By Ann Austin , Tribune staff writer

Anglers short on luck should probably credit well-fed fish rather than a lack of fish, according to Department of Natural Resources fishery officials

A survey by the Department of Natural Resources, Waterville fishery on Albert Lea Lake last week indicates the lake is full of a variety of fish, including perch northern pike, walleye and bullhead.

DNR Fishery Specialist Craig Berberich and Fishery Technician Melvin Kuball dropped nets throughout Albert Lea Lake, letting them sit 24 hours before conducting the fish count. Two types of nets were used, 250-foot experimental gill nets to test walleye, pike and northern fish populations, and trap nets which are set along the shore to catch pan fish.

During the counts, fish were measured and weighed. At one site a 26-inch northern pike and 13.5-inch large mouth bass were in the net, along with a large catfish, several small bullheads, carp, crappie, one walleye and sunfish.

&uot;We’re seeing good numbers of game fish,&uot; Berberich said, adding that there are plenty of large fish as well as young fish.

Overall readings for the week averaged 27 walleyes per net, with most found in eight to 12 inches of water, which indicate they were from the stock last year, Berberich said. Yellow perch averaged 90 per net at eight to 11 inches. An average of four northern pike were also recoreded. Surveyors said they saw some 16- to 17-inch walleye in their nets.

Though the DNR has regularly monitored fish populations since releasing several million walleye fry almost two years ago, the count last week was a scheduled check of the overall fish population, performed every five years.

A final count will be taken Monday. All numbers will be entered into a database and will be compared to previous studies.