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Thread: Ask the Biologist

  1. #11
    Craig Johnson's Avatar
    Craig Johnson is offline Moderator "Ask The Biologist" Forum * Crappie.com Supporter
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    No problem Chadku, I'll answer if I can!

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    Thank's Craig!!

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    Craig Johnson is offline Moderator "Ask The Biologist" Forum * Crappie.com Supporter
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    Quote Originally Posted by Springhill Duckman View Post
    Welcome,

    Q #1. Is Hillsdale Res scheduled to get wipers? If not Why? Thanks...
    Springhill Duckman,

    I checked with Andy Jansen, KDWP fisheries biologist for Hillsdale, to get the answers to your questions. Wiper stockings are not currently requested for Hillsdale Reservoir and there are no current plans for wiper introductions in the near future. Why no wiper stockings? Hillsdale currently (and historically) has a rather well balanced sportfishery and produces productive fisheries for crappie, white bass, and walleye all of which that can rely heavily on gizzard shad for good growth rates. This "balance" has allowed the Hillsdale gizzard shad population to be productive while also exhibiting shad sizes that are able to be used by the sportfish. Some lakes do not have dense enough predator populations to effectively utilize available shad and the shad length distributions get "out of whack". If not enough gizzard shad are preyed upon by predators, then too many shad grow in to large sizes. When the shad get "too big" they have outgrown their usefulness as a prey item to sportfish and basically these LARGE shad just take up valuable space that could be occupied by smaller shad which could be eaten by sportfish. Hillsdale has not seen the problems associated with the stockpiling of large shad as the shad population gets good predation pressure from the sportfishery. Wipers are sometimes used to add MORE predation pressure on the gizzard shad population to cause a change in gizzard shad length distributions. The increased predation results in FEWER large shad and MORE small shad which is beneficial to young of the year sportfish as well as adult sportfish. Ideally, a sportfishery would use a high percentage of the young of the year gizzard shad population EVERY year leaving a few to grow in to adult shad which will be the spawners to produce the following year's shad spawn. Sometimes the old saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" applies in fish management too! Kansas lakes are always changing, especially as they age, so one of these days wipers may be a good option at Hillsdale. But currently, wiper are not in the management plan at Hillsdale.

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    Wow! Great Answer on the Hillsdale Lake question. Not the one I wanted to hear, but glad to know the real deal.
    Thanks!

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    Craig,
    Not really in your area, but maybe you could find an answer for us. With all of the updates at the state park at Melvern new cabins, new main office, and the new boat docks why can't we get a fish cleaning station?

    thanks
    Al
    Fear me all ye that dwell beneath the waves

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    Craig, I noticed several freshly cut cedar trees laying on the ground as we drove by El Dorado and noticed the same thing when we came by Hillsdale. Is there any projects underway to place more brush in these lakes?
    LIFE’S TOO SHORT TO FISH WITHOUT BEER

  7. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by haugboss View Post
    Craig,
    Not really in your area, but maybe you could find an answer for us. With all of the updates at the state park at Melvern new cabins, new main office, and the new boat docks why can't we get a fish cleaning station?

    thanks
    Al
    Al,

    When I was at Hillsdale, I worked for years to get a fish cleaning station and as far as I know there still isn't one there (maybe there is!!). There were several issues that affected the success of the cleaning station project. Location of a fish cleaning station can be an issue as water and electrical service must be present. There is also the "waste" issue to be addressed whether it is to be a septic tank which requires pump-out or tapping in to the sewer system and lift stations to properly dispose of the fish waste. At times, the best location for a fish cleaning station makes the project cost prohibitive as gaining water and electrical service and waste disposal can be quite expensive. Fish cleaning stations can also require very high amounts of maintenance which make them less attractive to property managers.

    When I worked at Eisenhower State Park in the early 90's there were fish cleaning tables on each of the east and west boat ramp docks. Pitcher pumps provide water for clean up after the fish cleaning and these worked very well for anglers. After checking with the park manager, I've been told that tables and pumps are still present for anglers to use to clean their fish. Currently there are no plans for a fish cleaning station at the Eisenhower State Park.

  8. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by HairyVetch View Post
    Craig, I noticed several freshly cut cedar trees laying on the ground as we drove by El Dorado and noticed the same thing when we came by Hillsdale. Is there any projects underway to place more brush in these lakes?
    HV,

    The freshly cut cedar trees you saw at El Dorado were a result of woody vegetation invasion control efforts by the Wildlife Area Manager. I would guess that the same thing is going on at Hillsdale.

    I put brush in to my lakes as I have time every winter and with the abundance of already cut cedars laying around it will be much easier to get more trees in El Dorado this winter. I have some VERY dedicated anglers helping me put trees in the lake here at El Dorado and we have really added to the cover in a number of coves.

    So yes, brush pile construction continues at El Dorado.

  9. #19
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    Thanks Craig
    The ones on the docks do not have water or electricity, and metal surface dulls a blade pretty quickly. Is there any reason they can't put them at the dump station up on the hill like Banner Creek? Water and a hole for sewer is already there and wouldn't take much to get power as close as the new admin. building is. Again I know this isn't your battle but thanks for your insite.

    Al
    Fear me all ye that dwell beneath the waves

  10. #20
    Craig Johnson's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by haugboss View Post
    Thanks Craig
    The ones on the docks do not have water or electricity, and metal surface dulls a blade pretty quickly. Is there any reason they can't put them at the dump station up on the hill like Banner Creek? Water and a hole for sewer is already there and wouldn't take much to get power as close as the new admin. building is. Again I know this isn't your battle but thanks for your insite.

    Al
    Al,

    I cannot accurately answer questions as specific as this as I don't work for the Parks Division. You and I could probably play "what-if" until the crappie spawn! To get the information you desire, I would suggest calling Eisenhower State Park and talking to the Park Manager. He will have the knowledge of facilities developement plans, budgets, and project priority rankings to answer your questions better than I. The Eisenhower State Park phone number is 785-528-4102.

    I hope this helps get your questions answered.

    Thanks.

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