2018 electrofishing assessment released
By John Faucher
A three-year post-drawdown survey of Black Otter Lake revealed bigger and better bluegill and largemouth bass populations, according to the 2018 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Electrofishing Assessment Report.
DNR Senior Fisheries Biologist Ryan Koenigs and DNR fisheries staff conducted the assessment on the lake last May.
Black Otter Lake, geographically nestled in the center of Hortonville, had been drawn down in 2008 for aquatic plant treatment and again in 2015 for dam repairs.
Koenigs said previous to the recent report, the last assessment had been done in 2016, when technicians were only able to sample weed edges offshore because of dense aquatic vegetation.
“This year’s assessment was less affected by dense aquatic vegetation than the last, and we were actually able to shock along the majority of the shoreline,” Koenigs said in the report.
In May, technicians sampled 2.3 miles of the 75-acre lake with electrofishing equipment.
Black Otter Lake has a total of 3.2 miles of shoreline.
“We had some pretty impressive results with high catch rates of bluegill and largemouth bass and a nice size structure for bass,” Koenigs said in the report.
He said largemouth bass catch rates increased “drastically” from 2016 and had reached the near pre-draw down levels of 2008, particularly for legal size fish.
“As a result we will be ceasing our bass stocking efforts,” the report said.
The DNR and Black Otter Lake District have continued bass and panfish stocking efforts since the drawdown.
Bass caught in the 2018 assessment ranged in sizes from 3 inches to 21.5 inches.
Bluegill and pumpkinseed sunfish abundance ratings were high as well while black crappie and yellow perch catch ratings were low.
Bluegills caught ranged in size from 2 to 8.5 inches and pumpkinseed sunfish from 3.5 to 7.1 inches. Perch ranged from 5.6 to 11 inches and black crappies were 7.5 to 9 inches.
According to the report, the next survey will be conducted in three to five years.
It also states the DNR will continue working with the lake district to evaluate best management practices for aquatic plant management.
Weed harvester grant
Last August, the Black Otter Lake District board approved purchasing a 2018 Eco-Cutter weed harvester with a conveyor and trailer for $89,898.
It plans to sell its current harvester, which is in need of critical repairs, according to Al Habeck, president of the Black Otter Lake District.
In December, the lake district applied for a DNR grant that would help fund the purchase of the harvester.
The Hortonville Village Board authorized Village Administrator David DeTroye to help author the grant.
The application deadline was Feb. 1, with a determination meeting set for April 9 at Rib Mountain.
DeTroye wrote in an email to the Press Star Tuesday, Feb. 5: “No grant is a slam dunk, and it usually comes down to what monies have been allocated. Being the only recreational lake in Outagamie helps, a fishing retreat helps the cause as well.”
After an initial review in March, a Black Otter Lake District group representative will meet with the state weed commissioner in Wausau to make the group’s case for funding.
“At this meeting a decision is made as to success or failure and a dollar value granted. At that point [Black Otter Lake District] will need to pay the balance forward and arrange for delivery,” DeTroye said.