Willie Lake

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What kind of fish can you catch in Willie Lake?

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A standard survey was conducted at Willie in 2016 to monitor the lake's fish population. A total of 14 species were sampled in the gill nets, trap nets, and by spring night-time electrofishing (SEF), which targeted Largemouth Bass. The lake was well mixed, on 7/11/16, with the dissolved oxygen concentration being 4.3 mg/l just off the bottom in 17.0 feet of water, allowing fish to use all depths of water. Water clarity was poor with a secchi disk reading of 2.5 feet, due to an algae bloom. The last investigated winterkill was in 2001. A small fishing pier is available for anglers at Willie Lake.

Gill nets sampled moderate numbers of Northern Pike (49) for a catch rate of 8.2/net, which was within the normal range for lakes similar to Willie and was the second highest on record at Willie. The 2013 catch rate was much lower at 0.8/net. Catch rates from 1975 to 2016 (n=9) were variable, ranging from 0.8 to 9.0/net with an average of 3.6. Historically, recruitment could be classified as low (<5/net) at Willie. In 2016, gill netted Northern Pike were 7.7 to 25.2 inches long with an average of 19.0. Approximately 16% of the gill net catch was 21 inches or longer. However, trap nets did sample three fish that were over 30 inches in length, with maximum length being 33.0 inches, indicating that quality sized fish were present. Northern Pike were not aged.

Trap nets sampled moderate numbers (92) of Black Crappie for a catch rate of 10.2/net, which was above the normal range for lakes similar to Willie. The 2013 catch rate was 1.1/net. Catch rates from 1975 to 2016 (n=11) were variable, ranging from 0.3 to 24.4/net with an average of 8.2. Trap netted Black Crappie were 3.8 to 12.1 inches long with an average of 8.3. Approximately 37% of the trap net catch was 9 inches or longer, a modest amount of fish at a size range anglers prefer. Gill nets sampled moderate numbers (49) of Black Crappie for a catch rate of 8.2/net, which was within the normal range for lakes similar to Willie. The 2013 gill net catch rate was 5.3/net. Catch rates from 1975 to 2016 (n=9) were variable, ranging from 0.5 to 19.0/net with an average of 8.9. Gill netted Black Crappie were 3.6 to 9.8 inches long with an average of 5.9. Black Crappie were not aged, but the length frequency data indicated that multiple year classes were present.

Gill nets sampled moderate numbers (9.7) of White Crappie for a catch rate of 9.7/net, which was above the normal range for lakes similar to Willie. The 2013 catch rate was 0.8/net. Historic catch rates (n=9) ranged from 0.2 to 14.0/net with an average of 5.4. Gill netted White Crappie were 3.6 to 11.1 inches long with an average of 5.6. Approximately 91% of the gill net sample was under 7 inches in length, indicating a young and/or small population. Trap nets sampled low numbers (7) of White Crappie for a catch rate of 0.8/net, which was within the normal range for lakes similar to Willie. Historic catch rates (n=11), from 1975 to 2016, ranged from 0.0 to 28.5/net with an average of 4.6. Trap netted White Crappie were 4.6 to 10.8 inches long with an average of 6.8. White Crappie were not aged, but the length frequency distributions indicated that multiple year classes were present. Anglers who wish to tell black and white crappie apart should count spines on the dorsal (topmost) fin; white crappies have five or six spines while black crappies sport seven or eight spines.

Gill nets sampled low numbers of Walleye (13) for a catch rate of 2.2/net, which was within the normal range for lakes similar to Willie. The 2013 catch rate was four times lower (0.5/net). Catch rates from 1975 to 2016 (n=9), under various stocking regimes, were mostly low ranging from 0.0 to 7.4/net with an average of 1.7. In 2016, gill netted Walleye were 12.3 to 21.7 inches long with an average of 18.3. Trap nets sampled Walleye up to 28.0 inches in length, indicating that those rare trophy sized fish were present in Willie. Gill netted Walleye were estimated to be age-3 to age-7 with three year classes present. The 2013 year class accounted for 69% of the gill net catch. The current stocking regime (242 pounds of fall fingerlings every other year) was initiated in 2005. Yearlings were stocked in 2015, due to a fingerling shortage that fall. Non-stocked years (2010 and 2012) made up 0% of the gill netted fish, in 2016. The contribution from natural reproduction during stocked years (fingerling and yearling) was unknown. Growth was fast. Gill net catch rates (n=3) during this stocking regime ranged from 0.2 to 2.2/net with an average of 1.0. Higher numbers (8.2/net) of predatory Northern Pike could be negatively affecting Walleye abundance at Willie Lake.

