1985-2006 June Monthly Summary

 Preliminary summary of fishing boat trips and fish harvested, and harvest rates per boat trip for trout and salmon and

 smallmouth bass among boats seeking these species, for the month of June, from the 1985-2006 DEC Lake Ontario fishing

 boat censuses.

 Harvest Rates Per Boat Trip Among Boats Fishing for Trout & Salmon:

  Harvest Rates Per Boat trip Among Boats Fishing for Smallmouth Bass:

Fishing effort in June 2006 in the open lake boat fishery was estimated at just 6,941 fishing boat trips, the lowest June effort estimate among the 22 years censused, and a 42.2% decrease compared to the 2001-2005 June average (previous 5 years).  Boats targeting trout and salmon accounted for 2,733 boat trips, the lowest June effort estimate for trout and salmon fishermen among the years censused, and 50.1% below the 2001-2005 June average for trout and salmon anglers.  Boats targeting smallmouth bass from the season opener (June 17) until the end of the month accounted for 2,915 boat trips, a 37.6% decrease compared to the 2001-2005 June average for boats targeting smallmouth bass, and the ninth lowest June estimate among the years censused.  Reasons for the decline in June fishing boat effort remain speculative, but cooler than average temperatures in the first half of the month, above average rain fall, and high gasoline prices, were all likely contributors.

Numbers of trout and salmon and smallmouth bass harvested were also down in June 2006, undoubtedly due in part to reductions in fishing effort.  The total number of trout and salmon harvested was estimated at just 2,919 fish, the lowest June salmonine harvest estimate among the years censused.  Smallmouth bass harvest in June 2006was estimated at 3,392 fish, the fifth lowest June estimate among the years censused.

Fishing quality for trout and salmon and smallmouth bass as measured by harvest rates was poor in June 2006, and may have further contributed to the decline in fishing effort.  The trout and salmon harvest rate among boats seeking trout and salmon was 1.03 fish per boat trip, the second lowest June salmonine harvest rate among the years censused.  Comparisons among the salmonine species show that June 2006 harvest rates were above their respective 2001-2005 averages for coho salmon (+63.6%) and Chinook salmon(+17.1%), essentially average for rainbow trout (+4.2%), and below average for lake trout (-17.4%), brown trout (-38.3%), and Atlantic salmon (none observed).  The smallmouth bass harvest rate among boats seeking smallmouth bass during the open season was 1.07 fish per boat trip, the fourth lowest June harvest rate among the years censused.

1985-2006 April-June Monthly Summary

 Preliminary summary of fishing boat trips and fish harvested, and harvest rates per boat trip for trout and salmon among       boats seeking these species, for the months of April - June, from the 1985-2006 DEC Lake Ontario fishing boat censuses.

  Harvest Rates Per Boat Trip Among Boats Fishing for Trout & Salmon:

Fishing effort for the months of April-June 2006 (3-month total) in the open lake fishery was estimated at 20,968 fishing boat trips.  This was by a small margin the lowest April-June effort estimate among the 22 years censused, and a 21.3% decrease compared to the 2001-2005 April-June average (previous 5 years).  Boats targeting trout and salmon accounted for 16,127 fishing boat trips, 76.9% of the total 2006 April-June effort. This was the second lowest April-June effort estimate for trout and salmon anglers among the years censused, and a 17.1% decrease compared to the 2001-2005 April-June average.

The total number of trout and salmon harvested in April-June 2006 was estimated at 27,166 fish, the third lowest April-June total estimated among the years censused, and 13.1% lower than the 2001-2005 average April-June salmonine harvest.  Brown trout was the most commonly harvested salmonine species, comprising 38.5% of the 2006 April-June total, while coho salmon and Chinook salmon contributed 24.6% and 20.2%, respectively.  Yellow perch harvest in April-June 2006 was estimated at 7,360 fish, the second highest 3-month total observed among the years censused (only April-June 1985 was higher).  Yellow perch harvest estimates are dramatically influenced by a fairly small number of boats that specifically target yellow perch, and which frequently have very high harvest rates.  Since the probability of interviewing these boats is fairly low, the yellow perch harvest estimates can be highly variable, with wide confidence intervals.  The 2006 April-June yellow perch estimate was comprised entirely of fish harvested in the month of June, although anecdotal reports suggested a fair harvest also occurred in May 2006.

The overall trout and salmon harvest rate among boats targeting trout and salmon in the months of April-June 2006 was estimated at 1.65 salmonines per boat trip, just slightly above (+3.1%) the 2001-2005 average April-June salmonine harvest rate.  Comparisons by species show that 2006 April-June harvest rates were above their respective 2001-2005 April-June averages only for coho salmon (+350.2%, and the highest April-June coho harvest rate among the years censused), and below their respective 2001-2005 April-June averages for lake trout (-10.6%), rainbow trout (-15.8%), brown trout (-16.8%), Chinook salmon (-17.5%), and Atlantic salmon (none observed yet in 2006).