Fish Sampling on Turtle Creek
Posted: August 2008

For the past five years the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has been stocking trout in Turtle Creek. According to Theresa Shay from the Decorah Fish Management Unit; approximately 2000 fingerling brown trout have been stocked into Turtle Creek annually since 2003. This year the stocking was reduced to about 1400 due to some hatchery issues. Catchable size rainbow and brook trout (10-13 inch) are stocked weekly. It was decided to sample the stream this year to help measure the success of this program.

The sampling took place on Thursday August 14, 2008. The first sample site was located in the pasture on the Kittleson farm northeast of St.Ansgar and the second site was located on the Boerjan Wildlife Area north of St. Ansgar on Hwy. 218.

Each sample site was approximately one quarter of a mile stream length. The sites had a good variety of conditions which include every thing from banks that were nearly non-vegetated to heavily vegetated banks with good tree populations to provide shade. In stream conditions were also quite diverse with areas that were shallow, fast running with rocky substrate to provide ripples to slow flowing deeper pools. The diversity of the sites gives the DNR Fisheries Biologists a good idea of the condition of the entire stream just by sampling these two sites.

Two sites were sampled with an electro-shock method that temporarily stuns the fish making it possible to net the fish so they can be observed and data can be collected. The data that is collected includes visual observation of health and condition of each fish, specie identification, length and weight. Once this data is recorded the fish are released back to the stream unharmed.

Approximately 396 fish/mile were sampled on the Boerjan Wildlife Area and 328 fish/mile were sampled on Kittleson property. Several year classes were observed with fish ranging in size from 4 inch fish (which were from spring 2008 stocking) to 17 inch brown trout which would be about 5 years old and lots of sizes in between.

"Overall, I would say our fingerling stocking is doing very well and we will continue. Also stocking brown trout fingerling gives anglers another fish to catch that is more wily than your typical hatchery raised fish." said Shay. For more information about the stocking program, fish sampling or general questions about Turtle Creek contact Dan at the Mitchell County SWCD office, 641-732-5504.