JOHNSON SAUK TRAIL LAKE STATUS REPORT SUMMARY
LARGEMOUTH BASS: JOHNSON SAUK TRAIL LAKE - is a shallow, very fertile 58 acre lake in Henry County. Dense vegetation had plagued this lake until the introduction of 115 triploid grass carp in 1990. The results were excellent in 1991 and in 1992 until late fall when Eurasian milfoil started to establish itself.
The lake has an excellent bass population with good numbers of 4-6 pound
fish available to the angler. Stock and quality size largemouth bass were
collected at an excellent rate (100 and 59/hour respectively) in the fall
1997 survey. In 1998, the numbers were 78 and 35 per hour respectively.
In 1999, the numbers were 100 and 65 per hour respectively. In 2000, the
numbers were 116 and 80 per hour. In 2001, the numbers were 169 and 44
per hour respectively and in 2002, the numbers were 146 and 83 per hour.
In 2003, the numbers were 158 and 85 per hour, respectively. The lake
currently has a 14 inch minimum length limit. The lake was stocked with
4,343 - 4.7 inch largemouth bass in 2001.
Sauk Trail has an excellent bass fishery with 5 to 6 strong year-classes present. Prime bass fishing areas include edge of the weed beds and the brush piles. Most trophy bass are caught in the spring and late fall.
MUSKIE & NORTHERN PIKE: This lake is a very fertile 58 acre
lake in Henry County. The lake has a maximum depth of 23 feet and an average
depth of 8.2 feet. Dense vegetation had plagued this lake until the introduction
of 115 triploid grass carp in 1990. The results were excellent in 1991
and 1992 until late fall when Eurasian milfoil started to establish itself.
The lake was first stocked with northern pike in 1989. The lake was stocked
annually with 8 inch northern pike at 1 to 3 per acre. In 2001, we started
stocking muskie instead of northern pike. The 14 inch northern pike fingerlings
stocked in 1992 were purchased by the Kewanee Wethersfield Sportsman’s
Club.
The lake developed a fairly good northern pike population. In 1997, 12 trapnets set overnight resulted in the collection of 9 northern pike between 17 and 36 inches. In 1998, 12 trapnets resulted in the collection of 11 northern pike between 22 and 37 inches. In 1999, 12 trapnets set overnight resulted in the collection of 11 northern pike between 20 and 38 inches. In 2000, 12 trapnets resulted in the collection of 12 northern pike between 19 and 38 inches. In 2001, 10 trapnets resulted in the collection of 23 northern greater than 19 inches. There are now several year classes of northern pike present in the lake for anglers. The lake should provide a few northern pike in 2006 with good between 30 and 38 inches available.
Johnson Sauk Trail Lake has the statewide regulation of 3 fish daily
creel limit with a 24 inch minimum. The Lake was switched to a muskie
stocking program in 2000. The lake also received a stocking of 58 muskellunge
in 1988. One of these muskies collected in 2002 weighed over 40 pounds.
A 48 inch muskie was caught by an angler in October of 2003.
