STERLING LAKE STATUS REPORT SUMMARY

LARGEMOUTH BASS: This small 74.4 acre lake is managed in cooperation with the Lake County Forest Preserve District and began receiving annual non-vulnerable size fingerling stockings in 1986 to establish a catfish fishery. Sterling lake receives approximately 790 non-vulnerable catfish annually. Creel results from 2003 indicated catfish represented 2% of the overall harvest. Their harvest was fifth behind black crappie, bluegill, carp, and walleye. Survey data reflect this low abundance with gill net catches declining from 8 fish per net night (1993) to 2.5 fish per net night (1997) and 1.5 fish per net night (spring 2003). Average size has increased over time with fish averaging less than 14 inches several years ago to over 17 inches in 2003. Shore fishermen successfully can target channel catfish with bottom fishing techniques and stink baits.

CHANNEL CATFISH: STERLING LAKE- This small 74.4 acre lake began receiving annual non-vulnerable size fingerling stockings in 1986 to establish a catfish fishery. From 1993 to 1997 channel catfish abundance declined as gill net catch per unit effort (CPE) values decreased from 8 fish/net night to 2.5 fish/net night. The reduction in abundance seen in gillnet catches, if indicative of the population has resulted in improvements in the fishery with 95% of the sample exceeding 12 inches in length. The average size channel catfish collected during the 1997 survey was 14.3 inches and 1.04 lbs. In 2000 only 2 channel catfish were collected during a spring sample which was an unexpectedly low number however the early spring date was undertaken to try and survey walleye and bass abundance and was likely the wrong time of the year to be accurately assessing channel catfish abundance. Catches were still low in 2003 (1.5 fish/gillnet night) though the average size was up to 17.2 inches. Shore fishermen target channel catfish in this lake pretty heavily with bottom fishing so it’s no surprise that catches have been low. Sterling lake receives approximately 790 non-vulnerable catfish annually.

MUSKIE: STERLING LAKE - This small 74.4 acre lake received intermittent muskie (pure) fingerling stockings from either Muskie Inc. or the IDNR since 1990. An electrofishing (April, 2000) catch per unit effort (CPE) of 4 fish per hour exceeded the stocking evaluation goal of 1 fish/hour warranting continuation of the stocking program. Trap net data also exceeded stocking criteria of 0.3 fish per trap net night at 1.5 muskie per trap net night. The largest fish collected during the 2000 survey was 36.5 inches and 10.0 lbs., but this fishery is still in it’s infancy and is a difficult lake to sample do to its steep sides. In spring of 2000 a fishermen brought a fish to Bass Pro (Gurnee) that he said was caught in Sterling Lake. After several months in their tank, they contacted the District Biologist who returned the fish to Sterling Lake, the fish was 47 inches long at release. In 2001, a 48 inch length limit and 1 fish per day creel was established on this lake.

WALLEYE: This 74.4 acre lake is managed in cooperation with the Lake County Forest Preserve District and began receiving fingerling stockings in 1985 with the goal of establishing a walleye fishery. Electrofishing surveys in the 1990's produced catch rates exceeding 23 fish/hour. In 1993, 47% of the walleye collected were of quality size (15 inches and larger), however in 1997, no fish larger than 15 inches were collected. This suggested either a problem with stocking survival, sampling efficiency or over harvest (legal length was 14 inches). In 2001, the length limit was raised to 16 inches to keep walleye in the lake for at least an extra year and expand their predatory presence. Walleye were collected in spring trap nets at a rate of 0.37 fish per net night in 2004. Two of eight nets had holes in them! Maybe catch rates could have been higher. Sterling Lake receives annual stockings of 2" fingerlings to maintain their presence. A recent creel report ranked walleye as the most sought after game fish. Panfish species like crappie and bluegill were caught more often, but they’re expected to be.

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