From Aaron J. Cole – Wisconsin DNR (9/2/2014):
Largon Lake was not on the list to receive northern pike. We collected three northern pike when we did the winterkill investigation. Northern pike do not sample well with electrofishing gear, so getting three pike is a good sign that there should be an adequate pike population to repopulate on their own.
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Aaron J. Cole
Phone: (715) 637-6864
Aaron.Cole@Wisconsin.gov
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From Aaron J. Cole – Wisconsin DNR (8/28/2014):
Hi Shannon:
I included Marv Marshall on this email because I have been talking to him also and thought it would be best if I got you both up to speed at once.
As outlined in the email string below, I put Largon Lake on the stocking quotas for largemouth bass and bluegill. The DNR hatchery folks were able to stock the largemouth bass into Largon Lake last week. The full stocking request was filled- 3375 largemouth bass got stocked. The average length was 3.2”.
We do not know at this time if there will be bluegills available to stock from the Genoa hatchery. Essentially we get whatever is left from the Genoa hatchery after they stock whatever they need to. Therefore, we have no idea what is available until they harvest their ponds and stock what they need to. The only way to be sure to get fish is if you guys purchase bluegills from a fish farmer.
If this is something you are interested in doing, the first thing you need to do is find a fish farmer. I cannot point you to a certain farmer, so here is a link to the Wisconsin Aquaculture association website where you can search for a fish farmer by specifying from the drop down boxes.
http://www.wisconsinaquaculture.com/Search_For_WAA_Members.cfm
Next, you will need to submit a private stocking permit. Here is the link to the private stocking permits:
http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/stocking/
Scroll down to “WDNR Fish Stocking Permit Application”. I recommend doing the online version. Once you submit it I will review it and issue you the permit by mail.
Fish are usually stocked out in the fall, so fish farms don’t have to hold fish over through winter. I would look around and talk to a few of the fish farmers to see what their prices of bluegill run. Typically we stock bluegills at a rate of 100 fish/acre. There is no reason to stock more than that.
Please let me know if you have any other questions.
We are committed to service excellence.
Visit our survey at http://dnr.wi.gov/customersurvey to evaluate how I did.
Aaron J. Cole
Fisheries Biologist – Bureau of Fisheries Management
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
127 South 4th St., Barron, WI 54812
Phone: (715) 637-6864
Aaron.Cole@Wisconsin.gov
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From Aaron J. Cole – Wisconsin DNR:
In the recent winterkill investigation we did (shocking), we saw three northern pike and two crappies. All of those fish were adults which will be spawning this year. That is really good. Our shocking is only a sample of the fish in the lake, our shocking does not sample everything. As I explained to Paul earlier, we typically target northern pike with fyke nets, not electrofishing gear. So the northern pike population is likely higher than what it appears. Northern pike and black crappie are two common sportfish species that can withstand low dissolved oxygen. We did see white sucker, central mudminnow, and fathead minnow. Based on the species we did see and the lack of largemouth bass and bluegill, there was no doubt a fairly substantial winterkill that occurred on Largon Lake this last winter.
I will put a stocking quota together for largemouth bass and bluegill for a three year period. The largemouth bass are raised at a DNR hatchery and we are usually able to get what we request. However, the bluegills are raised at a federal Fish and Wildlife Service hatchery, so we usually get what we can…if we can. If we are not able to get bluegills from the federal hatchery, a potential option would be for your group to put some money together and purchase some bluegills to stock from a private producer. You will have to submit a private stocking permit, but that is easy and free. I can help you out with that if this time comes.
Aaron J. Cole
Fisheries Biologist-Barron and Polk counties
Bureau of Fisheries Management
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
phone: (715) 637-6864
e-mail: Aaron.Cole@Wisconsin.gov
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April 28, 2014, from Marvin Marshall:
Our Polk and Barron County Fish Manager and Biologist is out all week on surveys. They are setting nets which is quite successful in catching walleyes, muskies and northern pikes..
He did return my call this afternoon though. Aaron Cole says many lakes experienced fish kill this winter which was abnormally bad due to the early ice and all the snow and the late ice out. He indicated that in late May or early June they will take their shocking boat which temporarily stuns the fish on Largon to assess the fish population to see what is left, and it is rare that they have to restock, but they will do it if necessary.
When questioned about some large northerns and bass near the pump house, he said that the bigger the fish, the more oxygen they need. There were no dead bullheads that I saw.
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Apr 27, 2014, from Marvin Marshall:
Wayne Hansen at fire #2833 called me over the weekend to report that he had seen a large amount of dead fish around the shoreline by the pump house, and was very concerned. I checked the area on Saturday morning, and took some pictures of some large northern, large mouth bass and numbers of pan fish floating by the shore line there. There was even a good sized carp by the Horans. There were only 3 floating between our place and the Clausens, and a variety of dead fish by Steve Friendts and Joanne Shorts place too, so the harsh winter had a toll. I will notify the DNR on Monday to get their input. On Saturday there was still ice on the lake on the north side, and 10 eagles were walking around on the ice. On April 21st and 22nd there were 40 eagles in groups moving around on the ice, but too far away to get any pictures. The closer ones would fly off when I was on our deck. We have had 3 swans on 6 loons and a dozen common mergansers go by today (Sunday) We also had an inch of rain in an hour late this afternoon, with thunder and lightning, and it is still raining at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. Would you share the above info for interested Largon property owners in your newsletter? Thanks! Marv and Joan
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Update from Aaron Cole on 7/14:
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I did submit stocking quotas 3,375 largemouth bass and 13,500 bluegills. As I said in the previous email, it is unknown if the full amount (or any) of bluegills will be stocked. I say this because there is high demand on bluegills and bass this year due to all of the winterkills, and we rely on a federal fish hatchery to provide us with bluegills. If we are not able to get bluegills from the federal hatchery, I would recommend that you guys look into purchasing some.
The stockings will occur this fall. I won’t likely find out if we are able to get bluegills until shortly before they get stocked. If I do hear we won’t be getting bluegills I will let you know.