An Assessment of the Warmwater Fish Community in Long Lake (Thurston County) June 200

Long Lake was surveyed by a three-person crew from June 5-8, 2001. Multiple gear types (electrofishing, gill nets, and trap nets) were utilized to reduce any sampling bias associated with each sampling method. A total of 890 fish, representing 11 species and the family Cottidae (i.e., sculpins), were sampled from Long Lake. Of those, rock bass and rainbow trout were the most abundant, numerically, at 21.8% and 19.9%, respectively. However, in terms of biomass, common carp and largescale sucker were the most abundant at 62.3% and 42.5%, respectively. Other species sampled during the survey include: brown bullhead, bluegill, brown trout, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, warmouth, and yellow perch. Judging from our sampling, the warmwater fish community at Long Lake is poor. Few quality (minimum size anglers like to catch) and larger size warmwater gamefish were sampled. Currently, rock bass and largemouth bass provide the best opportunity to catch quality size and larger fish. The poor condition of Long Lake’s warmwater fish community may be related to the extensive aquatic plant management there. In 1991, vegetation (primarily Eurasian water milfoil) was removed from Long Lake using the aquatic herbicide SONAR. Since, vegetation (both native and non-native) has been harvested using both SCUBA divers and mechanical weed harvesters. Recommendations for Long Lake include: 1.) Study the change in vegetation coverage on a monthly basis and its affects on the warmwater fishery as a result of harvesting. and 2.) Continue to monitor the warmwater fish community in Long Lake every 2-3 years during the spring.