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Ashland County fish biologist outlines 2025 surveys, stocking and Beaver Lake monitoring
Summary
Jason Bolsa, fish biologist for Ashland–Iron County, told the committee which lakes will be surveyed and stocked this year, described a camera-and-mailbox creel monitor at Beaver Lake on federal land, and said a creel clerk will survey Galilee Lake to meet a treaty reporting obligation.
Jason Bolsa, fish biologist for Ashland–Iron County, briefed the Work and Renovation Committee on the department’s fishing surveys and stocking plans for Ashland County this year.
Bolsa said staff last year completed walleye population estimates on English, Spider, Mochas (transcript: "mocha"), Potter and Spilliver lakes and that most of those lakes will continue to be stocked with walleyes. He told the committee English Lake and several others need continued walleye stocking, while Spilliver showed an "okay to good" walleye population and will not be stocked this year. "We hope to stock and get the walleyes and muskies this year in Augustine," Bolsa said, reporting plans for Augustine Lake after a winter kill two years earlier.
Bolsa described routine muskellunge (muskie) management: English Lake is targeted for additional muskie stocking while other lakes already have adequate muskie populations. He said staff will perform follow-up population work on Spider and Mocha lakes to complete muskie estimates and will do a rapid post-ice-out check at Meter Lake to determine whether walleyes should continue to be stocked there.
On Beaver Lake, Bolsa said crews will install a motion camera and a mailbox with a short creel slip for anglers to record hours fished and catch. "The camera will be monitored and taken care of by the feds," he said, noting Beaver Lake sits on federal land and that federal staff will manage the equipment. The mailbox slips are intended to estimate angler use and help decide whether continued trout stocking is warranted.
Bolsa also said the department will station a creel clerk at Galilee Lake near Mellon during the season to record catch, fish measurements and angler hours. He described that creel work as part of the department’s obligation "to satisfy the treaty declaration" referenced in the meeting; he did not specify which treaty. He said creel clerks work variable shifts and are typically laid off for about a month in late fall/early winter when fishing declines and unsafe ice conditions limit work.
Bolsa told the committee he will return in the fall with a recap of the county surveys and results.
Ending: The committee took the briefing for information. No formal action or vote on fisheries operations was recorded during the meeting.
