The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks fisheries staff have begun their annual fall lake sampling across South Dakota.
Jake Davis, Fisheries Program Administrator, says this large undertaking provides critical data for how we develop lake management plans.
This time of year provides fisheries staff the best possible data as spawning is complete, the primary growing season is wrapping up, as well as the majority of the angler harvest.
Davis says the three most important elements in fisheries management are recruitment, growth and mortality. He says they want to see new fish coming into a system, those fish growing to desirable sizes, and monitor the mortality of the population through both angling efforts and natural mortality.
Davis says these sampling efforts also give staff an opportunity to gather additional information on a body of water. He says one of the additional sampling measures they conduct is sampling for aquatic invasive species.
Davis says the data gathered through all of these sampling efforts is essential as staff development management plans, stocking requests and additional surveys for the coming season. He says we are fortunate to have some truly incredible fisheries across the state and GFP’s goal is to continue to ensure these angling opportunities remain available.
Additional information regarding fishing in South Dakota can be found at gfp.sd.gov/fish/.
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