Tyson Lake

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A fish population assessment was conducted during mid-June of 2012 in Tyson Lake. Tyson is a small (147 acres), shallow (8 feet maximum depth), periodically aerated, and productive lake located in Yellow Medicine County. Residential development is limited to one farm site on the south shore. Water levels were normal to high during the 2012 assessment, but 1-2 feet below normal by fall due to drought conditions. Nutrient runoff into Tyson is from agricultural row crops. Tyson Lake is connected to a shallow wetland along the east shore. Water clarity was fair during June of 2012 (3.0 feet). Blue-green algae blooms are common and intense in Tyson Lake. A light algae bloom was present during the 2012 assessment. A partial summerkill of primarily black bullhead, fathead minnows, and orangespotted sunfish occurred in July of 2002. Submergent vegetation is limited to primarily sago pondweed, water moss, and filamentous algae, especially in the near shore areas. Sago pondweed was abundant in Tyson during 2012. Emergent vegetation consists mainly of bulrush and cattail species scattered throughout the shoreline areas. Tyson Lake is managed for walleye as primary species. Walleye fry are generally stocked into Tyson every other year. If a fry stocking is a failure, then the lake will generally be stocked again with fry the following spring.

Yellow perch numbers were low in 2012 (0.50 fish/gillnet) compared to the normal ranges of Tyson and similar lakes. Yellow perch abundance in the 2012 trapnets was also low (0.50 fish/trapnet). The yellow perch historical average catch rate is 4.69 fish/gillnet for Tyson. The 2012 yellow perch size was small to moderate (0.17 pounds and 6.86 inches) from gillnets and trapnets combined. The yellow perch historical average length is 8.15 inches from gillnets and trapnets combined.

Bluegill were not captured in 2012 trapnets or gillnets. The bluegill historical catch rate is 2.87 fish/trapnet for Tyson. Adult bluegill (2,037 fish, 291 pounds) were last stocked in Tyson during July of 2004.

Black crappie numbers were low in 2012 (0.25 fish/trapnet) compared to the normal range for similar lakes. The black crappie historical average catch rate is 0.08 fish/trapnet for Tyson. The 2012 black crappie average size was large (0.84 pounds and 11.40 inches) from trapnets. Black crappie growth rates were above the Spicer Area normal ranges for ages 1-5. The black crappie captured in the 2012 assessment were from the 2009 and 2007 year classes.

Green sunfish numbers were low in 2012 (0.38 fish/trapnet). The green sunfish historical average catch rate is 0.93 fish/trapnet for Tyson. The 2012 green sunfish average size was moderate (0.17 pounds and 5.75 inches) from trapnets. Orangespotted sunfish abundance was also low in 2012 (0.25 fish/trapnet) and below the Tyson historical average catch rate (5.25 fish/trapnet). Hybrid sunfish abundance was also low in 2012 (0.13 fish/trapnet), but similar to the historical average (0.09 fish/trapnet).

Walleye numbers were abundant in 2012 gillnets (40.50 fish/gillnet) compared to the normal ranges for Tyson and similar lakes. Walleye numbers were also abundant in 2012 trapnets (7.25 fish/trapnet). The walleye historical average catch rates are 8.22 fish/gillnet and 2.91 fish/trapnet for Tyson. The 2012 walleye average size was small to moderate (1.04 pounds and 12.01 inches) from gillnets. The 2012 walleye average size was small (0.40 pounds and 9.72 inches) from trapnets. The walleye historical average weights are 1.53 pounds from gillnets and 1.26 pounds from trapnets. The 2012 catch rate of quality size (15.00 inches) and larger walleye was high (13.00 fish/gillnet) in the 2012 gillnets. The 2012 catch rate of preferred size (20.00 inches) and larger walleye was moderate (3.00 fish/gillnet) in the 2012 gillnets. Walleye growth rates for Tyson were near the upper end of Spicer Area normal ranges for ages 1-5, but below the normal ranges for ages 6-7. The 2011 and 2008 walleye year classes (fry stocked) comprised 61% and 25% respectively of the 2012 walleye catch. Individual walleye captured from the 2008 year class appeared in robust condition. Walleye natural reproduction in Tyson is generally infrequent and insignificant based on previous fall and summer surveys.

A fall electrofishing survey was last conducted in 2011 to evaluate a spring walleye fry stocking (147,044 fry). There were moderate to low numbers of young of year "YOY" walleye (30.00 YOY/hour, 5.59 inches average length) captured in the 2011 fall electrofishing survey. Low numbers of YOY walleye (6.00 YOY/hour, 7.95 inches average length) were captured in 2010. The highest Tyson YOY walleye catch rate (378.46 YOY/hour, 4.92 inches average length) occurred in 2008. The Tyson Lake fall electrofishing historical average catch rate and length are 91.56 YOY/hour and 6.19 inches respectively. The Spicer Area YOY walleye historical average catch rate is 81.31 YOY/hour from lakes fry stocked and lakes with natural reproduction. Walleye yearlings and adults were last stocked in Tyson during 2003 (434 pounds and 1,304 fish). Walleye fry have been stocked into Tyson during 1998, 2000, 2002-2003, 2005, 2007-08 and 2010-2011.

Black bullhead numbers were abundant in 2012 (320.00 fish/gillnet) compared to the normal ranges of Tyson and similar lakes. The black bullhead historical average catch rate is 209.53 fish/gillnet for Tyson. The 2012 black bullhead average size was moderate (0.32 pounds and 8.00 inches) from gillnets. The black bullhead historical average weight is 0.32 pounds from gillnets. Moderate numbers (48.25 fish/trapnet) of large black bullhead (0.56 pounds and 8.98 inches average size) were captured in the 2012 trapnets.

Current fish management activities on Tyson include monitoring the fish population on a periodic basis, monitoring winter dissolved oxygen levels, assisting the Wood Lake Sportsman's Club with the operation of the aeration system, protecting aquatic vegetation through the permit process, assisting aquatic plant management and enforcement personnel in educating boaters and monitoring access sites for potential invasive species introductions, participating in local watershed initiatives, and stocking various fish species as warranted. The Tyson fishery will be sampled in the fall of 2013 for YOY walleye.

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