Lake Davis Fisheries Management

Purse Seining

The use of a purse seine is one method recommended for use by the Department in helping to control the northern pike population at Lake Davis. Purse seining allows sampling a variety of water depths, ranging from 2 to 40 plus feet, depending on the size of the purse seine net. In addition, it allows Department personnel to release desirable fish, such as rainbow trout, back into the lake and remove northern pike.

In the spring of 2000, the Department solicited bids from the private business sector to conduct a two week purse seine operation. This two week period was used to evaluate the efficiency of the purse seining operation. Mr. Larry Hollinshead, owner/operator of Nevada Carp, Winnemucca, NV, was the successful bidder and in August of 2000, a total of 49 purse seine hauls were made in a period of 10 work days. A total of 5 northern pike were captured during this period. Although this was a small number, Department personnel had not expected to see many pike captured as the population was estimated to be relatively small in number and size. The mesh size of the purse seine allows for the capture of pike approximately 8 inches and larger.

Based on the experimental testing of the purse seine operation, the Department determined purse seining to be a viable method for capturing and removing northern pike from the lake, while allowing for the live release of all other species of fish back into the lake. Based on this decision, the Department again solicited bids from the private sector for a three year purse seine contract at Lake Davis. Mr. Hollinshead of Nevada Carp was the lowest bidder and was awarded the contract. Purse seine work commenced in June of 2001 and will continue until December 31 of 2003.

Photographs of the purse seining operation