |
0.002 |
0.008 |
0.004 |
* |
0.001 |
0.003
|
| Common carp |
* |
0.001 |
0.005 |
* |
* |
0.001 |
* |
0.001
|
| Misc. sunfish |
0.001 |
* |
0.004 |
* |
* |
* |
* |
0.001
|
| Flathead catfish |
0.001 |
0.001 |
0.001 |
* |
* |
* |
* |
0.001
|
| Largemouth bass |
* |
0.001 |
0.001 |
* |
0.001 |
* |
0.001 |
0.001
|
| Bullhead |
* |
* |
0.002 |
* |
* |
* |
* |
*
|
| Blue catfish |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
*
|
| Buffalo |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
*
|
|
0.319 |
0.369 |
0.154 |
0.173 |
0.244 |
0.342 |
0.694 |
0.277
|
|
*Less than 0.001 fish per hour.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Table 5. Monthly and seasonal preference harvest and catch
rates in fish per hour for the main species harvested at
Cagle's Mill Reservoir, April 1 to Octoer 31, 2001.
|
|
April |
May |
June |
July |
Aug. |
Sept. |
Oct. |
TOTAL |
| Crappie (harvest) |
0.317 |
0.319 |
0.181 |
0.683 |
0.653 |
0.529 |
0.860 |
0.423 |
| White bass (harvest) |
1.574 |
0.268 |
0.000 |
0.886 |
0.811 |
0.783 |
1.046 |
0.666 |
| Bluegill (harvest) |
0.099 |
0.056 |
0.576 |
0.000 |
1.256 |
0.040 |
0.000 |
0.400 |
| Channel catfish (harvest) |
0.051 |
0.157 |
0.052 |
0.060 |
0.028 |
0.056 |
0.000 |
0.058 |
| Walleye (catch) |
0.044 |
0.194 |
0.101 |
0.142 |
0.066 |
0.113 |
0.000 |
0.107 |
| Largemouth bass (catch) |
0.155 |
0.388 |
0.189 |
0.088 |
0.094 |
0.209 |
0.114 |
0.162 |
White Bass
An estimated 9,179 white bass (24.3 percent of the total harvest),
which weighed nearly 8,700 pounds (36.7 percent of the total yield),
were harvested during the survey period. White bass was the second
most harvested species by number and the most abundant by weight.
There were no white bass harvested in 1993 and just 439 were taken in
1996. In the present survey, harvested white bass ranged in length
from 8 to 16.5 inches and averaged 12.8 inches. The overall harvest
rate of white bass was 0.067 per hour and the preference harvest rate
was 0.666 per hour. Over half of the white bass harvested during the
seven month survey were taken in April and May.
Bluegill
Bluegill ranked third in the harvest by number (13.1 percent ) and
fourth by weight (5.4 percent ). The 4,940 bluegill harvested that
weighed an estimated 1,273 pounds is just a quarter of the bluegill
harvest and yield Cagle's Mill produced in 1996. Bluegill were
harvested up to 8 inches long and averaged 7.0 inches. The overall
bluegill harvest rate was 0.036 per hour and the preference harvest
rate was 0.400 per hour. Nearly two thirds of the bluegill harvest
occurred in May and June which is typically the spawning time for this
species. Due to the poor quality of bluegill in gizzard shad dominated
lakes, it is not surprising that only 3.2 percent of the anglers were
targeting bluegill.
Catfish
An estimated 2,693 channel catfish, which weighed 4,536 pounds,
were harvested from April to October. Channel cats ranked fourth in
the harvest by number (7.1 percent ) and third by weight (19.2 percent
). Harvest and yield of channels was very similar to that observed in
1996. The largest channel catfish removed measured 29 inches long
while the average channel was 16.3 inches.
It was estimated that seventy-seven flathead catfish were harvested
that collectively weighed 671 pounds. The largest flathead observed
measured 47.5 inches long and weighed 71 pounds. Other members of the
catfish family harvested included an estimated 45 bullheads and five
blue catfish. Blue catfish have never been found in Cataract Lake. It
is possible that there are a few blue cats in the lake, or the single
fish observed was a large channel catfish mistakenly identified as a
blue catfish.
The overall harvest rate of catfish (all species combined) was
0.020 per hour. The preference harvest rate for catfish was 0.058 per
hour. Nearly 44 percent of all the catfish harvested were taken in
June.
Walleye
A total of 558 walleye (1.5 percent of the harvest by number),
which weighed 952 pounds (4.0 percent of the yield), was harvested at
Cagle's Mill in 2001. In 1996, it was estimated that 1,742 walleye
were harvested from the lake that collectively weighed over 2,100
pounds. In the present survey, harvested walleye ranged in length from
11 to 26.5 inches and averaged 16.0 inches. Approximately 14 percent
of the walleye harvested were smaller than the 14 inch minimum size
limit. The overall walleye harvest rate was 0.004 fish per hour.
