2021 Winnebago System Chironomid Density Summary Report Published
Hello Lake Winnebago enthusiasts,
In early August 2021, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fisheries management staff completed our annual Chironomid (lake fly larvae – red worms) density survey on Lake Winnebago and the Upriver Lakes (Butte des Morts, Winneconne and Poygan).
Chironomid larvae are an important part of the aquatic food web and are critical to the year-round diet of many species, including Lake Sturgeon. Therefore, it is important to study the abundance and distribution of Chironomid within the Lake Winnebago system each year.
The catch rate of Chironomid larvae in Lake Winnebago in 2021 was the second lowest since 2013, similar to that observed during 2020. Chironomid densities are generally lower on the Upriver Lakes relative to Lake Winnebago. However, catch rates in 2018-2021 have been consistently higher than those observed during our first year of sampling the Upriver Lakes in 2017.
Read the 2021 Winnebago System Chironomid (Lake Fly) Relative Abundance Assessment Report.
Thank you,
Lucas Koenig
Fisheries Management Technician