West Boggs Creek ReservoirFisheries Renovation Project

(To Be Completed: Fall 2014)

David Kittaka, District 5 Fisheries BiologistDebra King, District 5 Assistant Fisheries Biologist

Indiana Department of Natural ResourcesDivision of Fish and Wildlife

Managing Partners for West Boggs Lake

Park: Daviess-Martin Joint County Parks and Recreation Department (Daviess-Martin JCPR)

Fishery: IDNR’s Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW)

What is a Fisheries Renovation?Goal:

To restore a balanced, self-sustaining fish population.

StepsLess strict fishing regulations. Lower the lake level.Chemically eradicate the fish population in the

lake.Chemically eradicate fish in streams that flow

into West Boggs Lake.Restock with desirable game fish species.

Why is a renovation necessary?Fishery has declined since the introduction of

gizzard shad in 2000.Limited success of lake drawdowns to

improve the fishery.Angler attendance is steadily declining.Bass recruitment is declining and panfish

growth is stunted.The number of harvested fish and bass

caught and released has declined dramatically.

What happened?

Gizzard shad are

established.

Gizzard shad compete with bluegill and small bass for food.

Bass eat gizzard shad

instead of bluegill

Bluegill continue to

reproduce at current rates.

Large numbers of bluegill with poor growth

due to competition

Bass recruitment slows due to

direct competition

for food resources

Bass population

cannot sustain itself

Gizzard shad abundance 2010

Giz-zard shad64%

Other36%

Bluegill and Largemouth Catch Rates

Gizzard shad illustration courtesy of  NOAA, Great Lakes Environmental Research

Catch rates in the hundreds/hour in 2010 Catch rates in the hundreds/hour in 2000

Largemouth bass population

Large bass Poor recruitment

Bass population that is declining in

numbers

Percent of Largemouth Bass at Age-2*

West BoggsMonroe/PatokaBrookvilleEagle CreekHardy

*All these lakes contain Gizzard Shad.

Angler attendance

1999No shad

30,778 anglers

108,905 fish harvested

2010

Shad present for 10 years

5,214 anglers

16,439 fish

harvested

Number of fishing trips by year

Fishing trips

Year of Survey1989 1999 2004 2010

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

17,895

30,778

14,039

5,214

Shad introduced

Number of Anglers in the Thousands

20101999

VS.

A total of 30,778 anglers fished West Boggs in 1999.

A total of 5.214 anglers fished West Boggs in 2010.

Angler SatisfactionIn the 2010 creel survey anglers were asked if

they felt the fishery was: •D

eclining

•Stayin

g the Same

•Improving

Overall Angler SatisfactionImproving

; 17%

Staying the same, 36%

Declining; 44%

Response by Bass anglers

Response by Bluegill anglersResponse by Catfish anglers

Catfish angler satisfaction

Improving ; 46%

Staying the same, 39%

Declining; 14%

Bass angler satisfactionImproving ;

15%

Staying the same, 31%

Declining; 50%

Bluegill angler satisfactionImproving ;

15%

Staying the same, 32%

Declining; 53%

Crappie angler satisfactionImproving ; 7.00%

Staying the same,

42.50%

Declining; 43.00%

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)Is DNR draining the lake because of small

bluegill and declining attendance?

The decision to renovate the lake, with support of the Daviess-Martin JCPRD, is based on the decline in the overall health of the fishery. The decline in angler attendance is a direct result of the poor fishing. The lake was renovated successfully in 1994, when other attempts to fix the fishery failed.

FAQs (continued)Why not manage West Boggs as a Trophy Bass

Lake?

The “big bass” population is unsustainable at West Boggs because of poor recruitment. Bass fingerling stockings to off set poor recruitment is not cost effective, and is not likely to increase predation on bluegill.

FAQs (Continued)Where can I get copies of the past West Boggs

Fish reports?

http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3352.htmSearch by water body “West Boggs”

For additional questions/commentsEmail additional questions and comments to

fishingcomments@dnr.in.gov.

An open house will be scheduled for sometime in

August to discuss the renovation with the public.