Mt. Olive Old City Lake

Largemouth Bass

Very Good

The Largemouth Bass population in this lake looks healthy. The 2021 electrofishing survey yielded a catch rate of 104 Largemouth Bass/hour of electrofishing, which is the second highest catch rate in the past 12 years. The size structure of the bass population looks good with 72% being over 12 inches in length, 28% being over 15 inches, and 2% over 18 inches (based on bass collected that were 8 inches or longer).

Channel Catfish

Good

A Channel Catfish population is maintained in this lake through supplemental stockings from IDNR hatcheries. Channel Catfish are stocked biennially, and the most recent stocking was in July of 2020. No Channel Catfish were captured in the 2021 survey, but this is not unexpected because the electrofishing gear used is not calibrated to target catfish. Two Channel Catfish longer than 20 inches were captured in the 2018 survey.

Crappie spp.

Good

In the 2021 survey, 11 White Crappie measuring 9.6 - 13.9 inches and weighing up to 1.3 pounds were collected. Six Black Crappie measuring 9.0 - 13.1 inches and weighing up to 1 pound were also collected. Approximately 1/3 of the crappie captured were longer than 12 inches.

Bluegill

Very Good

The Bluegill population in this lake offers good fishing for fish 7 inches or greater. In our 2021 survey, 26.4% of the catchable Bluegill (Bluegill > 3”) exceeded 7” and 11.8% were longer than 8”.