Generated: June 13, 2025
Broad-scale Fisheries Monitoring Bulletin
PAKWASH LAKE - FMZ 4 - 2018-2024
Pakwash Lake facts
Location: District of Kenora
Surface area: 8638 hectares
Maximum depth: 17.4 metres
Average depth: 6.8 metres
Water clarity: 2.3 metres
Monitoring activities
Fish netting - yes
Fish contaminants - yes
Zooplankton - yes
Water chemistry - yes
Bathymetry - no
Water temperature/dissolved oxygen - yes
Aquatic invasive species - yes
Netting summary
Netting period(s): June 21 to June 23 2019
Number of net sets: 45
Number of fish species caught: 16
Figure 2. Map of Ontario with
FMZ 4 highlighted
Figure 1. Outline of Pakwash Lake
About Broad-scale Fisheries Monitoring
The Broad-scale Fisheries Monitoring program collects information from representative lakes in fisheries management zones across the province to help biologists manage our fisheries effectively. This bulletin provides a snapshot of recent monitoring activities and netting results. The sampling approach allows us to measure and evaluate the health of Ontario’s lakes and their fish communities, and track changes through time over broad areas of Ontario. To learn more about the sampling program visit
Methods for monitoring fish populations.
Fish netting results
Fish populations were surveyed using large and small mesh nets to provide information on fish species present and their characteristics, such as growth, age, and abundance. The catch data (depicted in the chart below) show that 12 species were surveyed in large mesh nets. Additional fish species observed in small mesh nets were Emerald Shiner, Logperch, Spottail Shiner, and Trout-perch.
Total
catch
% |
Maximum
length
(cm) |
Minimum
length
(cm) |
Average
length
(cm) |
| 23 |
79.3 |
21.4 |
45.7 |
| 14 |
57.4 |
27.1 |
43.2 |
| 14 |
104.3 |
37.4 |
68.3 |
| 13 |
41.0 |
20.7 |
30.0 |
| 13 |
45.3 |
22.5 |
32.0 |
| 12 |
53.0 |
18.8 |
41.8 |
| 7 |
30.4 |
13.1 |
22.9 |
| 2 |
39.4 |
29.5 |
36.6 |
| 1 |
60.9 |
42.0 |
49.5 |
| < 1 |
68.1 |
49.2 |
58.5 |
| < 1 |
44.8 |
38.9 |
41.6 |
| < 1 |
14.2 |
14.2 |
14.2 |
Length distribution of Walleye
Catch results are presented in 10-cm length intervals, labelled with the lower limit
(e.g., the "20 cm" interval represents fish between 20 cm and 29 cm).
The size of Walleye ranged from 21 to 79 cm.
Length distribution of Smallmouth Bass
Catch results are presented in 10-cm length intervals, labelled with the lower limit
(e.g., the "20 cm" interval represents fish between 20 cm and 29 cm).
The size of Smallmouth Bass ranged from 38 to 44 cm.
Water chemistry and temperature
Water samples were collected in May 2019 and sent to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change for analysis. Water temperature, oxygen levels, and water transparency were measured in June 2019. The graph shows the temperature of Pakwash Lake with increasing depth. The temperature at the surface was 18.3 degrees Celsius and declined to 11.2 degrees Celsius at the bottom of the lake.
Aquatic invasive species
Field crews searched for aquatic invasive species. Zooplankton samples are being processed to determine if any new invasive species are present. Any species new to Ontario or an invasive species that is a new record for a waterbody is reported to the Invading Species Hotline (
www.invadingspecies.com).
Fish contaminants
Levels of contaminants in fish flesh (e.g., mercury, PCB’s, mirex, organochlorine pesticides, and other organic chemicals) will be reported in:
The Guide to Eating Ontario Sport Fish.
