2012 Warmwater Fisheries Survey of Mesa Lake (Franklin County), Washington

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Published: January 2013

Pages: 25

Publication number: FPT 14-02

Author(s): Marcus J. Divens

Abstract

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) biologists surveyed Mesa Lake (Franklin County) October 14-16, 2012 by
boat electrofishing, gill netting and fyke netting. Yellow Perch Perca flavescens (65%) and Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides (15%) were the most abundant species by number. Common Carp Cyprinus carpio (33%), Lake Whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis (27%), Walleye Sander vitreus (17%), and Yellow Perch (13%) comprised the highest proportion of the catch by weight. Other game fish species sampled included Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus, Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus, and Pumpkinseed Sunfish Lepomis gibbosus. Nongame species sampled included Longnose Sucker Catostomus catostomus, Largescale Sucker Catostomus macrocheilus, Goldfish Carassius auratus, and Sculpin Cottus spp. Recently, Mesa Lake has been managed for naturally reproducing warmwater fish, although the fish community is strongly influenced by fish moving through the Columbia Basin irrigation system, which Mesa Lake is part of, creating regular variability in the community makeup. At the time of this survey, Walleye and Yellow Perch offered anglers the best opportunities for quality sized fish.