The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is beginning an angler survey on Lake Memphremagog this December. The survey will extend through November 2020 and will survey anglers on both the American and Canadian sections of the lake.
Clerks from the department will interview anglers on the lake 2 to 4 days per week, including Saturdays and Sundays during the survey period. Survey activities will include visual counts of anglers, interviews of anglers to obtain information about fishing effort, catch and harvest rates, and biological data such as the length, weight, and age of fish kept by anglers.
The Great Lakes Fishery Commission funded the two-year survey. Lake Memphremagog is over 30 miles long. Three quarters of the lake is in Quebec, however three quarters of the watershed (the land area that drains into the lake) is in Vermont.
“The angler survey will provide important biological data about the fishery and angling pressure in different areas of Lake Memphremagog,” said Pete Emerson, fisheries biologist with Vermont Fish & Wildlife. “This information is extremely useful to our department in helping us manage the lake’s fish populations.”
Emerson emphasized to anglers that all information shared with the survey clerks will remain confidential. “Ultimately, anglers providing honest, accurate information will allow us to manage the resource moving forward and ensure that quality fishing opportunities remain in Lake Memphremagog for years to come,” he said.