WISCONSIN DNR FISHERIES INFORMATION SHEET

LAKE: MANSON

COUNTY: ONEIDA

YEAR: 2006

The Department of Natural Resources surveyed Manson Lake, Oneida County, from April 13 through June 8, 2006, to determine the health of its fishery. The survey was designed to take a comprehensive look at the lake's fishery. Manson Lake is a soft water drainage lake with predominantly sand substrate and substantial areas of rubble, boulders and gravel. Manson Lake has a low-density walleye population. It has a surface area of 236 acres, 3.6 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 54 feet.

Adult Walleye Population Estimate Length Frequency Distribution Manson Lake, Oneida County, Spring 2006 120

Number

80

40

Walleye We conducted a mark-recapture survey of Manson Lake's adult walleye population from April 13-16, 2006. We captured and marked (fin clipped) 170 adult walleye in four days of fyke netting. A crew sampled Manson Lake with an electro-fishing boat on April 16 and captured 21 adult walleye. Nearly half (10 of 21) of those walleye bore the fin clip given during fyke netting.
25 27 29

0 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 Length (Inches) 21 23

Figure 1. Length frequency distribution of 298 adult walleye estimated to be in Manson Lake, Oneida County, based on a spring 2006 survey.

* Note: Adult walleye are defined as all sexable walleye and walleye of unknown sex > 15 inches long.

Based on those results, we estimated that Manson Lake is home to 298 adult walleye (1.3 /acre). Approximately 25% (73 0f 298) of adult walleye were 15 inches long or larger. The largest walleye we captured was a 25.7-inch female.

Smallmouth Bass We captured 213 smallmouth bass, 8 inches or larger, during our fyke netting and electro-fishing sampling of Manson Lake. Approximately 8% (16 of 213) of those smallmouth were 14 inches long or larger. The biggest smallmouth bass we captured was 20.2 inches long.
Number

Smallmouth Bass Length Frequency Distribution Manson Lake, Oneida County Spring 2006 Survey 66

44

22

0 8 10 12 14 16 18 Length (Inches) 20 22 24

Figure 2. Length frequency distribution of 213 smallmouth bass, 8" or larger, captured during a survey of Manson Lake, Oneida County, in a spring 2006 survey.

Largemouth Bass Length Frequency Distribution Manson Lake, Oneida County Spring 2006 Survey 30

Number

20

Largemouth Bass We captured 164 largemouth bass, 8 inches or larger, during our fyke netting and electro-fishing sampling of Manson Lake. Approximately 20% (33 of 164) of those largemouth were 14 inches long or larger. The biggest largemouth bass we captured was 18.4 inches long.

10

0 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 Length (Inches)

Figure 3. Length frequency distribution of 164 largemouth bass, 8" or larger, captured during a fisheries survey of Manson Lake, Oneida County, in spring 2006.

Drafted: June 7, 2006 By: Mike Coshun

File: Manson_Spring_Summary_2006

Northern Pike We captured 32 adult northern pike in fyke nets fished in Manson Lake from April 13-16, 2006. Approximately 84% (27 of 32) of adult northern pike we captured were less than 26 inches long. The largest northern pike we captured was a 29.7-inch female.

Adult Northern Pike Length Frequency Distribution Manson Lake, Oneida County Spring 2006 Fyke Net Catch 6

Number

* Note: Adult northern pike are defined as all sexable northern pike and northern pike of unknown sex > 12 inches long.

13

17

21

25 29 33 Length (Inches)

37

41

45

49

Figure 4. Length frequency distribution of 32 adult northern pike captured in fyke nets during a fisheries survey of Manson Lake, Oneida County, in spring 2006.

Adult Muskellunge Length Frequency Distribution Manson Lake, Oneida County Spring 2006 Survey 6

Number

Muskellunge We captured 12 adult muskellunge during our fyke netting and electro-fishing sampling of Manson Lake. Two-thirds of the adult muskellunge (8 of 12) we captured were 34 inches long or larger. The largest muskellunge we captured was a 40-inch female.
* Note: Adult muskellunge are defined as all sexable muskellunge and muskellunge of unknown sex > 20 inches long.

0 20 24 28 32 36 Length (Inches) 40 44 48

Figure 5. Length frequency distribution of 12 adult muskellunge captured during a fisheries survey of Manson Lake, Oneida County, in spring 2006.

Other Species We captured 10 species of fish in our fyke netting and electro-fishing sampling of Manson Lake in addition to the game fish mentioned above. Bluegill, rock bass and yellow perch were the most common species in our fyke net catches. We caught moderate numbers of black crappie and pumpkinseed. We also captured black bullhead, golden shiner, green sunfish, white sucker and yellow bullhead. Young-of-year walleye will be sampled in fall 2006. We are also conducting a creel (angler harvest) survey on Manson Lake this year. Creel clerk David Stahmer will count and interview anglers and examine their catch throughout the 2006 open-water fishing season.

Table 1. General Fishing Regulations for Manson Lake, Oneida County, 2006
FISH SPECIES Walleye Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass Muskellunge Northern Pike OPEN SEASON May 6 - March 4 May 6 - June 16 (C&R) June 17 - March 4 (Harvest) May 27 - Nov. 30 May 6 - March 4 DAILY LIMIT 3 None 5 in total 1 5 MINIMUM LENGTH 15 inches 14 inches 34 inches None

A brief summary of selected fishing regulations for Manson Lake is included above (Table 1). While the regulatory information provided was current at the time the surveys were conducted, it is not comprehensive and should not be used as a substitute for the current fishing regulation pamphlet. You may obtain a copy of current fishing regulations when you purchase your fishing license, or download a copy from our web site at:
http://www.dnr.wi.gov/fish/regulations/

This report is interim only; data and findings should not be considered final. Results of creel surveys should be available by June 2007. If you are interested in a summary of the creel survey or want an update on this years fyke netting and electro-fishing survey results, contact: Mike Coshun, Treaty Fisheries Biologist Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 8770 Highway J Woodruff, WI 54568 (715) 358-9209 Email: Michael.Coshun@Wisconsin.gov

For answers to questions about fisheries management activities and plans for Manson Lake, Oneida County, contact: John Kubisiak, Fisheries Biologist Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 107 Sutliff Avenue Rhinelander, WI 54501 (715) 365-8919 Email: JohnF1.Kubisiak@Wisconsin.gov

Drafted: June 7, 2006 By: Mike Coshun

File: Manson_Spring_Summary_2006