Squirrel Lake Group Meeting

Contents
Squirrel Lake Group Meeting
FolderReports
Date
SourceWisconsin DNR and GLIFWC
AuthorNathan J. Lederman, Chad Leanna, Royce Zehr (Wisconsin DNR); Brandon Byrne (GLIFWC)
TopicsShoreline, Shoreline Habitat Education and Improvement, No Wake Buoys Protecting Prime Walleye Spawning Sites, Bass, Walleye, General, Musky, Walleye Regulation Change for 2027, Aquatic Plants, Water Quality, Lake Temperature Monitor
FileMeeting slides (PDF) (PDF, 3.2 MB)

1. Squirrel Lake Group Meeting

  • Nathan J. Lederman – Oneida County Fisheries Team
  • Chad Leanna – Oneida County Fisheries Team
  • Royce Zehr – Fisheries Supervisor
  • Brandon Byrne – Inland Fisheries Biologist

August 26

2. Regulation update

GUIDE TO WISCONSIN HOOK AND LINE FISHING REGULATIONS 2024-2025
Effective April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2025
Fishing Wisconsin Walleye in Inland Waters in 2024? Think 3

3. Nearshore Substrate Survey

Bar chart of feet of shoreline by substrate (Artificial, Boulder, Cobble, Gravel, Organic, Rubble, Sand) on Squirrel Lake, beside a map of the lake with the shoreline colored by substrate.
Nearshore Substrate Survey. Wisconsin DNR, August 26, 2026

4. Nearshore Substrate Survey

Stacked bar chart of percent of shoreline by substrate for Anvil, Clear, Crescent, Katherine and Squirrel lakes.
Nearshore Substrate Survey. Wisconsin DNR, August 26, 2026

5. Nearshore Substrate Survey

Drawing of cobble embeddedness levels (under 25%, 25-50%, 50-75%, over 75%) beside a stacked bar chart of embeddedness classes 0 to 4 for Boulder, Cobble, Gravel and Rubble shoreline.
Nearshore Substrate Survey: Cobble Embeddedness. Wisconsin DNR, August 26, 2026

6. Natural Reproduction Potential

7. Maintain ideal areas

Slide with an early life-stage timeline for Minocqua (Embryo Period, 21 days; Critical Larval Period, 14 days; Complete Larval Period, 30 days; marked 6/11 and 6/27) and a map of Squirrel Lake's rocky shoreline colored by embeddedness, with two areas circled in red.
Maintain ideal areas. Wisconsin DNR, August 26, 2026 (timeline: Onterra 2023)

8. The Value of Shoreland Zoning

https://manitowoccountywi.gov/departments/planning-and-zoning/shoreland/

9. Shoreline assessments

How will your shore score?

  • Entry
  • Restoration
  • Enhancement
  • Protection

https://extensionlakes.org/wi

10. Shoreline actions

Healthy Lakes & Rivers illustration of a lakeshore cabin property labeled Diversion, Rock Infiltration, 350 square feet Native Plantings, Rain Garden and Fish Sticks.
Shoreline actions. Wisconsin DNR, August 26, 2026

11. Limit high sediment areas

Map of Squirrel Lake shoreline segments colored by embeddedness score 0 to 4, with three areas circled in red.
Limit high sediment areas. Wisconsin DNR, August 26, 2026

12. Safe handling of walleye

Walleye in our Hands flyer with release tips under Terminal Tackle, Environmental Conditions and Handling, with agency logos along the bottom.
Walleye in our Hands. Wisconsin DNR, August 26, 2026

13. Bass Population Estimate (GLIFWC)

14. Bass Population Estimate Results

Largemouth Bass

  • 0.53 LMB per acre
  • ~695 fish
  • 27.04% CV

Smallmouth Bass

  • 0.19 SMB per acre
  • ~254 fish
  • 29.81% CV

15. Bass Population Estimate Results

  • LMB and SMB present in modest abundance
  • Neither species seems likely to impose substantive impacts to walleye population at current abundances

16. User Survey

Horizontal bar chart of responses: improved, Remained the same, Gotten worse, Unsure, Very often.
User Survey: How has the aquatic habitat within Squirrel Lake changed since you have been on Squirrel Lake? Wisconsin DNR, August 26, 2026

17. User Survey

Stacked bar chart of responses (Decreased, Stayed the same, Increased, Unsure) for aquatic vegetation, shoreline development, shoreline habitat amount, water level, water clarity and sediment level.
User Survey: Based on your own observations, how has the aquatic habitat in Squirrel Lake changed? Wisconsin DNR, August 26, 2026

18. User Survey

Horizontal bar chart of responses: Improved, About the same, Worse, Unsure.
User Survey: How has the fishery changed since you have been fishing Squirrel Lake? Wisconsin DNR, August 26, 2026

19. User Survey

Horizontal bar chart of responses: Great, Good, Average, Poor.
User Survey: How would you describe the current quality of fishing on Squirrel Lake? Wisconsin DNR, August 26, 2026

20–21. User Survey

Stacked bar chart of interest level (High, Medium, Low, No interest) for black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye and yellow perch.
User Survey: Please indicate your level of interest in fishing for the following species on Squirrel Lake. Wisconsin DNR, August 26, 2026

22. User Survey

Stacked bar chart of preferred approach (Catch and Release emphasis, Balanced approach, Sustainable harvest emphasis) for black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye and yellow perch.
User Survey: What kind of fishing opportunities would you like to have on Squirrel Lake for each of the following species. Wisconsin DNR, August 26, 2026

23. User Survey

Horizontal bar chart of responses: the current regulation is appropriate for the fishery; should be changed to a more restrictive limit; should be changed to less restrictive limits; Unsure / No opinion.
User Survey: Which of the following statements best reflects your view on the current walleye regulation for Squirrel Lake (no minimum length limit; maximum of one fish over 14 inches)? Wisconsin DNR, August 26, 2026

24. User Survey

Horizontal bar chart of responses: Every time, Most of the time, About half the time, Less than half the time, Never.
User Survey: How often have you reported Floy tag information to GLIFWC or the DNR? Wisconsin DNR, August 26, 2026

25. Plans for next spring