Species

Rank

Fish Status

BLUEGILL

Poor

The size structure of the bluegill population remained poor in 2023. Very few fish over 7” long were collected and only 42% of the adult bluegill collected were over 6” long. Average body condition for the bluegill population was good, but the overall size structure will likely always be hindered by the presence of gizzard shad. Angler catches in 2024 will be primarily composed of bluegill less than 7” long, weighing less than 0.25 pounds.

CHANNEL CATFISH

Good

Channel catfish are very abundant in Vandalia Lake, but their average body condition is poor. Approximately 89% of the adult fish sampled were over 14” long and 38% were 18” or longer. Most channel catfish caught in 2024 will be 1 – 4 pounds with some exceeding 5 pounds.

CRAPPIE

Average

Black and white crappie are both present in the lake, but white crappie are much more numerous. Approximately 61% of the adult white crappie were over 9” long, 49% were over 10” long, and average body condition was below the lake management plan minimum target. Most angler catches in 2024 are likely to be white crappie 8” – 12” long, weighing 0.20 – 0.75 pounds. Black crappie weren’t sampled in 2023, but anglers may occasionally catch them.

FLATHEAD CATFISH

Fair

A small population of flathead catfish exists in the lake. A single flathead catfish was sampled in 2023 measuring 29.9” long and weighing 13.8 pounds.

LARGEMOUTH BASS

Improving

Vandalia Lake has historically had low numbers of largemouth bass. Recent surveys have seen the electrofishing catch rate oscillate above and below the lake management plan target of 60 bass per hour. The catch rate in 2023 was the highest in recent years at 85 per hour, but it remains lower than similarly sized lakes in the area. Approximately 38% of the adult bass collected were in the 12” – 15” size range, 17% were in the 15” – 20” size range, and 38% exceeded the 14” minimum length limit. Average body condition for the largemouth bass population was above average. This is due primarily to two factors: low bass densities and abundant numbers of shad (93% of the gizzard shad surveyed were in the 3.9” – 6.7” size range). These factors can make catching bass difficult because there are fewer overall numbers of bass, and they are very well fed. Most bass over the 14” minimum length limit should weigh 1.8 to 3 pounds.

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