Fish Stocking

Year

Species

Size

Count

2021

Channel Catfish

Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7"

4000

2022

Channel Catfish

Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7"

4105

Species

Rank

Fish Status

BLUEGILL

Poor

Size structure of the bluegill population remained stable and poor. Average body condition remained above the lake management plan target. Very few bluegill over 7” have been collected in recent years and no bluegill over 7” were collected in 2022. The precipitous decline in the quality of the bluegill population coincided with the 2005 appearance of gizzard shad, and the bluegill population will likely always be hindered by the presence shad. Anglers can expect most fish to range from 5” – 7” and weigh from 0.1 – 0.2 pounds.

CHANNEL CATFISH

Very Good

Catfish remain relatively abundant in Sam Parr Lake and should provide good fishing opportunities in the coming year. Nearly 70% of adult catfish collected were 14” or longer and approximately 10% exceeded 18” long. Most fish in 2023 should range from 1 – 3 pounds with a few larger fish over 5 pounds. This lake provides many bank fishing opportunities. The best places to fish include the riprap along the dam, the upper ends of the two main arms of the lake, along the tent camping shoreline, and in the backs of coves.

CRAPPIE

Good

Sam Parr Lake contains both white and black crappie, but the size structures of the populations are different. Average body condition was below the lake management plan minimum target for both species. Black crappie have been the more dominant species in the past three surveys, but in 2022, white crappie were more numerous. Approximately 53% of the adult black crappie collected were in the 8” – 10” size range and only 11% exceeded 9”, while 55% of white crappie were in the 8” – 10” size range and 27% exceeded 9”. Crappie fishing should remain fair/good in the coming year with many black crappie in the 7” – 9” range and weighing 0.17 - 0.34 pounds, and a few larger white crappie exceeding 1 pounds. Small fish of both species will also be abundant, and harvest of these smaller fish is encouraged.

LARGEMOUTH BASS

Very Good

The percentage of adult bass in the 12” – 15” size range decreased to below the lake management plan target in the 2022 survey. The electrofishing catch rate improved from the 2021 survey and it remained well above the minimum target. Approximately 24% of the adult bass in the sample were larger than the 14” minimum length limit, down from 27% in 2021. Approximately 18% of the adult bass collected were greater than 15” and 8% exceeded 18” in length. Average body condition remained below the lake management plan target, but the body condition of bass over 16” was very good. The discrepancy in body condition is likely a result of the strong gizzard shad population in the lake. Nearly 60% of the gizzard shad collected in recent surveys have exceeded 7” in length and have not been available as a prey source for the smaller bass. In 2023, anglers can expect most keeper bass to be 1.3 – 5 pounds with a few larger fish over 6 pounds.

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