Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference 2018

AUTHORS. Sandra J. Clark-Kolaks, Indiana Department of Natural Resources; Andrew Bueltmann, Indiana Department of Natural Resources

ABSTRACT. Reservoir community sampling in Indiana has been standardized for many years but sampling frequency was not. In 2016 Indiana moved to revisit the reservoir sampling protocol and develop a sampling schedule to better monitor long-term status and trends. The new protocol strived to strike a balance between sampling efforts adequate to obtain a representative sample while allowing biologist to sample more lakes each year. A total of 95 reservoirs greater than 15 acres were included in the program with 16 reservoirs being sampled statewide each year.  Sampling is conducted from May 1 to June 15th and includes a combination of boat DC electrofishing, experimental gill nets and trap nets. The majority of lakes (less than 1000 acres) receive a combination of two 15 minute DC electrofishing stations, two experimental gill net sets and two trap net sets. Lakes between 1000 acres and 5000 acres are sampled with four 15 minute DC electrofishing stations, four experimental gill net sets and four trap net sets.  Reservoirs greater than 5000 acres are sampled with eight 15 minute DC electrofishing stations, four experimental gill net sets and four trap net sets. Total length, weight, and aging structures are taken from game species. A Tier II vegetation survey is conducted between July 15th and August 31st. Since the program began in 2016, 33 reservoirs have been sampled with 20,273 fish collected. Bluegill was the most common species collected (31%) followed by Gizzard Shad (23%) and Largemouth Bass (11%). This new protocol has allowed biologists to sample more lakes at a greater frequency while allowing for comparison of abundance, growth, and condition across reservoirs.