MONTPELIER, VT - The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is notifying people going ice fishing that it has begun its Lake Champlain winter creel survey.

The survey, which will extend through late winter and sample both the southern and northern sections of the lake, is a key component of the department's fishery assessment and management strategies.

"The winter creel survey is critical to providing important biological data about the fishery and what trends may exist around angling pressure in different areas of Lake Champlain," said Shawn Good, fisheries biologist with Vermont Fish & Wildlife. "This information is extremely useful to our department for comparison with past data and for helping us to form future management plans."

Creel clerks from the department will be out on the ice for each weekend and holiday during the survey period, as well as for a number of randomly selected weekdays.

Survey activities will include visual counts of anglers fishing in different areas, interviews of anglers to obtain information about fishing effort and catch and harvest rates, and measurements of fish for biological data.

The key areas included in the survey will include waters south of the Champlain Bridge, as well as Missisquoi Bay, Kelly Bay, Dillenbeck Bay, Carry Bay and LaMotte Passage at the northern end of the lake.

"We'd like to emphasize to anglers that all acquired information will remain confidential," said Bernie Pientka, fisheries biologist with Vermont Fish & Wildlife. "Ultimately, anglers providing honest, accurate information will allow us to do our best to properly manage the resource moving forward and ensure that quality fishing opportunities remain in Lake Champlain for years to come."

Media Contact: Shawn Good, 802-786-3863, shawn.good@state.vt.us
Bernie Pientka, 802-879-5698, bernie.pientka@state.vt.us