COLUMBIA CITY - March 19, 2004 - State fisheries biologists plan to take an in-depth look at the number and size of adult muskies in Loon Lake this year and assess their long-term impacts on fishing quality at the 222-acre natural lake. According to Jed Pearson, Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) biologist, muskie fingerlings have been stocked in Loon Lake at various densities and sizes since 1978. As many as 1,100 fingerlings averaging 10-14 inches long are now stocked each fall at the rate of five per acre. Pearson says the initial muskie stockings were made at the request of the local property owners association whose members were interested in adding a large predator to the lake to feed on small bluegills and increase sport fishing opportunities. Although periodic surveys conducted by the DFW from 1982 through 2000 indicated muskies have had little effect on the native fish community at Loon Lake, anglers routinely catch muskies there over 40 inches long. “Loon Lake is a pretty popular lake among muskie fishermen,” says Pearson, “but we don’t have a lot of information on how many muskies are actually out there, how big they are, how many fishermen fish for them, and how many are caught.” “We also need to update our information on the numbers and sizes of other fish in the lake,” says Pearson. From mid-March through mid-April, DFW biologists will set traps in Loon Lake to capture as many muskies as possible. By individually marking each muskie before release, they hope to estimate the overall number in the lake. Beginning in mid-April and continuing through October, a creel clerk will be stationed periodically at the lake to count and interview anglers. The results will be used to estimate total fishing effort and catch, and determine the level of interest in muskie fishing. A similar creel survey was conducted back in 1983. During May, biologists plan to estimate the number and size of largemouth bass, Loon Lake’s other main predator fish. Bass will be captured at night using an electrofishing boat, measured, marked and then released unharmed. “We’ll also take a complete look at the entire fish community in July, similar to what we’ve done in the past,” says Pearson. “Then in late fall, we’ll come back to do some specialized sampling for young muskies.” Pearson says muskies stocked in Loon Lake are produced in state fish hatcheries and are paid for with funds generated from fishing license sales. “By conducting these types of in-depth studies, we make sure we’re spending the money wisely,” he says. CONTACT: Jed Pearson, fisheries biologist Tri-Lakes Fisheries Station 5570 N Hatchery Road Columbia City, IN 46725 TX: 260-691-3181 FX: 260-691-3494