Sam Dale Lake

Largemouth Bass

Average

The 2025 fall electrofishing survey collected Largemouth Bass at a rate of 153 per hour. Average body condition was good (Wr=97), and approximately 26% of the adult bass collected were longer than the 14 inch minimum length limit.

Channel Catfish

Good

The 2025 fall electrofishing survey collected Channel Catfish at a rate of 20 per hour. Approximately 95% of the adult Channel Catfish collected were longer than 14 inches, while 51% exceeded 18 inches. This lake should provide good angling opportunities in 2026.

Redear Sunfish

Fair

Redear Sunfish were not sampled in the 2025 fall survey. Recent trend data suggests that the size structure and average body condition for the Redear Sunfish population has been fair. In 2026, anglers could expect many of the Redear Sunfish caught to be over 7 inches, but larger fish will be rare.

Crappie spp.

Average

The fall 2025 electrofishing survey collected White Crappie at a rate of 6.5 fish per hour and Black Crappie at a rate of 2 fish per hour. The fall trapnetting survey collected White Crappie at a rate of 54.6 fish per net-night and 1.3 Black Crappie per net-night. Average body condition was much higher for White Crappie (Wr=90) than Black Crappie (Wr=80). Approximately 45% of the adult White Crappie and 38% of adult Black Crappie sampled were longer than 8 inches, while 13% of White Crappie and 25% of Black Crappie were longer than 9 inches.

Bluegill

Poor

The size structure of the Bluegill population in Sam Dale Lake has been historically poor. Bluegill were not included in the 2025 fall electrofishing survey, but recent trend data suggests that anglers could expect most fish in 2026 to be less than 7 inches long.