Ramsey Lake - RLSP

Black Crappie

Good

The size structure of the Black Crappie population in 2025 remained good. Crappie over 9” accounted for 80% of the adult crappie in the sample and 67% of the crappie collected were 10” or longer. Crappie catch rates increased and remained high at 40 fish per hour while the average body condition improved from Wr=93 in 2024 to Wr=95 in 2025. In 2026, Black Crappie larger than the 9” minimum length limit should weigh 0.42 pounds or more.

Largemouth Bass

Average

Approximately 25% of the adult Largemouth Bass in the 2025 sample exceeded the 14” minimum length limit and the percentage of bass in the 15” – 20” size class remained consistent at 16%. Average body condition increased and remained above the lake management plan target (Wr=94). The electrofishing catch rate remained high at 306 per hour and many bass in the 8” – 12” size class were present. The management goals for Ramsey Lake are designed to promote panfish populations and large numbers of bass in this size class are essential for predation on small panfish to achieve those management goals. In 2026, anglers could expect most fish over the 14” minimum length limit to weigh 1.5 – 3 pounds.

Channel Catfish

Good

Channel Catfish are very abundant in Ramsey Lake and should provide good fishing opportunities in the coming year. Approximately 93% of the Channel Catfish sampled in 2025 were 16” or longer, and 41% were over 18”. Ramsey Lake is stocked annually with Channel Catfish and the lake provides many bank fishing opportunities. The best places to fish include the dam, the parking area near the boat ramp, the upper end of the lake, and in the backs of coves. In 2026, anglers could expect to see many fish in the 16” – 22” size range weighing 1.3 – 3.5 pounds.

Redear Sunfish

Improving

The Redear Sunfish population was also impacted by the 2024 fish kill and the electrofishing catch rate was at its lowest level since the 2021 survey. Despite the lower catch rates seen in 2025, average body condition increased and was high at Wr=100. The percentage of adult Redear over 9” improved from 31% in 2024 to 46% in 2025. In 2024, no Redear Sunfish longer than 10” were collected. In 2025, the percentage of Redear over 10” improved to 8% and was consistent with long-term trends. In 2026, anglers could expect Redear over 9” long to weigh more than 0.6 pounds.

Bluegill

Fair

Bluegill appear to be the species most negatively impacted by the 2024 fish kill and their population had not yet recovered by the fall 2025 survey. Average body condition remained below the lake management plan target and the electrofishing catch rate declined by nearly 41% from 2024. Approximately 36% of the adult Bluegill sampled in 2025 were longer than 6”, 20% exceeded 7”, and only 6% were 8” or longer. In addition to the 2024 fish kill, cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are becoming more common in Ramsey Lake. Cyanobacteria blooms are often the result of phosphorus to nitrogen ratio imbalances and can displace green algae in food-webs, lowering overall productivity. Algaecides are used in Ramsey Lake to reduce the density of these cyanobacteria blooms, but they often also reduce the density of green algae present in the lake, likely leading to the lower body condition seen for the Bluegill collected in 2025. Angling in 2026 is expected to be fair, with low catch rates and higher than usual numbers of small fish. Anglers could expect fish over 7” long to weigh 0.25 pounds. Please practice selective harvest. Bluegill over 8” (especially males) are important for maintaining the size structure of the population. We ask that you consider returning those fish to water and harvest smaller Bluegill instead.