MERMET LAKE STATUS REPORT SUMMARY

CHANNEL CATFISH: MERMET LAKE - Channel catfish are stocked in Mermet Lake annually to maintain the population. Electrofishing during fall 2003 produced 21 fish per hour which was identical to the previous year. Of these, 91% were over 20 inches, compared to 71% in fall 2002. Anglers are allowed to keep six channel catfish per day. Most of the 4.6 miles of shoreline are accessible to bank angling.

LARGEMOUTH BASS: MERMET LAKE - Mermet Lake is a 450 acre State-owned reservoir located one half mile southwest of Mermet in Massac County. The lake was originally built as a water supply for flooding adjacent waterfowl management areas and average depth is approximately six feet. Annual drawdowns, which occur when water is utilized to flood waterfowl areas, force sunfish and gizzard shad out of shallow water refuges and ultimately increase largemouth bass growth rates while improving panfish quality. Largemouth bass fishing prospects at Mermet during 2004 should be very good. Fall sampling in 2003 produced 58 bass/hour of electrofishing effort which is near the stated goal of 60, and bass larger than the lake’s length limit of 14 inches comprised a phenomenal 76% of the electrofishing catch. In addition, bass 15 and 16 inches long made up 60% and 26% of the total, respectively.

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