1. David Kittaka, District 5 Fisheries Biologist Debra King, District 5 Assistant Fisheries Biologist Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish and Wildlife

2. 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)

3. What is a Fisheries Renovation? Goal: To restore a balanced, self-sustaining fish population. Steps Less 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.

4. 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.

5. 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

6. Gizzard shad abundance 2010

7. Bluegill and Largemouth Catch Rates Gizzard shad illustration courtesy of NOAA, Great Lakes Environmental Research Catch rates in the hundreds/hour in 2010Catch rates in the hundreds/hour in 2000

8. Largemouth bass population Large bass Poor recruitment Bass population that is declining in numbers

9. Percent of Largemouth Bass at Age-2* West BoggsMonroe/Patoka Brookville Eagle Creek Hardy *All these lakes contain Gizzard Shad.

10. Angler attendance 1999 No shad 30,778 anglers 108,905 fish harvested 2010 Shad present for 10 years 5,214 anglers 16,439 fish harvested

11. Number of fishing trips by year Fishing trips Year of Survey Shad introduced

12. Number of Anglers in the Thousands 2010 1999 A total of 30,778 anglers fished West Boggs in 1999. A total of 5.214 anglers fished West Boggs in 2010.

13. Angler Satisfaction In the 2010 creel survey anglers were asked if they felt the fishery was: Declining Staying the Same Improving

14. Overall Angler Satisfaction

15. Catfish angler satisfaction

16. Bass angler satisfaction

17. Bluegill angler satisfaction

18. Crappie angler satisfaction

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. FAQs (Continued) Where can I get copies of the past West Boggs Fish reports? http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3352.htm Search by water body “West Boggs”

22. For additional questions/comments Email additional questions and comments to fishingcomments@dnr.in.gov. fishingcomments@dnr.in.gov An open house will be scheduled for sometime in August to discuss the renovation with the public.