Anglers were asked to recall the numbers and sizes of released
walleye. An estimated 4,487 walleye less than 14 inches were released
while 169 were longer than 14 inches (Table 6). Preference catch rate
is similar to preference harvest rate, but preference catch includes
both harvest and any released fish. The overall preference catch rate
for walleye was 0.107 per hour. Anglers specifically targeting walleye
were most successful at catching their preferred species in May (0.194
per hour) and July (0.142 per hour).
|
Table 6. Monthly and seasonal catch and release for walleye
and
largemouth bass, Cagle's Mill Reservoir, April 1 to October
31, 2001.
|
|
April |
May |
June |
July |
Aug. |
Sept. |
Oct. |
TOTAL |
| Walleye <14 released |
1064 |
2490 |
423 |
181 |
160 |
70 |
99 |
4487 |
| Release rate |
0.046 |
0.093 |
0.016 |
0.007 |
0.010 |
0.005 |
0.019 |
0.033 |
| Walleye >=14 released |
14 |
21 |
12 |
108 |
- |
- |
14 |
169 |
| Release rate |
0.001 |
0.001 |
0.000 |
0.004 |
- |
- |
0.003 |
0.001 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Largemouth <14 released |
1786 |
2919 |
1043 |
677 |
1366 |
824 |
179 |
8794 |
| Release rate |
0.077 |
0.109 |
0.039 |
0.028 |
0.084 |
0.062 |
0.035 |
0.065 |
| Largemouth >=14 released |
39 |
121 |
139 |
300 |
149 |
129 |
14 |
891 |
| Release rate |
0.002 |
0.005 |
0.005 |
0.012 |
0.009 |
0.010 |
0.003 |
0.007 |
Freshwater Drum
A total of 460 freshwater drum was harvested that weighed 645
pounds. Harvested drum ranged in length from 9.5 to 23.5 inches and
averaged 13.6 inches. No drum were observed harvested in 1993, but
they were commonly harvested in 1996. While freshwater drum is a
species usually associated with rivers, the species has recently
established a considerable population in the lake.
Largemouth Bass
Only 76 largemouth bass were estimated to be harvested at Cagle's
Mill in 2001 that weighed an estimated 151 pounds. Lengths of
harvested largemouth ranged from 13.5 to 18 inches and averaged 15.5
inches. Only three of the bass harvested were less than the 14 inch
minimum size limit. Anglers indicated they had released 8,794
sub-legal bass and 891 bass that were 14 inches or longer. The number
of bass harvested and the number of legal size bass released in the
present survey is about 40 percent of that observed in 1996. The
number of sub-legal bass released in the present survey is about 7
percent higher than in 1996. Bass preference catch rates ranged from a
low of 0.088 per hour in July to a high of 0.388 per hour in May. The
overall preference catch rate of bass was 0.162 per hour compared to
0.426 per hour in 1996.
Other Species
Other species harvested include common carp, miscellaneous sunfish
(probably mostly longear sunfish), and buffalo. Collectively, it is
estimated that the harvest of these various species comprised 0.8
percent of the total harvest by number and 3.6 percent by weight.
Economic Value of the Fishery
The cost of an average Indiana fishing trip, which includes bait,
tackle, food, lodging, licenses, transportation, etc., is estimated to
be $50.55 per fishing trip according to a survey of sport fishing
activities conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the
American Sportfishing Association (Maharaj and Carpenter 1996).
Therefore, it is estimated that the 31,259 anglers that visited
Cagle's Mill Reservoir from April through October of 2001 spent nearly
$1.6 million. An estimated 2,188 anglers were fishing strictly for
walleye during the survey period. Therefore, walleye anglers alone
spent approximately $110,600. The average cost to raise walleye fry
for stocking in 1998 was $0.0005 per fish (Annual Production Report
1998). Therefore, at the current stocking rate of 2.8 million walleye
fry per year, the cost to stock Cagle's Mill each year is
approximately $1,400. The cost to benefit ratio of the Cagle's Mill
walleye stocking is 1:79.
CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION
Walleye fishing was fairly poor at Cagle's Mill Reservoir in 2001
as the estimated harvest was just 558 fish that weighed 952 pounds.
Another 4,487 sub-legal walleye and 169 legal size walleye were
released. In 1996, approximately 1,700 walleye that collectively
weighed 2,100 pounds were harvested and another 2,325 sub-legal and
238 legal walleye were released. The average walleye harvested however
is up from 15.2 inches in 1996 to 16.0 inches in the present survey.
Despite poor walleye angling success in 2001, anglers pursuing walleye
continues to increase from 5.6 percent of all anglers in 1996 to 7.0
percent in 2001.
