Sampling Fish in Lakes — Methods to Increase Your Catch – Online – April 10th, 2026

Location: Fully online

Fish sampling in lakes differs fundamentally from sampling in flowing waters, necessitating distinct techniques and sampling designs. A robust and defensible sampling design starts with a clear objective and a solid understanding of fish distribution in lakes in relation to a lake’s physical and chemical properties. This MicroCourse will explore how to define your objective, assess fish distribution in lakes, and select sites and sampling techniques to effectively address your research questions.

Sampling Fish in Lakes — Methods to Increase Your Catch is designed for fisheries professionals working in environments where sampling procedures are not strictly dictated by regulatory requirements. This MicroCourse serves as a companion to Evaluating Water Quality of Lakes — Collecting High Quality Samples.

Course will be 4 hours long.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, you will be able to:

1. Describe the key physical and chemical properties of lakes that influence fish distribution and sampling design.
2. Define the purpose of a fisheries assessment by clearly stating assessment objectives and target species or populations.
3. Select appropriate sampling sites based on lake characteristics, fish distribution, and assessment objectives.
4. Select appropriate fish sampling techniques that align with assessment objectives, target species, and site conditions.