If i have the time id love to involved . I remember fishing this lake as a kid and everything was stout. We used to murder the slabs here . You know the crappie are nice when you were throwing fish under 12 " back . I wish i had pictures and idc if im believed or not but one fall i assisted in the catch of a black crappie that was everybit 18-20 inches . I was using someones pole while they were lighting the latern and bobber dropped. Drag started pulling and i swore i had a bass . Once it surfaced and i saw that big circle of lips immediate excitement set in. Then the guy snatched the pole from me lol i was idk 11-13 cant remember, i just know i could fit my hand in its mouth . I know that fish was rare but 12+ wasnt . I hate having to drive to pymie an hour when wilhelm is 20 minutes .

As for stocking Chain Pickerel I would agree with not a good idea. Pike are not a favored table fare, though they can be filleted and are quite yummy, not many anglers would target the fish for eating. I would fear this leading to a similar situation happening, when Wilhelm first opened.

For controlling the stupid shad, I think more Walleye, Sauger, Saugeye etc.

However, for now, leave well enough alone as Wilhelm has made a tremendous turn around regarding a family fun fishing lake. Butttttt that being said, I would like to see surveys taken, especially on the heavily laden pontoon boats, as to the quality and quantity of pan fish leaving the lake.

mopars0
Getting closer guys , about ready to put the new licenses on the boat ... of course had to ask the better half were I put them when they came in the mail ... this aging factor is starting to suck 😜👍... had a guy at my buddy’s camp in Canada show me how to do the pike .. fillet it , cut into little cube pieces, boiled it for about 8-10 minutes in water .... dip it in melted butter or a sauce of your choice .... really tasty... he called it poor mans lobster 😜

 
 
Yummy........

Anyone know if there is much open water along the shoreline near the dam? 

Dad-burn-it Captain.... NO SPOT BURNING!!!!


Sweet dreams Mopars.

Steve, I'm looking out my window at the snow, blowing and, continuing to accumulate. I think, for the time being, I'll just close my eyes and dream of good fishing to come.

I'm such a wus, Stupid old age.

It's been a few years Steve, but I can still remember waking up the first morning of trout season, with snow nearly collapsing my canvas tent.   Ummm, keep that trout thingy under your hat.... OK? 

If I could go back and stay at a point in time, it would be those days, for sure.

Hey did I tell ya about my new 'past time' Ice Sculpting!!!

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My wife says I should stick to basket weaving or maybe, something safer like tieing bobber stops. 😕

Yep, in a very low tone he grumbled... no spot burning!!!

So you don't have to go back to the original thread:
 
 
Sent an email to the park office a few months ago per the shad problem at Lake Wilhelm and when the next biologist report was due to be conducted:
Took awhile but finally received a ('canned') reply:
 
Monday, November 27, 2017 7:00 PM
 
Dear Mr. MikesDad,
 
Thank you for the question regarding our next scheduled survey in Lake Wilhelm. I’m the fisheries biologist responsible for managing the fishery populations in Lake Wilhelm. We anticipate conducting another routine lake sampling survey either next year or if not by 2019. Again, like most of our lake surveys that are  conducted annually this will depend on staff availability and our prioritization of other lakes that are to be sampled over the next two years. Due to the size of this impoundment it requires combined efforts both our Area 1 and Area 2 fisheries management offices to effectively sample and access the status of the lakes fish population. For the past three to four years our office has been concentrating its efforts primarily on our musky lake populations. Results of this survey work, along with other information, was used to update the Musky Management Plan in making some necessary changes to our stocking program. I see much of this musky targeted sampling work winding down at this point, given the plan was recently finalized, which should provide us the opportunity to return back to many of our Area 2 lakes that haven’t been sampled in the past 8 to 10 years.
 
Thanks for the question.
 
Regards,
Brian A. Ensign| Fisheries Biologist – Area 2
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission
172 Fish Hatchery Lane | Tionesta, PA 16353
Phone: (814) 755-3890 | Fax: (814) 755-3452
Email: bensign@pa.gov
 
And my reply:
 
 
Dear Mr Ensign,
 
2004,  2010 and then maybe in 2019 for the next biologist report?
 
Hmmmm…..sounds to me like, “Maybe if we ignore the problem it will go away”.
( as in Gizzard Shad/Fish and Boat Commission)
 
Yes, of course I know that the fish commission has increased the number of walleye and musky ‘fingerling’ that they have been stocking in Lake Wilhelm to try to address the bio-mass of gizzard shad.
 
I also know the growth rate of the above mentioned fingerling. ( as I am sure that you are aware as well)
I also know the growth rate and lifespan of the Hybrid Stripped Bass that would certainly help alleviate the problem at Lake Wilhelm.
What weren’t caught by anglers, would die off in 7 years.
But no, we can’t have Hybrids in the lake.
 
Yes, I understand. You cannot upset ‘the balance’ of the lake by introducing Hybrid Striped Bass, as I was told by a “Fish Cop” at the launch one when I suggested it to him about 6 years ago.
Like I told him……”Upset the ‘balance of the lake????”
“What is the balance NOW??!!”
He replied, “Well, we’ve seen this before. It will take care of itself.”
Really now.
Enough said.
 
Good luck on your concentration on the Musky fisheries in the area and the management of them.
I’m sure that that is important to some people and great for publicity and public funds for the Fish Commission.
 
Really can’t blame you for putting off the biologist report for Lake Wilhem.
Who would want to spend days over there pulling those stinking, slimy Gizzard Shad up in the nets by the thousands and then have to publicly deal with the issue once it is made known??
 
Thank you for the ‘canned’ reply Brian.
Take care.
 
 

BTDT ... he is whispering through my phone ,I hear him saying “we’re waiting Steve “ 🍺🍺

Gee Whiz Brock, there are only so many biologist to go around and there is only so many hours in a day.  To put out nets, then survey the catch and you expect a written report in the same year TOO? 
                                                                                            
 
 
 
 
Mopars, them voices you hear, they sayin "Fish the road beds"   
 
 

Pymes dead going to Wilhelm now just gotta round up the sled dogs

Brock I don't think, asking someone or an agency like the PFBC to "do their job"..... is asking too much.
 
Yinz do realize..... those pictures of the Walleye are not for survey results but staged as a "PHOTO-OP".   Wilhelm will be so over-fished in the coming months but the bait shops and camp grounds, should do well. 
 
 
Oh yeah.......   Wilhelm does have a Walleye season, there is no snagging wall, and I've never seen the dude with the kerosene lantern.
 
 
Errrrr...'cept for the 'blue shirts'.

BeenThereDoneThat.

                                                                                            
 

 
 
Mopars, them voices you hear, they sayin "Fish the road beds"   
 
 

some road bed results from past outings