Limnetic Larval Fish in Northern Wisconsin Lakes

Abstract

The open water of two northern Wisconsin lakes was sampled for larval fish at night with fine-mesh conical townets. Those collected were identified to genus or species and enumerated. The majority of larval fish were captured in the limnetic region but a few never strayed from the littoral region.The seasonal changes of the limnetic species were similar for the two lakes and 3 years of study. Their abundance varied greatly from year to year but yellow perch, sunfish, and black crappies always dominated.