Fish Stocking

Year

Species

Size

Count

2024

Muskellunge

Adult

200

Species

Rank

Fish Status

BLUEGILL

Poor

4 stock size bluegill and 5 stock size redear sunfish were sampled in 2024. The population for both species has remained poor in size structure and body condition. The competition with the gizzard shad and carp have caused this growth slowdown.

CHANNEL CATFISH

Fair

2 channel catfish were sampled in 2024. No recent channel catfish stockings have occurred in Shovel Lake.

CRAPPIE

Average

The black crappie population was surveyed by 33 fish in the spring trap nets, and 34 fish in the fall electrofishing survey in 2024. The PSD was 47, the the RSD9 was 21, the RSD10 was 12, and the RSD11 was 6. The body condition was good with a Wr value at 86. This is a decrease in the size structure from the high in 2023 for the black crappie population. No white crappie were surveyed in 2023 or 2024. This population is present in a very low density of quality fish. In 2018 the crappie harvest regulation changed to a harvest limit of 25 fish per day with only 10 fish over 10 inches allowed.

LARGEMOUTH BASS

Very Good

The largemouth bass population was evaluated by 195 stock size bass from electrofishing with 139 minutes of effort. The largemouth bass population appears to be defined by a high percentage of fish from 4.0 to 20 inches in length with good average Relative weights. In 2000, the bass regulation for the Marsh was changed from a 14 inch minimum size limit and 1 fish per day - to a 12 to 18 inch protected slot length with a harvest of 3 fish under or over the slot per day. The 2024 fall electrofishing survey indicated a size structure that is continuing to maintain a very good level and stability since 2004. The PSD of 64, the RSD14 of 46, the RSD16 of 32 and the RSD 18 of 11 were all very good. The goal of the protected slot length limit was to create a high-density bass population that is composed of fish large enough to be efficient predators upon the high density of slow growing panfish and the rough fish population. The benefit to bass anglers will be more fish surviving past 14 inches to catch, and for anglers wanting to harvest bass will be the opportunity to harvest more fish.

MUSKELLUNGE

Good

The muskie population was sampled by a total of 12 stock size muskie by the spring of 2023 trap net survey (.75 fish per net night, and by 8 fish in the fall electrofishing survey. These fish ranged from 12.2 to 44.4 inches long. The body condition of these fish was good with an average Wr of 94. The first stocking of 450 fish at 11 inches was in 1999. In 2000, a total of 200, 2001-600, 2002-200, 2003-200, 2004-0, and 200 annually from 2005 through 2014 at an average size of 11.2 inches were stocked. No muskie were stocked in 2015 or 2016. In 2017, 200 fish at 12.4 inches long were stocked. In 2021, 2,788 fish at 3 inches were stocked in June, and 240 fish at 13 inches were stocked in September. In 2024, 200 fish at 12.85 inches were stocked on 9/17/2024. A triennial stocking is now scheduled to maintain a moderate density of healthy muskie.

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