Farlain Lake Fisheries. . .A Snapshot in Time
By Peter Andrews

Nestled into the highlands of the Penetanguishene Peninsula is a small, warm water lake. Farlain Lake is recognized in the Official Plan for Tiny Township as a ‘significant environmental feature that should be protected to ensure that water quality and ecological functions are not compromised.’

Like many other lakes in Ontario, Farlain Lake is undergoing change: change in water quality, in ecological integrity, and in use.

To better understand how the changes that are underway in Farlain Lake may be affecting the fisheries, a ‘snapshot’ in time was undertaken between June 16-19, 2008 by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). This ‘snapshot’ consisted of water quality sampling, netting of the fish community and fish habitat assessments. Angling pressure on the fisheries resource will be measured in the future through aerial creel methods. MNR refers to this multi-faceted monitoring initiative as ‘broad-scale monitoring.’ MNR also did a Double Crested Cormorant survey as well as a survey of any potential invasive species in Farlain Lake.

MNR’s broad-scale monitoring program (BSM) is part of their Ecological Framework for Fisheries Management. This new program will enable fisheries staff to compare lakes across Ontario and even Canada more effectively.

Farlain Lake is one of twelve inland lakes in Fisheries Management Zone 16 being monitored by a fisheries survey crew based out of the Midhurst MNR office. Zone 16 extends from Windsor to Lake Simcoe and north to the Bruce Peninsula and to the Penetanguishene Peninsula/Severn Sound area.

The purpose of the BSM is to verify the abundance and health of sport fish in lakes 20 hectares or larger in size. The Ministry’s goal is to survey all inland lakes across Ontario over the next five years and revisit these same lakes over a five-year cycle. The lakes are divided into two groups: fixed lakes and variable lakes. Fixed lakes are lakes that contain walleye, lake trout or brook trout, and they will be monitored on a five-year cycle to measure how the fisheries resource changes over time and the success or failure of regulatory and fisheries management efforts.

Farlain Lake was identified as a ‘fixed’ lake because walleye were stocked in the lake during 1951-1956, and a fisheries survey undertaken in 1984 identified their continued presence. In addition to walleye, the 1984 fisheries survey identified the presence of smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, rock bass, yellow perch, black crappie and other species. Anecdotal recollections by long-time residents in the lake community indicated that both smallmouth bass and largemouth bass were the predominant sport fish in the lake and could be seen nesting at the end of docks in early June.

Variable lakes are selected randomly at the beginning of each five-year cycle. The sampling of these lakes is designed to yield a broad overall picture (i.e. relative health of fish and the lake, identification of any invasive species, etc.) of provincial lakes. This ‘snapshot’ will provide insight into the overall state of fisheries in Ontario.

All aspects of the fisheries survey on Farlain Lake were coordinated by Gregory Cull, fish and wildlife technical specialist, and Stacey McKee, fisheries crew leader.

Each evening, during the four-day survey, the fisheries survey team consisting of Stacey McKee and Evan Gallimore positioned 150’ gill nets in different locations on the lake. The following morning fish captured in the gill net were removed and analyzed. The fish were biologically sampled by species for total length, weight, fin clips, stomach content, sex and gonad maturity. Contaminant and DNA samples are taken and analyzed by the Ministry of Environment; data collected across Ontario is published in the ‘Guide to Eating Sport Fish’ guidelines for Ontario.

Overnight gillnetting is the most economical scientifically accepted method to sample fish in a lake. Only through this method of capture can accurate information on sex, age, maturity, and stomach contents of the fish be obtained, along with the length and weight measurements. The impact of netting fish of all sizes from very small to very large is minimal on fish populations and individuals. MNR estimates the mortality rate to be less than 2% of any species in the lake.

Stacey McKee provided a preliminary result from the fisheries survey for use in the Association’s annual general meeting. Results show that yellow perch is the predominant species (55%) while walleye and largemouth bass have a minor presence (1% each) in the lake. Other species (e.g. smallmouth bass, rock bass, pumpkinseed, etc.) are present and vary in representation of the overall fishery. As walleye were present in the 2008 BSM survey, Farlain Lake will continue to be identified by MNR as a ‘fixed lake.’ Good news emanating from the BSM survey was the absence of black crappie in the sampling. Black crappie is a non-native species that could introduce other invasive species and parasites into Farlain Lake. Stacey stated that anglers need to be aware of the potential for introducing non-native species (e.g., black crappie) into a lake when dumping bait buckets or when moving from lake to lake.

When asked why there was a noticeable decline in the largemouth bass population and why walleye do not have a greater presence in the lake, Stacey offered the following explanation. “There is a limited amount of macrophytes (aquatic plants) in Farlain Lake. Habitat may be a limiting factor for the fish, since the bottom of the lake is 90% sand.” She also explained that ”walleye is a specialist species that requires specific habitat, environmental conditions, spawning habitat and food to survive.” Stacey also noted that walleye are very sensitive to light. Lakes containing an invasive species (i.e. zebra mussels) have an increased clarity in the water thereby permitting light to penetrate deeper into the water. Farlain Lake does not have these clarity characteristics.

Bathymetric mapping (defining lake depth contours) of Farlain Lake was also undertaken by Greg Cull and GIS specialist Paul Jurjans to aid in the assessment of the lake’s fisheries; water depth data is important when evaluating fish habitat.

Information on Farlain Lake, along with data collected on other Ontario inland lakes, will guide MNR fisheries managers and lake fisheries management zone advisory councils in the development of fisheries management plans and regulations in the future.

Analysis of the Farlain Lake BSM survey will help define existing conditions and problems, and input from MNR fisheries specialists will help provide direction for short-term and long-term management of the fisheries resource.