White Lake Conservancy District
Fish Survey Report Conducted by Aquatic Control Inc.
November 2015
Major
Objectives of Survey
- To provide a current status report on the fish community of White Lake.
- To compare the current characteristics of the fish community with established indices and averages for Indiana lakes.
- To provide recommendations for management strategies to enhance or sustain the sport fish community.
Summary
and Recommendations
The fishery of White Lake should provide
good fishing opportunities for quality bluegill and redear sunfish. The largemouth bass population is
experiencing some crowding at certain size ranges, and it may be difficult to
catch many bass over 15.0 inches.
Overabundant dense aquatic vegetation was also noticed during the survey
in certain areas of the lake, and may be impacting the fisher. It is recommended to keep aquatic vegetation
to around 20% of the lake. Note:
The WLCD Board will meet with Aquatic Control to get specific methods of
reducing the vegetation.
The following recommendations, listed in order of importance, will
help protect and enhance the fishery in White Lake:
- Implement a 12.0 to 17.0 inch slot limit. Under this limit, 5 bass under 12.0 inches and 1 bass over 17.0 inches can be harvested per angler per day. One bass over the slot could be kept, but catch and release of the larger fish should be encouraged. This limit will only be effective if smaller bass are harvested.
- Limit bluegill harvest to 10 fish per day for the next two years.
- Implement an aquatic vegetation plan to reduce the abundance of dense vegetation. Dense vegetation should be maintained at 20% coverage. [See note in previous paragraph]
- Limit redear sunfish harvest to 5 fish per day.
- Remove all black crappie and yellow bullhead when caught. Currently, these species pose no serious threat to the fishery, but harvest will help aide in maintaining populations.
- Conduct a Standard Fish Survey in 2018 in order to monitor the effects of the above recommendations and assess needs for further management activities.
- If channel catfish are desired, stock five hundred 6.0 – 8.0 inch fish. This species will provide additional angling opportunity.
Note: It was also verbally recommended to not take
fish off their nests or male fish protecting their nests during spawning
season.
Prepared by: Jimmy Ferguson, Aquatic Biologist
Aquatic
Control Inc.
Seymour,
IN
To read the entire report, please contract WLCD
President at www.javeritt848@gmail.com
