Vandalia Lake

Crappie spp.

Average

The electrofishing catch rate for White Crappie was below average in 2025 and no Black Crappie were collected. Average body condition for White Crappie fell to just below target and 75% of the fish collected were over 10” long. In 2026, White Crappie over 9” should weigh more than 0.3 pounds with larger fish exceeding 1 pound.

Largemouth Bass

Improving

Vandalia Lake has historically had low numbers of Largemouth Bass. Recent surveys have seen the electrofishing catch rates oscillate above and below the lake management plan target of 60 bass per hour. Approximately 69,000 fingerling bass were stocked in 2024 and an additional 7,182 advanced fingerling bass were stocked in 2025 to help supplement the low population numbers. Electrofishing catch rates improved in 2024 and 2025 following these stocking events, with many young-of-the-year bass being collected in both surveys. Nearly 31% of the adult bass sampled in 2025 were in the 12” – 15” size range and 30% of the adult bass exceeded the 14” minimum length limit. Largemouth Bass in Vandalia Lake have exhibited very high average body condition scores in recent surveys likely due to two main factors: low bass densities and abundant numbers of Gizzard Shad. These factors can make catching bass difficult because there are fewer overall numbers of bass, and they are very well fed. Efforts to improve the density of bass in Vandalia Lake will likely lower their overall body condition scores but could make bass easier to catch. In 2026, bass over the 14” minimum length limit should exceed 1.43 pounds.

Channel Catfish

Good

Channel Catfish are very abundant in Vandalia Lake, but their average body condition is poor. Approximately 83% of the adult fish sampled were over 14” long and 22% were 18” or longer. Most Channel Catfish in 2026 should range from 12” – 19” and weigh 0.5 – 2 pounds, with a few larger fish over 4 pounds.

Bluegill

Poor

Bluegill were not included in the 2025 population survey. The Bluegill population in Vandalia Lake has a very poor size structure and will likely always be hindered by the presence of Gizzard Shad. Based on long-term trend data, angler catches in 2026 will be primarily composed of Bluegill less than 7” long, weighing less than 0.21 pounds.

Flathead Catfish

Average

In 2025, a single 34” long Flathead Catfish weighing 18.4 pounds was collected and it had a very high body condition score.