Fish Stocking

Year

Species

Size

Count

2022

Channel Catfish

Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7"

300

Species

Rank

Fish Status

BLACK CRAPPIE

Average

Only one 9.6-inch Black Crappie was collected during the 2022 survey. Much of Clear Lake is very steep-sided and difficult to sample with trap nets. Angler reports indicate the lake harbors a decent fishery.

BLUEGILL

Good

A total of 27 Bluegill (231/hour) were collected during spring electrofishing. The lake contains an abundance of Bluegill in the 7”-7.9” range, but none exceeded 8 inches in length. Mean relative weight (plumpness) of all Bluegill was below the management goal. Mean relative weights declined after Bluegill reached 7 inches in length, but rebounded slightly at 7.5 inches. Clear Lake appears to be on the cusp of growing numbers of 8-inch Bluegills, which are often sought by panfish anglers. Unlike many other lakes within Pyramid, Clear Lake does not appear to harbor Gizzard Shad, meaning that Bluegill growth potential should be relatively high. Bluegill growth may increase if herbicide treatments are performed to reduce the density of aquatic plants in the lake, which would make it easier for bass to thin the Bluegill population.

CHANNEL CATFISH

Developing

Given the small size of Clear Lake, it is unlikely that Channel Catfish recruit naturally. Therefore, Channel Catfish have been stocked annually since 2020. Four Channel Catfish were collected in fall-set experimental gill nets. Catfish ranged in size from 14-19 inches. Abundance and size structure should continue to improve as older age classes become established.

LARGEMOUTH BASS

Fair

The Largemouth Bass population in Clear Lake appears to be truncated, with an abundance of small fish under 12 inches and relatively few large fish. A total of 20 bass (171/hour) were collected during the electrofishing survey. The mean relative weight of all bass in the sample was poor at 86 and did not exceed the goal of 90 among any size classes. Although bass growth appears to be limited in Clear Lake, the primary management goal is to create a quality fishery for Bluegill and Redear with ample numbers of fish ≥8 inches. Therefore, improving bass size structure is not a management concern.

REDEAR SUNFISH

Good

A total of 8 Redear (69/hour) were collected during spring electrofishing, some of which were over 8 inches. However, none exceeded 9 inches in length. Mean relative weight of all Bluegill was below the goal. Clear Lake appears to be on the cusp of being a great panfish lake. Redear growth may increase if herbicide treatments are performed to reduce the density of aquatic plants in the lake, which would make it easier for bass to thin the population.

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