Duck Lake Fishing guide

The 2025 survey was completed the week of June 9, 2025, using 5 gill nets, 9 trap nets, and electrofishing. Water quality parameters were also measured.

A total of 137 Black Crappies were sampled with the gill nets for a catch rate of 27.4/net. Catch rates have varied from 3.0/net to 35.7/net with an average of 17.2/net since 1995. Black Crappie in 2025 ranged from 5.4 to 9.8 inches with an average of 6.3 inches. Black Crappie were also abundant in the trap nets with a total of 129 sampled for a catch rate of 16.1/net. Black Crappie size structure in trap nets was similar to the gill net sample except for the presence of fish that exceeded 12 inches with the largest measuring a trophy length of 16.5 inches. The presence of an equally abundant White Crappie population suggests that these outlier fish may have been the result of hybridization between the two species. Black Crappie from both gears ranged from age-2 to age-12 with 8 year-classes present. Age-2 to age-7 Black Crappie were well represented, indicating good consistent recruitment.

Bluegills were sampled at a rate 0 15.3/trap net in 2025. Catch rates have varied from 15.3/net to 95.1/net with an average of 59.2/net since 1995. Bluegill ranged from 4.3 to 8.3 inches with an average of 7.0 inches. Bluegill ranged from age-3 to age-10 with 8 year-classes present. Approximately 88% of Bluegill sampled were age-3 or age-4. Bluegill growth was moderate with an average length of 6.9 inches at age-4. The Bluegill population in Duck Lake has a history of high abundance, poor size structure, and slow growth.

Northern Pike were sampled in low numbers in 2025. A total of just 11 were sampled with the gill nets for a catch rate of 2.2/net. This was the second lowest catch rate on record since 1995 and continued a trend of declining Northern Pike catch rates since 2011. Northern Pike ranged from 15.3 to 36.5 inches with an average of 24.4 inches. Three additional Northern Pike up to 36.6 inches were sampled with the trap nets. Approximately 55 percent of Northern Pike were longer than the minimum length limit of 24 inches. The declining catch rates coupled with the lack of smaller, younger fish suggests that recruitment has been limited in recent years.

A total of 23 Largemouth Bass were sampled with standard boat electrofishing for a catch rate of 25.0/hour. Largemouth Bass ranged from 6.2 to 20.4 inches with an average of 13.4 inches. Overall, the Largemouth Bass population in Duck Lake is limited, likely due to a lack of nearshore habitat and low annual recruitment.

White Crappies were abundant in Duck Lake and outnumbered Black Crappies in both net gears. A total of 195 White Crappie ranging from 5.9 to 13.5 inches were caught for a catch rate of 24.4/trap net. White Crappie are often present in Waterville Area lakes but are rarely considered anything more than a rare member of the fish community. Studies have shown that hybridization is common when both species occur in a water body and often the resulting offspring grow faster and can reach a larger size than pure Black Crappies or White Crappies. This may explain the presence of multiple fish over 15 inches in the 2025 sample when most fish from both species were small.

Yellow Perch were sampled at a rate of 20.4/net, which the second highest catch between 1995 to 2025. During that time, catch rates varied from 4.3/net to 21.3/net with an average of 12.9/net. Yellow Perch were mostly small with a maximum of 8.4 inches and an average of just 6.6 inches. The increased Yellow Perch relative abundance was a good sign in 2025, and could be a result of low Northern Pike numbers.

Black Bullhead numbers were low in both gears (10.8/gillnet and 2.6/trap net). Trap net catch rates have varied wildly with a low of 0.1/net and a high of 84.8/net since 1995. The past two surveys have shown high Black Bullhead numbers 69.8/ trap net in 2019 and 84.8/ trap net in 2022, the low numbers of 2025 were a welcome sight.

Other species sampled in 2025 include Bowfin (1.5/trap net), Common Carp (21.4/gill net), Freshwater Drum (5.2/gill net), Walleye (1.5/trap net), and White Sucker (0.1/trap net).

Water clarity was poor with a secchi reading of 2.0 feet due to abundant free-floating algae. Water dissolved oxygen and temperature readings ranged from 9.8 ppm and 68.2 degrees Fahrenheit at the surface to 0.2 ppm and 60.8 degrees Fahrenheit at 21 feet. A thermocline was detected at around 9 feet.

Shoreline property owners also play an important role in the overall health of an aquatic ecosystem, including the fish population. Natural shorelines, including vegetation, woody debris, and bottom substrates, provide valuable habitat for fish and wildlife, help maintain water quality, and reduce bank erosion. Cattails and bulrushes are particularly beneficial for fish spawning, rearing, and feeding. By leaving natural shorelines unaltered or restoring them to natural conditions, shoreline property owners are doing their part to maintain or improve a healthy ecosystem in the lake and protect the resource for future generations.

-Tyler Fellows, fisheries specialist