For a walleye fishery to be considered successful, at least one of
the following criteria must be met: harvest of one fish per acre, or
one pound per acre, or a minimum walleye fishing preference of 5
percent with a minimum catch rate of 0.10 walleye per hour by anglers
targeting walleye (Andrews et. al. 1994). The 2001 seven month period
at Cagle's Mill achieved just 40 percent of the harvest goal and 68
percent of the yield goal. Only one goal was achieved in 2001 since 7
percent of all anglers were targeting walleye and they caught their
preferred species at the rate of 0.107 per hour. In 1996, all three
success criteria were exceeded.
It is recommended that walleye stockings continue at Cagle's Mill
at the rate of 2.8 million fry (2,000 per acre) annually. A fall
survey focusing on walleye stocking success, survival, and growth will
be conducted in 2002.
Crappie populations tend to be very cyclic which means they have
distinct peaks and low points in their population. These peaks and
valleys in the crappie population are primarily due to the variability
in spawning success from year to year. It appears as though the
crappie population in Cagle's Mill Reservoir in 2001 was around the
midpoint in the cycle (harvest of over 19,000). The crappie population
was likely near its peak in 1993 when nearly 30,000 were harvested.
The harvest of approximately 9,000 crappie in 1996 is likely a low
point in the population. The average crappie harvested was less than 9
inches long in 1993 and 2001. When crappie harvest was at its lowest
in 1996, the average crappie harvested was over 10 inches long.
The white bass population continues to expand dramatically. No
white bass were harvested in 1993 and just 439 were harvested in 1996.
In 2001, nearly 9,000 white bass were harvested. Despite the
tremendous increase in the white bass population, growth is still very
good and the fish are attaining a large size. The average white bass
harvested in 2001 was nearly 13 inches long. Anglers have also noticed
the quality white bass population as approximately 5.4 percent of the
anglers visiting Cataract Lake in 2001 were seeking this species.
Bluegill harvest was extremely low at Cagle's Mill Reservoir in
2001 compared to recent surveys while the size of harvested bluegill
remains fairly poor. The estimated bluegill harvested was around
23,000 in 1993 and 20,000 in 1996. In the present survey, only about
5,000 bluegill were harvested. In all three surveys, the average
bluegill harvested ranged from just 7.0 to 7.3 inches long.
The largemouth bass population at Cagle's Mill appears to be
declining based on the 2001 creel survey. A survey of the entire fish
community in 2000 also noticed a dramatic drop in the bass population
compared to previous surveys. While the number of sub-legal largemouth
released is nearly identical to that observed in 1993 and 1996, the
number of released legal bass is about 40 percent to 50 percent of
that observed in the previous two surveys. More and more anglers are
voluntarily releasing legal size bass, so it does not appear that
angler mortality is the reason for the decline in the largemouth bass
population. In 1993, 30 percent of the legal size bass caught were
harvested. The percentage of legal bass caught that were harvested
fell to 17 percent in 1996 and finally to 8 percent in 2001. Bass
sampling is planned for either the spring of 2003 or 2004 to determine
the status of the bass population and to gather more information on
growth. A survey of the entire fish community at Cagle's Mill
Reservoir is planned for late May of 2004.
The best fishing opportunities provided at Cagle's Mill Reservoir
will be for crappie, catfish, white bass, and walleye. Anglers should
be aware that the minimum size limit for walleye is 14 inches and
there is a six fish bag limit. Bass fishing will be fair, and anglers
are encouraged to return all bass unharmed, even those that are larger
than the 14 inch size limit. Bluegill fishing will likely be poor not
only in the numbers available to be harvested, but also in the quality
of the catch.
LITERATURE CITED
Andrews, S. et.al. 1994. Walleye Management in Indiana: Current
Problems and Strategies. Division of Fish and Wildlife. Indianapolis.
39pp.
Dorsett, M.J. 1997. Evaluation of the Fish Community, Fish
Stockings, and Harvest at Cagle's Mill Reservoir, 1996 Fish Management
Report. Division of Fish and Wildlife. Indianapolis. 40pp.
Fisheries Section, Indiana Department of Natural Resources. 1998.
Annual Report for Indiana's State Fish Hatcheries, 1998. Division of
Fish and Wildlife, Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Indianapolis. 123pp.
Keller, D.C. 2001. Evaluation of the Fish Community and Walleye
Stockings in Cagle's Mill Reservoir, 2000 Fish Management Report.
Division of Fish and Wildlife. Indianapolis. 24pp.
Keller D.C. and J. Malwitz. 1994. Evaluation of Cagle's Mill
Reservoir Hybrid Striped Bass and Walleye Stockings and Fish Harvest,
1993 Fish Management Report. Division of Fish and Wildlife.
Indianapolis. 27pp.
Maharaj, V. and J.E. Carpenter. 1996. The 1996 Economic Impact of
Sport Fishing in Indiana. American Sportfishing Association.
Alexandria, Virginia. 10pp.
APPENDIX
| Sampling Site Probability |
| Location |
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Probability |
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