Harlan Reservoir

2010 Angler Survey Summary

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Brad Newcomb, District Manager

An angler survey was completed at Harlan Reservoir from April through October 2010. During this time
period, angler counts and interviews were completed on 20 days per month, which included 14 weekdays
and 6 weekend days. A total of 140 days were surveyed with 913 interviews. Angler surveys provide
estimates of angling effort, catch and harvest, catch per hour, and sizes of fish caught. From 1990 to
2000, angler surveys were completed annually, but changed to an alternate year format from 2002 to
2008. Starting in 2009, a contract for annual angler surveys at Harlan is planned through 2013.

The following text and graphs provide summaries of this year’s survey data with comparison to past years.

Fishing Effort Summary

An estimated 19,491 angler trips were made to Harlan Reservoir during the seven month survey period in
2010, which was very similar to the previous three years. Extensive flooded vegetation continues to
contribute to difficult fishing conditions and lower angler use. Anglers spent 67,787 hours fishing (5 hrs/acre),
with the average trip lasting 3.5 hours. The following Nebraska counties contributed the most Harlan anglers:
Harlan (23%), Adams (12%), Buffalo (9%), Lancaster (7%), Phelps (6%), and Hall (4%). Non-residents
made up 5% of all anglers.

Total Angler Trips per Year

60000
50000
40000
Angler Trips

30000
20000
10000
0
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2009 2010

2010 Harlan Reservoir Angler Survey - Page 1

Fishing Effort by Month
July had the highest angler use, and the months of May-June-July accounted for 63% of the fishing effort
during the seven month survey period.

Fishing Effort Per Month - 2010

20000
A nlger Trips
A nlger Ho urs

15000
Hours / Trips

10000

5000

0
April May June July August September October

Fish Species Sought by Anglers

Fish species sought by anglers varied by month, with many anglers seeking walleye early, and white bass
later in the year. The percentage of anglers seeking channel catfish was more even throughout the year,
indicative of more consistent success. Over the entire survey period, 43% of Harlan anglers sought white
bass, 26% sought channel catfish, 20% sought walleye, and 11% fished for anything.

Species Sought by Month and Entire Survey - 2010

100%
90%
80%
A nything
70%
Walleye
60%
Channel catfish
50%
White bass
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
April May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Year

2010 Harlan Reservoir Angler Survey - Page 2

Channel Catfish
2010 Regulations: No size limit, 5 fish daily bag

Harvest and release of channel catfish was similar Channel Catfish Caught Per Year
to last year. A total of 10,949 fish were caught, 20000

with 7,327 harvested and 3,622 released. There Number Released

15000

Number of fish
were 630 harvested catfish measured during the Number Harvested

survey, with an average length of 20 inches, and 10000

range of 9 to 34 inches. The total catch rate for
anglers seeking channel catfish was 0.41 fish/ 5000
hour, with a harvest rate of 0.30 fish/hour.
Catfishing has been the highlight of the last two 0
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2009 2010
angling seasons, and the new catfish regulation
that went into effect in 2009 (daily bag of 5) has
not reduced pressure or catch.
Channel Catfish Caught Per Month - 2010
3000
Number Released
2500 Number Harvested

Number of fish
Monthly catch of catfish peaked in July, with good 2000
catch from May through September. Harvest was
1500
much higher than release in May and June.
1000
500
0
April May June July August Sept ember Oct ober

Crappie
2010 Regulations: No size limit, 30 panfish daily bag

Crappie Caught Per Year

Crappie catch from 2002 through 2010 was very
35000
low compared to the late 1990’s. Estimated total
30000
catch of crappie in 2010 was 506, with 164
Number of fish

Number Released
25000
harvested and 342 released. Crappie anglers Number Harvested
20000
caught 0.05 crappie per hour, and harvested 0.03
15000
crappie per hour. There has been excellent
10000
crappie recruitment with high water levels from
5000
2007-2010, and based on the 2010 fall netting
0
survey, future crappie fishing should be very 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2009 2010
good.

Crappie Caught Per Month - 2010

120
Although the numbers are low, crappie catch 100
Number Released
Number Harvested
peaked late in the year, with October the best
Number of fish

80
month. Gremlin Cove and Patterson Harbor
60
provided some good short-term crappie fishing
late in the season. 40
20
0
April May June July August Sept ember Oct ober

2010 Harlan Reservoir Angler Survey - Page 3

Walleye
2010 Regulations: Daily bag limit of four may include one walleye from 15 through 18 inches and three over
18 inches or four over 18 inches, but no more than one over 22 inches in length allowed in the daily bag

Walleye catch was very low again in 2010. Both

harvest (699) and release (650) numbers were Walleye Caught Per Year
near long-term lows. Extensive flooded 30000
vegetation and high reservoir levels contributed 25000 Number Released

to difficult fishing conditions. Catch per hour for Number Harvested

Number of fish
20000
anglers seeking walleye reflected the difficult
fishing conditions, with a total catch rate of 0.07 15000

walleye per hour and a harvest rate of 0.05 fish 10000

per hour. That equates to walleye anglers 5000
averaging 14 hours to catch a walleye, and 20 0
hours to harvest a walleye. An excellent 2010 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2009 2010

year-class of walleye will contribute considerably

to improved walleye recruitment, and with
reduced flooded vegetation over time, walleye fishing success should improve in future years.

