1. Why 1. To get information about the sport fishery in Madison lakes (e.g. what are they catching and how much, where are they fishing (area, depth), how are they fishing) 2. To get information about some common fish species in the lakes (e.g. are different species caught in different areas/depths) 3. To get practical training in working with fish, fish data and report writing Madison Lakes field trip, 7 February 2004

2. Tools Different groups will visit different lakes, or areas of a lake, and collect information and sample fish. Primary results should be entered on the form Winter Field Trip - Creel Census (one form per "sampled" angler) These tables will be compiled into summary tables. The summary tables will be made available to you 14 February The complete data set will be used for your report (due Feb. 26, 2004) See the form

3. Madison Lakes field trip, 7 February 2004 Bring Pencils Sharp pocket knife and/or forceps Flexible, plastic ruler with metric(!!) scale A small dissecting kit would be even better Small hand towel or lined rubber glove...you‘ll handle cold, wet fish Remember to check the weather and dress accordingly

4. Madison Lakes field trip, 7 February 2004 Details on procedures – see the handout Sampling the fish Total length & ScalesSex ♀ ♂ Red Yellow Granular (eggs) White No clear texture

5. Madison Lakes field trip, 7 February 2004 Aging the fish

6. Aging Fish Scales What are this species growth characteristics? - (e.g. bass do not grow in winter, but perch do) What season was the scale sample taken from? - (e.g. scales taken in early summer will have a recently completed annulus near the scale edge) How long was the fish that the scale was taken from? - (e.g. a 400 mm bass is not one year old) What kind of growth is possible for this species? -(e.g. bluegill don’t reach 200 mm in their first year of growth) “IN ESSENCE, KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THE FISH AND WHAT IS POSSIBLE AND NOT POSSIBLE”

7. Little Rock Lake Yellow Perch 106 mm Age 1+ Focus Annulus Circuli Summer Growth Winter Growth

8. Little Rock Lake Yellow Perch 135 mm Age 2+ First Annulus Second Annulus

9. Sign up for AM or PM trip on my forms Madison Lakes field trip 7 February 2004 Download the handout. And read it! It may be very cold, and wet. You’ll be walking on ice - take on WARM food gears Even if it will be tough, remember to be enthusiastic!!

13. Back to the planning