Chautauqua Hatchery and Fisheries Management Staff completed the spring, 2001 trap netting with a catch of 205 adult muskellunge at a catch rate of 20 musky per net. The catch, lower than expected, was likely influenced by the late ice-out and unexpectedly fast rise in water temperatures. Several muskellunge exceeding 45 inches in length were collected with the largest at 51 inches and weighing approximately 35 lbs. Fisheries staff have set a target level of abundance for adult muskellunge at 30 fish per net. To achieve this level of abundance the Chautauqua Hatchery stocks 10,000 eight inch fingerlings in September. Over 3 million eggs were collected by hatchery staff to satisfy stocking requirements.

Experimental gill nets were fished overnight once per month from June to October in 2000. The catch continued to be dominated by the record 1993 hatch. Since this "cohort" reached the legal length of 15 inches it has been the predominant age group creeled by anglers. Angling and natural mortality have led to a progressive decline in abundance that should be reflected in a decline in angling quality until subsequent year classes are produced. Since adult walleye often cannibalize their young, the low relative abundance of adult walleye may benefit future survival of young walleye. DEC fisheries staff will assess the 2001 walleye hatch by trawling and electro fishing in fall to determine its relative strength.

DEC fisheries staff assess the bass population by electro fishing at night in October. Fall 2000 electro fishing showed an abundance of largemouth bass ranging from 13-14 inches. These bass have increased in length and will continue to dominate the fishery at lengths from 14 to 15 inches. If anglers continue to support catch and release for this species, quality fishing for black bass should continue and perhaps improve in the future. Considering the availability of realistic fiberglass mounts prepared from photographs and the interest in developing quality bass fisheries, the release of trophy bass is increasingly justifiable and strongly recommended.

Following a long term decline in abundance, the crappie population has experienced a recent resurgence with a relatively strong hatch of black crappie in 1998. Fisheries staff observed large numbers of 8 inch black crappie in the musky nets this spring and Conservation Officers reported that several anglers were ticketed for creeling sub-legal crappie. These crappie should reach the legal length of nine inches by spring, 2002. The statewide creel limit for crappie is 25 fish. Examination of the long term Chautauqua Lake fisheries data showed that abundance of crappie and walleye follows an inverse relationship (eg., high walleye associated with low crappie). If walleye predation is suppressing survival of young crappie, the recent decline in adult walleye abundance may bode well for the crappie fishery.

Sunfish have also experienced a resurgence in abundance that may be related to the decline of walleye. Biologists observed numerous pumpkinseeds in the trap nets that ranged from 4 to 5 inches in length that should reach a desirable size for angling by 2002.

White perch continue to predominate the assessment catch. They were the most abundant fish collected in the gill nets through 2000 and were extremely abundant in trap nets this spring. Although white perch expanded in Chautauqua Lake after the decline of crappie, they can act as both predators on young crappie as well as competitors with adult crappie. The impact of white perch on other fisheries will continue to be monitored by DEC fisheries staff.

Yellow perch were abundant in the trap nets this spring but averaged only about 7 inches in length. Chautauqua Lake’s yellow perch have been dominated by smaller yellow perch less that 4 years of age. The lack of older age yellow perch and the abundance of yellow perch up to 8 inches in length is typical of lakes that support a healthy population of large esocids (musky or northern pike). Musky and northern pike both prefer larger prey and will select the larger yellow perch if they are available.