While the Great Lakes Indian Fishing-Wildlife Commission and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources conducts a reproduction index every fall on Lake Chippewa, a more encompassing survey is done in the springtime every 8-10 years employing electrical shocking. This method safely stuns fish long enough for a
census of an area to be completed. Not all the data has been processed from the latest study done spring 2000, but preliminary results are in.

Walleyes: Focusing on mature spawning fish, which would be 11-12 inches or bigger for male walleyes and 15 inches or more for females, projected figures showed 5.3 per acre. According to DNR Fish Biologist Frank Pratt this is an excellent average, not only up from the last study done in 1990-91, but also way above the regional average in this part of northern Wisconsin.

In the latest fall survey completed projections indicated 100 walleye fingerlings per mile. Pratt noted while this too is a very high number for the region, it is average for the Chippewa Flowage. In fact, he stated it has been as high as over 200 walleye fingerlings per mile. While Pratt predicted it was not expected to be that high this fall, the walleye factory of the Chip needs only one strong spring class every three to four years to maintain excellent production.

Musky: It is very hard to predict trends in the Musky fishery because it is difficult to index reproduction. The population remains stable and information gleaned from Musky Charts located around the Chippewa Flowage and from creel surveys indicates that Flowage Muskies continue to increase in average size.
Northern: The Northern Pike population has continued to increase, although average size is expected to decrease
Bass: The smallmouth bass fishery on the East side of the Chippewa Flowage is experiencing an all time boom increasing in both size and numbers. The West side of the Flowage is undergoing a similar boom in the largemouth population. Frank Pratt, DNR Fish Biologist felt these results were more a consequence of larger size limits, but not necessarily an impact of the later fishing season.
Crappie: The Black Crappie population is rebounding nicely, and sizes are up. Consider that a 15-inch crappie is a ten-year-old fish, a challenge to attain in the first place. While crappies are sensitive to fishing pressure, the sizes common on the Chippewa Flowage are better than average and more prevalent compared to other area lakes.