Big Bass Lake 174 Acres
Mean Depth 5 feet
Max Depth 13 feet
FISHERIES MANAGEMENT……………..….. we make fishing better
Big Bass Lake Management History







In 1952 the lake was stocked with 2m walleye fry and was to be
used as a rearing pond. No results were found.
In 1955 a survey found numerous walleye present from the single
stocking.
However in 1957 the lake was treated to kill the fish population and
restocked with NP in 1959.
A in 1968 showed the most common fish were YP, PKS, bullheads,
and white suckers, max size for YP was 6.3” and PKS ranged to 5.9”
4 largemouth bass were caught and ranged (11.5 to 14.9”)
1 NP was caught (25.5”)
NP were stocked throughout the last 60 years, but they do not
appear to reproduce well in Big Bass Lake.
FISHERIES MANAGEMENT……………..….. we make fishing better
Big Bass Lake
Stocking History
FISHERIES MANAGEMENT……………..….. we make fishing better
Big Bass Species from UWSP Report 2012
Big Bass 2012
Comparison of Fyke Net Catch for Big Bass Lake
Species
2005
2000
CPE (Number of
Number CPE (Number of
of Fish Fish per Net/Night) Fish per Net/Night)
(2005)
Black Crappie
37
6
3
Bluegill
543
91
615
Green Sunfish
1
0
2
Largemouth
Bass
Yellow Perch
216
36
15
2
0.33
0.25
Big Bass Lake
Netting Bluegill
Count (number)
300
250
200
2006
2012
150
100
50
0
3
4
5
6
7
Length (inches)
8
9
10
Bluegill captured by electrofishing fall 2005
45
40
35
Count (number)
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
5.5
6
Length (inches)
6.5
7
7.5
8
Average Length (inches)
9
8
7
6
5
4
Bluegill
3
Central Lakes
2
1
0
2
3
4
5
Age
6
7
Big Bass Lake Netting
Largemouth Bass
Count (number)
6
5
4
2012
3
2006
2
1
0
Length (inches)
Largemouth Bass captured by electrofishing 2005
3.5
3
Count (number)
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Length (inches)
13
14
15
16
17
18
Average Length (inches)
25
20
15
Largemouth Bass
10
Central Lakes
5
0
3
4
5
6
Age
8
9
Count (number)
Big Bass Lake Spring Netting
Yellow Perch
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
2006
2012
7.0
8.0
9.0
10.0
Length (inches)
11.0
12.0
10
Average Length (inches)
9
8
7
6
5
4
Yellow Perch
3
2
Central Lakes
1
0
2
3
4
Age
5
Walleye captured by Fyke Net 2006 Big Bass Lake
4.5
4
3.5
Count (number)
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
20
20.5
21
21.5
Length (inches)
22
22.5
23
PSD = (# >stock size / # > quality) x 100
RSD = (# >stock size / # > preferred or
other size) x 100
Species
Length Categories (Inches)
(Stock/Quality/Preferred)
Black Crappie
5/8/10
Bluegill
3/6/8
Yellow Perch
5/8/10
Largemouth bass
8/12/15
Northern Pike
14/21/28
Walleye
10/15/20
Stock Density for selected Species Big Bass Lake
Species
PSD
RSDP
Preferred (inches)
Bluegill
81
2
8
Walleye
100
100
18
Largemouth bass
57
29
15
Yellow perch
87
7
10
Big Bass Lake
Management Goals



Primary Objective:
 Bluegill PSD Reduce from 81%
 Maintain 35-60%
 Maintain LMB PSD from 40-60% current = 57%
Secondary Objective:
 Panfish RSD to > 20% current = 2%
 Maintain LMB RSD to >20% current = 29%
Regulations


LMB have a slot limit: 3 bag, 14 to 18 inch closed slot, 1 fish
may be > 18 inches
Proposed Panfish: 5 bag, >7 inches.
Big Bass Habitat




Fisheries recommends more woody
material in water and near shore
Do not recommend Fish Cribs – the deep
water is limited and they might
concentrate fish too much
Restoring the native vegetation to the
shoreline.
And preserve the existing natural shoreline
Wadley Lake 46 Acres
Mean Depth 9 feet
Max Depth 27 feet
Wadley Lake Management History







In 1960s there was an attempt to stock walleye and produce a
naturally reproducing population.
Walleye were stocked in 1960, 62, 64, and 66 at a rate of 9,000
fingerlings per year.
Only 1 walleye was collected in the 1967 lake survey and it was
recommended that the stockings be discontinued.
Wadley Lake was considered a LMB/Panfish lake and has had no
other fishery management activities other than stocking
There were attempts to establish NP thru stocking in later years
In 2009 we attempted to place a more restrictive bass regulation on
the lake: but the proposal did not get forwarded to hearing.
DNR has not completed a full net survey of this lake since 1976.
But has worked on the lake using electrofishing
FISHERIES MANAGEMENT……………..….. we make fishing better
Wadley Lake
Stocking History
Wadley Lake
Species List
UWSP 2012
Wadley Lake
Bluegill
25
Number
20
15
EF 2006
Fyke Net 2012
10
5
0
3
4
5
6
Length (inches)
2006
2012
PSD
65
13
RSD8
3
0
7
8
2009
2012
PSD
62
73
RSD14
25
40
Largemouth Bass (Length at Age)
Spring Survey
Statewide Average
Onland
Wadley
Average Length (inches)
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
2
3
4
Age
5
6
Relative Weights for LMB for Wadley Lake averaged 80%
The WRs should average around 100%
This was one reason we were requesting a regulation change
Wadley Lake LMB WRs
130
Relative Weight
120
110
100
90
80
70
60
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Length (inches)
16
17
18
19
20
21
Wadley Lake
Management Goals



Primary Objective:
 Maintain Bluegill PSD 35-60% current = 13%
 Maintain LMB PSD from 40-60%. current = 73%
Secondary Objective:
 Bluegill RSD to > 20% current = 0%
 LMB RSD to >20% * current = 40%
Regulations


LMB have a slot limit: 3 bag, 14 to 18 inch closed slot, 1 fish
may be > 18 inches
Proposed Panfish: 5 bag, >7 inches.
Wadley Lake Fish Habitat




2014 a fish crib permit was issued to
extend a project started a few years ago.
Maintain woody debris in water
Add to tree drops in water
Maintain the native vegetation in the lake
which Konkel described as high quality but
of poor diversity.
Bluegill

Remove vegetation in a radial pattern.




Maintain emergent vegetation


Size structure of bluegill improved
Natural mortality decreased
Overall there was an increase in the quality of the
bluegill fishery
Male bluegill select this vegetation type
Largemouth Bass
Vegetation is important winter habitat for
juvenile bass



Juvenile bass exhibited best growth when coverage
was 20% of littoral zone
Proper open space was critical in getting bass at
60mm to switch to fish.
This enhances the first years growth significantly.
Vegetation Recommendations for
Enhancement of Fisheries




Re-establish beds of emergent vegetation
Cut or treat in radials
Allow more vegetation within the 1.5-5.0’
littoral zone.
Leave dead timber in the water