BALDWIN LAKE STATUS REPORT SUMMARY
LARGEMOUTH BASS: BALDWIN LAKE - Growth rates for bass
are exceptional in this cooling lake. Average growth rates for 1+ year
old fish are 14.8" and for 2+ year old fish are 17.5". Our survey
showed that bass were fairly abundant in the 12 to 18 inch length range,
and in excellent condition. We did collect a few 20 to 21 inch fish that
weighed 4.5 to 4.7 pounds. A good lake for honing bass fishing skills
due to the abundant population. A 18 inch minimum length limit/3 fish
per day creel applies. Most of the habitat consists of rip-rap. The southern
end of the lake is closed annually as a waterfowl refuge from November
1 to February 1.
STRIPED BASS AND HYBRID: Baldwin Lake has not been stocked
with hybrid stripers since 2002. As a result, the population of stripers
has declined in numbers. We collected only one adult fish in our 2005
fall population survey. There have been some stripers caught by anglers,
but the catch rate has definitely decreased. The good news is that Baldwin
Lake is scheduled to receive a full stocking of 20,000 hybrids in 2006.
So while fishing may be a bit slow in ‘06, by 2008, a substantial,
desirable, population of this species should once again become established.
