Improved stock?
 

If there is not much ice this year, which seems to be the case so far, will that reduced level of fishing have a significant positive impact on the stock for future years?. Maybe we'll see some record catches in 2024.

It wont make a bit of difference...Since salmon cannot be taken through the ice it has zero effect on them, most people are ice fishing for lake trout, rainbow trout or panfish.

There is an over abundance of lake trout in the lake and many need and should be culled. Lakers naturally reproduce in the lake unlike salmon and rainbows which are not natural to the lake and are stocked every year. Without stocking there would be no salmon or rainbows.

The only fish currently at reduced levels in the lake is the Landlocked Salmon. The only reason they are at these reduced levels is due to previous hatchery issues and nothing else. See my previous posts regarding this issue in detail.

The current smelt population which is the main food for salmon, lake trout, Rainbow trout and other species of fish is at an all time high according to net trawling and hydro acoustic surveys done by the States biologist every year so there is an abundance of food to go around. Water quality is also excellent.

Crayfish are gone from around your docks because the rock bass have moved in and basically taken over. They also eat the crayfish fry. Actually the crayfish are not completely gone but have moved to deeper water...

Dan