Walleye Caught Per Month

200
The numbers were low throughout the season, but Number Released
Number of fish

June was the best month for walleye harvest. June 150 Number Harvested

-July-August contributed 57% of the walleye 100

harvest, while May and July were the best months
for walleye release. 50

0
April May June July August Sept ember Oct ober

Size of Walleyes Caught by Anglers - 2010

Harvested walleye ranged from 15 to 28 inches, 80
with an average of 18.8 inches (73 measured). 70
60
Number of fish

Release
Compliance with the walleye size limit was very 50 Harvest

good, with no walleye under 15 inches 40

encountered during the angler survey. 30
20
10
Walleye from 15-18 inches made up 47% of the 0
harvest and 40% of released walleye. <15 15-18 18-21 21-24 24-27 27+

Length Range (inches)

2010 Harlan Reservoir Angler Survey - Page 4

White Bass
2010 Regulations: 15 fish daily bag, no more than one fish over 18 inches in daily bag

White Bass Caught Per Year

White bass anglers had low success again in 200000
2010. Harvest (13,884) and release (4,255) Number Released
Number Harvested
were near the lowest recorded in the last 10
150000
years. Catch rates for anglers seeking white

Number of fish
bass were poor, with 0.43 fish caught per hour
and 0.33 harvested per hour. NGPC survey 100000
work indicates improved white bass
recruitment, and hopefully white bass fishing
50000
will rebound in future years.

0
19 9 5 19 9 7 19 9 9 2002 2006 2009

White Bass Caught Per Month - 2010

5000
Number Released
4000
Number of fish

Number Harvested
July and August were the best months for white
3000
bass harvest, while June had the highest
number of released white bass. 2000

1000

0
April May June July August Sept ember Oct ober

Size of White Bass Caught by Anglers - 2010

500
Number of Fish

400
Harvested white bass ranged from 6 to 16 Release
300
inches, with an average of 11.5 inches (1,145 Harvest

measured). White bass from 10-12 inches 200

made up 76% of the harvest in 2010. White 100
bass over 12 inches made up 20% of the 0
harvest. <8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17+
Length Group (inches)

2010 Harlan Reservoir Angler Survey - Page 5

Wipers
2010 Regulations: 15 fish daily bag, no more than one fish over 18 inches in daily bag

Anglers caught very few wipers again in 2010. Wipers Caught Per Year
Wiper catch has been low since 2006. The low 5000
wiper catch is the result of no stockings from 2000 Number Released
4000 Number Harvested
through 2004. Recent wiper stockings in 2005 and

Number of fish
2008, and planned stocking for 2011, should 3000
improve future wiper fishing. In 2010, there was
2000
an estimate of 197 wipers harvested and 64
released. Harvested wipers ranged from 10 to 27 1000
inches long, with an average of 18.7 inches (23
0
measured). 19 9 5 19 9 7 19 9 9 2002 2006 2009

Wipers Caught Per Month - 2010

80
Number Released
Number of fish

June was the best harvest month for wipers, while 60 Number Harvested

May and July contributed all of the released wipers.

40

20

0
April May June July August Sept ember Oct ober

2010 Harlan Reservoir Angler Survey - Page 6

Miscellaneous Species
Six other fish species were represented in the 2010 angler catch, with freshwater drum the most numerous.
Bluegill and largemouth bass catch were higher than past surveys, likely a result of high water levels and
improved shoreline habitat. A few rainbow trout have shown up the last two years, most likely fish that have
moved downstream from stockings up in the watershed.

2010 Harlan Reservoir Catch by Species

2500

Release
2000
Harvest
Number of Fish

1500

1000

500

0
Common

Flathead
Largemouth
Bluegill

Rainbow
Freshwater

catfish
carp

trout
drum

bass

For additional information about fisheries management at Harlan Reservoir, please contact the
NGPC Kearney office at 308-865-5310 or by email at the addresses listed below.

District Manager: Brad Newcomb: brad.newcomb@nebraska.gov

Biologist: Brad Eifert: brad.eifert@nebraska.gov

2010 Harlan Reservoir Angler Survey - Page 7