Species

Rank

Fish Status

BLUEGILL

Improving

The size structure of the bluegill population remained poor. Approximately, 33% of the adult bluegill exceeded 6” in length but only 8% exceeded 7” in length. Despite the poor size structure, growth rates remained good and condition was very good. If these fish continue to grow in the coming years, the size structure of the bluegill population could show some improvement, but it will likely always be hindered by the presence of gizzard shad. Anglers can expect to catch an abundance of fish 5” – 7” in length weighing 0.1 – 0.3 pounds.

CHANNEL CATFISH

Improving

Catfish in Raccoon Lake should continue to provide good fishing opportunities in the coming year. Average body condition was just under the lake management plan target and the electrofishing catch rate remained high. Most fish in the population were older and nearly 75% of the adult channel catfish sampled were 18” or longer. Recent supplemental catfish stockings, along with the elimination of trot lining and jug fishing, should help to improve the size structure of the channel catfish population in the coming years. Most channel catfish caught in 2023 will be between 1 – 5 pounds, with some fish possibly over 10 pounds.

CRAPPIE

Very Good

Both black crappie and white crappie are present in Raccoon Lake, but white crappie comprised nearly 76% of the sample. Data collected from the annual population survey indicated 22% of the adult white crappie population exceeded 10” in length and an additional 62% of the adult population were between 8” – 10” in length. Average body condition improved above the minimum lake target. Catch rate also improved and remained very high. Black crappie were much less numerous in the sample, but their population was in good shape, and average body condition remained above target. Approximately 12% of the adult black crappie in the sample exceeded 10” in length and 35% exceeded 9” in length. This lake should continue to provide very good crappie fishing in the coming year. Most angler catches in 2023 will likely be white crappie weighing 0.15-0.50 pounds in the 7” – 10” range, with larger fish possibly over 1 pound.

LARGEMOUTH BASS

Improving

Data from the 2022 population survey showed that all of the population indices met or exceeded the target goals. The average body condition of all sizes of fish remained very good. Approximately 27% of the adult bass exceeded the 15” minimum length. Poor bass reproduction and recruitment continue to be a major concern in this lake. Following significant improvement in 2012 and 2013, bass CPUE plummeted in 2014 to 37 per hour and had remained below the target of 60 per hour ever since. To help improve numbers, over 35,500 largemouth bass fingerlings were stocked in the lake in June of 2017. Since 2017, the bass population has continued to fluctuate, but has showed signs of improvement. Hopefully these improvements will translate to more consistent and successful reproduction and recruitment in the coming years. In 2021 only 67 bass per hour were collected, but the 2022 survey collected bass at a rate of 110 per hour. For 2023, most keeper bass will range from 15” – 20” and weigh 1.9 – 5 pounds.

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