2004 Biologist Report - Tamarack Lake

Tamarack Lake

Crawford County
May 18, 2004
Night Electro-fishing

In 1999, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) had to completely drain Tamarack Lake, a 562 acre PFBC managed lake in Crawford County, to repair the control towers at both ends of the lake. Following the completion of the repair work, the lake was refilled during the winter of 1999-2000. Immediately, a restoration plan was put into action to re-establish the fish populations in this reservoir. Table 1 provides a complete list of fish stocked through 2003.

Table 1. Stocking history for Tamarack Lake, Crawford County since the lake was refilled in 1999.

Year	Species	Life Stage	Total Stocked	Fish Per Acre
2003	Fathead Minnow	Adult	50,000	89
2003	Walleye	Fingerling	5,600	10
2002	Black Crappie	Adult	500	1
2002	Bluegill	Adult	500	1
2002	Fathead Minnow	Adult	50,000	89
2002	Largemouth Bass	Fingerling	5,600	10
2002	Muskellunge	Fingerling	560	1
2002	Walleye	Adult	500	1
2002	Walleye	Fingerling	5,600	10
2002	Yellow Perch	Adult	484	1
2002	Yellow Perch	Fry	420,000	748
2001	Black Crappie	Adult	500	1
2001	Black Crappie	Fingerling	99,950	178
2001	Bluegill	Adult	500	1
2001	Largemouth Bass	Fingerling	7,097	13
2001	Muskellunge	Fingerling	560	1
2001	Walleye	Adult	250	0
2001	Walleye	Fingerling	5,600	10
2001	Yellow Perch	Adult	263	0
2001	Yellow Perch	Fry	420,000	748
2000	Black Crappie	Adult	500	1
2000	Bluegill	Adult	300	1
2000	Bluegill	Fingerling	156,600	279
2000	Channel Catfish	Fingerling	6,000	11
2000	Fathead Minnow	Adult	100,000	178
2000	Golden Shiner	Fingerling	177,000	315
2000	Largemouth Bass	Adult	115	0
2000	Largemouth Bass	Fingerling	300	1
2000	Muskellunge	Adult	37	0
2000	Muskellunge	Fingerling	1,680	3
2000	Walleye	Adult	500	1
2000	Walleye	Fingerling	11,200	20
2000	Yellow Perch	Fingerling	16,800	30
1999	Largemouth Bass	Fingerling	1,400	2
1999	Muskellunge	Fingerling	2,200	4

Fisheries Management staff from the Area 2 office in Tionesta sampled the burgeoning fishery at Tamarack Lake on the evening of May 18, 2004 by night electro-fishing for 70 minutes.

The highlights of the evenings catch were two muskellunge (31 and 33 inches), three year classes of walleye, two year classes of black crappie, largemouth bass ranging from 4 to 16 inches and large numbers of bluegills (most were between 4 and 7 inches).

Fisheries Technician Tim Wilson with a 16” largemouth bass

The 33 inch muskellunge

The fish populations in Tamarack Lake are gradually returning to their former densities. However, it will probably take several more years to regain the quality size that was typical of Tamarack before the draining, especially the large predators: muskellunge, walleye and largemouth bass. The future looks promising though, with stocked fish surviving well and natural reproduction taking hold for most species.

And a 20 inch walleye

-- Tim Wilson, Area 2 Fisheries Technician

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