DAWSON LAKE STATUS REPORT SUMMARY
CHANNEL CATFISH: The channel catfish fishery is sustained through stockings from the State Hatchery System. Each year 8" channel catfish are stocked into Dawson Lake. The catfish population is dominated by catfish in the 12 to 24 inch range. The average weight for channel catfish harvested in the latest creel survey was 2.329 pounds. There is always a good number of catfish in the population. Dawson Lake has a two pole and line fishing only regulation and a 6 fish per day harvest restriction on channel catfish.
LARGEMOUTH BASS: DAWSON LAKE -The largemouth bass population on this lake provides anglers with a great opportunity to catch a quality largemouth bass. Bass are stocked into the lake from an on site rearing pond. With the help from the rearing pond and great spawns since 2001, the catch rate during fall surveys have increased from 68.5 bass per hour in 1999 to 123 bass per hour in 2002. During the night survey in 2003, the catch rate was 215 bass per hour. Based on fish collected during the night survey in 2003, the size structure of the bass population looks great. Approximately 51% of the bass were over 12 inches and 10% over 15 inches. There are indications that large bass are growing into the void left by the bass kill in 2001. The increase in aquatic vegetation has limited fishing in some areas but has provided refuge for young fish and is reflected in the increased numbers of smaller bass since 2001. The bass regulation on Dawson Lake is a 15 inch minimum length limit with a 6 fish daily creel limit. Dawson Lake has a no wake restriction on motors over 10 horsepower.
WALLEYE AND SAUGER: A good walleye fishery exists on Dawson Lake. In 2003, the walleye stocking program was switched to a saugeye fishery. The saugeye favors more turbid water and tolerates eutrophic waters better than walleye. Night electrofishing surveys are conducted each fall to assess the fishery. In 2004, 55 walleye/saugeye were collected per hour of sampling. The largest walleye collected was 23 inches. Similar results were obtained in the 2003 night survey. Dawson Lake has a 14" minimum length limit and a harvest limit of 3 per day on walleye and saugeye.
