Fishing Cisco Lake

Cisco Lake's walleye are the key to this 506-acre fishery - they've grown larger since 1975 (averaging 18.2 inches in 1992 versus 15.9 inches historically) but their abundance has dropped significantly, from 26.6% of the catch by weight in 1975 to just 16.5% in 1992. With 81% of walleye at legal size and growth rates 1.9 inches below state average, these fish are surviving well but reproducing poorly. The Lac Vieux Desert tribe has speared 88 and 114 walleye in recent years, averaging 16.3 inches. The lake's panfish populations have exploded to fill the void left by declining walleye - bluegill and pumpkinseed combined jumped from 8.1% to 44.1% of the catch by weight, though bluegill size dropped from 7.5 inches in 1990 to just 6.0 inches in 1992 with only 53% at acceptable size. Yellow perch have been squeezed out, declining from 33.2% to 11.1% by weight as sunfish expanded. Northern pike remain small and slow-growing with no size limit - complaints persist about numerous small pike. The 20-foot deep lake is part of the Cisco Chain with water levels held artificially high by a downstream dam for power generation. Bottom composition varies from sand in the main basin to pulpy peat in shallow areas, with abundant aquatic vegetation providing cover. The lake stays well-oxygenated to the bottom and appears homothermous most of the time. Black crappie averaging nearly 10 inches have appeared since 1988, though their numbers fluctuate. With sufficient spawning substrate for all species and gradual shoals in flooded areas, the lake produces decent fishing despite the predator-prey imbalance that developed as large walleye from the late 1970s and early 1980s aged out of the population.