Fish Stocking

Year

Species

Size

Count

2024

Walleye

Fingerling 1 - 3"

32816

Species

Rank

Fish Status

BLUEGILL

Good

The bluegill population structure remained fair and consistent with recent trends. Electrofishing catch rates increased to 303 per hour. Average bluegill body condition increased to the lake management target. There was another slight decrease in the number of bluegill greater than 7” (RSD-7=10) and the number of bluegill exceeding 8” remained low at under 1% of adult bluegill sampled. Angling for bluegill in 2025 should be good with most fish 5” – 7” in length and weighing 0.10 – 0.25 pounds.

CHANNEL CATFISH

Improving

Catfish numbers have improved in recent years due to stocking efforts, but overall numbers have remained low in East Fork Lake. Average body condition remained above target at Wr=92. Most fish in 2025 will range from 18” – 24” and 2 – 4 pounds, with larger fish approaching 10 pounds. This lake provides good bank fishing opportunities and drift fishing the main lake is also very productive.

CRAPPIE

Good

The white crappie population structure remained good, but the average body condition for all sizes of white crappie was below target. The percentage of white crappie over 10” in length improved to 46%, while approximately 72% of the white crappie exceeded 9” in length. Black crappie are the more numerous species in East Fork Lake and their population also appeared to be doing well, but it was dominated by shorter fish than the white crappie population. Average black crappie body condition remained above the management target. Black crappie electrofishing catch rates remained high and the majority of the fish were between 8” – 10”. Approximately 28% of the adult black crappie collected in 2024 exceeded 9” long and 5% exceeded 10” long. Most angler catches in 2025 are likely to be white and black crappie in the 8” – 9.5” range weighing 0.25 – 0.45 pounds, with some larger white crappie exceeding 10” and 0.5 pounds.

LARGEMOUTH BASS

Good

In 2024, the electrofishing catch rate decreased to 134 per hour and the size structure of the population remained consistent with four-year trends. The 2024 sample showed a 30% increase in the percentage of adult bass in the 12” – 15” size class from 2023. However, there was a 17% decrease in the percentage of fish in 15” – 20” size class. Despite this decrease, 26% of the adult bass collected were over the 15” minimum length limit and 8% exceeded 18” long. Average body condition remained stable and above the lake management plan target at Wr=93. Gizzard shad are the primary forage for largemouth bass in East Fork Lake and they ranged from 3.1” – 11.8” long. Fishing prospects for 2025 should be good and similar to 2024, with most keeper bass ranging from 15” – 20” in length and weighing between 1.8 – 4.5 pounds.

WALLEYE

Good

The size structure of the walleye population remained good in 2024. The catch rate increased to 16 per hour during the electrofishing survey, remained stable at 3 fish per net-night in the fall netting survey, and decreased to 9 fish per net-night in the spring netting survey. Average body condition was much higher for walleye sampled in the spring (Wr=95), than it was for fish collected in the fall (Wr=84). Approximately 99% of the adult fish collected exceeded the 14” minimum length limit. With many fish in the 1.5 – 4 pound range, this lake should provide good fishing opportunities for walleye in 2025.

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