LAKE GEORGE STATUS REPORT SUMMARY

CHANNEL CATFISH: LAKE GEORGE - is a 167 acre lake in Rock Island County. Lake George is developing into one of the premiere muskie lakes in the State. The Illinois Natural History Survey completed research projects on both the walleye and muskie stocking programs in 1994. While the muskie population steadily improved in the early 1990's, the bass and bluegill populations began to deteriorate. The exact cause of the deterioration is not understood at this time. Lake George has historically had an excellent bass population until the late 1980's. The lake historically had a good population of extremely large bass, and reproduction and recruitment were always consistent.

LARGEMOUTH BASS: LAKE GEORGE - In 1992 largemouth bass fingerlings became available when the State purchased Sand Prairie property. This property contained a few extremely shallow ponds that contained bass of different sizes. In October of 1992, Region 1 personnel were able to harvest 540 of these bass and stock them in Lake George. These bass ranged from 4 to 16 inches. In 1993 and 1994 Lake George was stocked with 1,670 - 4 inch bass fingerlings. In 1995 and 1996, the stocking was doubled to 3,340 - 4 inch bass fingerlings or 20 per acre. In 1997, the lake was once again stocked with 1,670 - 4" bass fingerlings. In 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001, the number was doubled again to 3,468; 3,610; 3,489; 3,340 - 4 inch bass. In 2002 - 3,500 - 4.5 inch bass and in 2003, 2,754 - 4.0 inch were stocked.

The results have been encouraging with bass levels back to historical levels. In 1995 and 1996 largemouth bass of all sizes were collected at a rate of 77 and 76 bass per hour respectively. In 1997, largemouth bass of all sizes were collected at a rate of 134 bass/hour. Bass 14" and larger were collected at a rate of 52/hour. In 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003, largemouth bass of all sizes were collected at a rate of 232, 238, 255, 146, 121, and 89 per hour. Bass 14" and larger were collected at a rate of 22 per hour in 1999 , 25 in 2000, 18 in 2001, 22 per hour in 2002, and 29 per hour in 2003. Bass quality size and larger were collected at 94 per hour at night in 2002.

Currently on Lake George there is a 14 inch minimum length limit. The fishing pressure derived from creels conducted in 1989, 1993, and 1994 reported the fishing pressure to be at approximately 200 man-hours per acre. Fishing for largemouth bass the last five years has been tough. The two main reasons are 1) a decrease in the bass population and 2) someone introduced gizzard shad in the lake in 1990 and the shad population exploded. As a result, the bass have an over abundance of forage. The bass population has dramatically improved over the last 5 years. Bass numbers are back to historical levels.

MUSKIE: LAKE GEORGE - This 167 acre lake in Rock Island County was built in 1966 and has a maximum depth of 62 feet with an average depth of 24 feet. Because Lake George is located near a heavily populated area, it receives between 200 and 350 man hours per acre fishing pressure.

Other predators in Lake George, in addition to muskie, are largemouth bass, walleye, and striped bass hybrids which are stocked supplementally each year. The main prey species in the lake since 1990 is gizzard shad.

The lake was first stocked with pure muskie fingerlings in 1983. By 1993, Lake George had developed into one of Illinois’ premiere muskie lakes especially for muskie over 40 inches. In 1993 and 1994, Lake George suffered some mortalities to larger muskie. Approximately 50 muskie, 36 to 42 inches died. The cause could not be determined. Lake George was not stocked with muskie in 1995, but was stocked with 167, 12 inch Leech Lake strain muskie fingerlings purchased by the Mississippi Valley Chapter of Muskie, Inc., in 1996 and 1997. In 1997, the state also stocked 169, 10" muskie. In 1998, the lake was doubled stocked again to make up for muskie lost in 1993 and 1994 with the Mississippi Valley Chapter of Muskie, Inc. purchasing 169 muskie. In 1999, the lake received 1000, 4 inch muskie; 334, 11-13 inch muskie from state stockings. The lake also received 170, 11 inch muskie from the Mississippi Valley Chapter of Muskie, Inc. In 2000, the state stocked 167 - 10.0" muskie and 167 - 11.0" muskie. In 2001, the state stocked 334 - 11.2" muskie. In 2002, the state stocked 334, 6.8 inch muskie and 167, 11.9 inch muskie. In 2003, 332 - 10 inch muskie were stocked.

The volunteer muskie creel program from 1987 to 1991 recorded 106 legal muskie caught with 90 being released. Creel report data from 1994 reported 83 muskie caught with only 3 harvested. The lake has a 36 inch size restriction on muskie with one fish per day creel limit. In 1999, thirteen trapnets set overnight in April resulted in the collection of 9 muskie greater than 33 inches. The largest was over 35 pounds.

In 2002, 28 trapnets set overnight resulted in the collection of 37 muskie greater than 24 inches. In 2003, 10 trapnets resulted in the collection of 23 muskie greater than 25 inches. The lake has a good number of 40 inch plus muskie with several muskie collected near the Illinois state record. Lake George is scheduled to be stocked in 2004 with one, 12 inch muskie per surface acre. With the large gizzard shad population that has developed in Lake George, muskie fishing is tough because of the prey density.

STRIPED BASS HYBRIDS: LAKE GEORGE -Lake George is a 167 acre lake in Rock Island County. The lake receives approximately 200 man-hours per acre fishing pressure. Striped bass hybrids were first stocked into Lake George in 1997 and have been stocked annually since then at 12 to 18 fish per acre. The striped bass hybrid were stocked in Lake George because someone had stocked gizzard shad in the lake in 1990 and their population exploded. The fish have been purchased by Mississippi Valley Muskie, Inc. The 1997 stocking is averaging between 6 to 8 pounds. The 1998 year class are averaging between 4 and 6 pounds. The striped bass hybrid population is doing well in Lake George. The Lake has a 17 inch minimum length limit and a one fish per day creel limit.

WALLEYE AND SAUGER: Lake George is a 167 acre lake in Rock Island County. Lake George is developing into one of the premiere muskie lakes in the state. The lake also has a fair population of large walleye. The fishing pressure derived from creels conducted in 1989, 1993, and 1994 reported the fishing pressure to be about 200 man-hours per acre. The creel survey in 1993 reported 86 walleye caught and only 31 harvested. Harvested walleye averaged over 6 pounds.

Lake George was trapnetted for 4 nights in the Spring of 1996. This resulted in the collection of 30 walleye between 1.9 and 9.0 pounds. In 1998, 25 walleye between 3 and 7 pounds were caught in only 10 trapnets. The night electrofishing survey resulted in a record 35 walleye per hour. In 2002, 28 trapnets set overnight resulted in the collection of 45 walleye greater than 14.5 inches.

The walleye population appears to be improving as a result of the lake being stocked annually with approximately 6,680 - 2 inch walleye. Angler harvest has been hampered by someone stocking gizzard shad in the lake in 1990. The shad population has exploded. As a result, the walleye are well-fed and more difficult to catch. Trophy walleye should be available in Lake George in 2006. This lake has a 14 inch minimum length limit with a statewide 6 fish per day creel limit.

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