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A stratified random creel survey was conducted from May 12 to October 31, 2001 on Big Sandy Lake (DOW #01-0062) in Aitkin County. The survey objectives were to provide current angling and recreational activity information and to compare the 2001 estimate to those from the 1988 creel survey. During the sampling period the total recreational activity was estimated at 56,154.6 boat hours, of which fifty-nine percent (33,051.6 boating hours) was angling activity, thirty percent (17,210.3 boat-hours) pleasure power boating, five percent (2,750.1 boat-hours) non-power boating activity and six percent (3,142.6 boat-hours) personal water craft use. The estimated seasonal angling pressure was 85,363.4 angler-hours (13.08 angler-hours/acre) of which boat anglers accounted for 71,961.8 angler-hours (11.03 angler-hours/acre), with an estimated 13,401.6 angler-hours (2.05 angler-hours/acre) of pressure from anglers fishing from shore or docks. Boat angling activity was highest during the month of July (19,937 angler-hours) followed in May (18,224 angler-hours), August (11,922 angler-hours), June (11,313 angler-hours), September (8,626 angler-hours), and October (1,940 angler-hours. Bank angling activity declined steadily from is high in May (7,858 angler-hours) through October (101 angler-hours. Seventy-three percent of the total angling pressure was directed toward walleye with the remainder of the pressure being directed toward black crappie (12%), Northern pike (6%) and "no particular species" (8%). A total of sixteen species were reported in the catch of which eleven species were harvested. The three most commonly targeted species were walleye with 31,779 being caught (17,592 pounds) of which 14,115 fish (11,715 pounds) were harvested; northern pike with 25,229 caught (27,756 pounds) and 2,512 (5,287 pounds) harvested; and black crappie with 13,128 fish (6,869 pounds) caught, and 10,742 (6,520 pounds) harvested. Total seasonal angling activity was forty-three percent lower in 2001 than in 1988. Most of the decline in fishing activity was likely the result of the high water in May and June that affected a variety of recreational activities on Big Sandy Lake in 2001. Despite the high water during the first seven weeks of the season, anglers enjoyed a great season on Big Sandy Lake in 2001. Anglers total catch rate was 0.97 fish per angler-hour with a catch rate for walleye of 0.37 fish per angler-hour and 0.29 for northern pike. Anglers targeting walleye achieved a catch rate of 0.38 fish per angler-hour harvesting at a rate of 0.18 fish per angler-hour. Anglers targeting black crappie had a catch rate of 1.64 black crappie per angler-hour, with a harvest rate of 1.35 fish per angler-hour. |