Trap nets sampled low numbers of Bluegill (41) for a catch rate of 4.6/net which was below the normal range for lakes similar to Willie. The 2013 catch rate was similar at 3.3. Catch rates from 1975 to 2016 (n=11) were variable, ranging from 0.0 to 72.7/net, with an average of 11.4. Approximately 73% of the historic trap net catches were below the normal range, indicating that Willie was typically not a great Bluegill Lake. In 2016, trap netted Bluegill were 3.0 to 9.5 inches long with an average of 4.9. Approximately, 22% of the catch exceeded 6 inches leaving few fish at a large size anglers prefer. Bluegill were not aged.

Spring night-time electrofishing sampled moderate numbers (27) of Largemouth Bass for a catch rate of 18.0/hr. The 2013 catch rate was similar at 19.3/hr. Catch rates (n=7) from 1992 to 2016 were variable, ranging from 0.0 to 19.3/hr. with an average of 12.3. Largemouth Bass were 8.9 to 19.5 inches long with an average of 13.0. Approximately 30% of the catch was 15 inches or longer, giving anglers a fair chance at larger sized fish. Trap nets sampled few (3) Largemouth Bass, but fish up to 19.1 inches in length were sampled. Largemouth Bass (all gears) were age-2 to age-9 with six year classes present. Growth was fast. Data indicated inconsistent recruitment for this species.

Gill nets sampled low numbers of Yellow Perch (7) for a catch rate of 1.2/net, which was below the normal range for lakes similar to Willie. The 2013 catch rate was also 1.2/net. The last four catch rates have all been below the normal range for lakes similar to Willie. Historical catch rates from 1975 to 2016 (n=9) were variable ranging from 0.7 to 52.8/net with an average of 12.1. Gill netted Yellow Perch were 6.1 to 8.0 inches long with an average of 7.2. Yellow Perch were age-2 to age-3 with two year classes present.

Trap nets sampled low numbers of Common Carp (13) for a catch rate of 1.4/net, which was within the normal range for lakes similar to Willie. The 2013 catch rate was 0.1/net. Historic catch rates (n=11) from 1975 to 2016 were variable, ranging from 0.1 to 6.0/net with an average of 1.8. Trap netted Common Carp were 12.4 to 25.4 inches long with an average of 16.3. Gill nets sampled low numbers of Common Carp (13) for a catch rate of 2.2/net, which was also within the normal range for lakes similar to Willie. Historic gill net catch rates (n=9) were variable, ranging from 0.3 to 17.3/net with an average of 5.0. Gill netted Common Carp were 10.8 to 31.1 with an average of 18.7. Length frequency data indicated that multiple year classes were present. Common Carp would be difficult to control due to the highly connected watershed to the south (Harden Lake, Hoff Lake, and South fork of the Crow River) and to the east (Greenleaf Lake).

Gill nets sampled low numbers (13) of Black Bullhead for a catch rate of 2.2/net, which was below the normal range for lakes similar to Willie. The 2013 catch rate was 0.2/net. Relative abundance of Black Bullhead, over the last ten years, appears to have been quite low at Willie. Historic catch rates from 1975 to 2016 (n=9) were highly variable, ranging from 0.2 to 203.4/net with an average of 70.9. Trap nets sampled 2 Black Bullhead for a catch rate of 0.2/net which was also below the normal range for lakes similar to Willie and the lowest ever measured at Willie. Historic catch rates (n=11) were variable ranging from 0.2 to 133.2 with an average of 21.5. Trap netted Black Bullhead were 7.0 and 9.8 inches long.

Additional species sampled in the standard gear included; Bigmouth Buffalo, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.

What is the average air temp for Willie Lake?