Each year,
biologists working on Lake Sharpe collect information on fish
populations from many fisheries surveys conducted throughout the year.
They also collect information on angler use and harvest of those
populations through creel surveys.
By looking at
trends in fish populations and angler use and harvest, some predictions
can be made about fishing on Lake Sharpe for 2008.
Key Issues for 2008 for Lake Sharpe
- Natural
reproduction of walleye for 4 years (2001-2004) was below
average and may limit the number of fish above the 15-inch
minimum length limit.
- Catch of
small walleye will be very common in 2008 due to 3 previous
years of good production of walleye. These small walleye are
the future walleye fishery for Lake Sharpe.
-
Conservative harvest of walleye longer than 15 inches will help
prolong the fishery for the future.
-
Smallmouth bass fishery is improving and will provide an
excellent fishery for the future.
- White
bass population is rebuilding due to a widespread die off in
2005.
- Boating
access is not an issue on Lake Sharpe in most areas of the
reservoir.