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robert0720 · 09-14-2001, 02:05 PM

Southwest Indiana fish surveys ------------------------------------------ Biologists find healthy game fish populations in popular public lakes ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- Indiana DNR biologists surveyed nine lakes in Clay, Daviess, Greene and Sullivan counties this year. Fisheries scientists checked: - Sullivan Lake in Sullivan County - Beaver Dam Lake, Crystal Lake, and Midland Lake in Greene County - Retriever Pond in Daviess County - East and West Brazil Ponds, Hawg Pit and Scheister Pit in Clay County Biologists conduct surveys to monitor changes in fish communities and ensure quality fishing. All lakes surveyed have a 14-inch largemouth bass minimum size limit. Sullivan Lake ------------------- Biologists found big saugeye swimming in Sullivan Lake. Saugeye stretching more than 2 feet long were caught and returned to the 461-acre lake near Sullivan. Saugeye are walleye/sauger hybrids stocked by the DNR. The first three state record saugeye were caught from Sullivan Lake. Largemouth bass ranging up to 20 inches and bluegill up to 8 inches long were also caught. Channel catfish nearly 30 inches long and 10-inch yellow bullhead were netted. Both white and black crappie are abundant in Sullivan Lake. Some white crappie measured almost 14 inches long. Biologists believe Sullivan Lake should provide excellent fishing opportunities. Beaver Dam Lake ------------------------ Panfish angling should be good at Beaver Dam Lake, an 18-acre impoundment in Hillenbrand Fish and Wildlife Area near Midland. An occasional bullhead could provide variety in an angler's creel. Largemouth bass was the most numerous specie collected, but the longest bass measured only 12 inches long. Redear sunfish up to 9 inches in length and bluegill as large as 8 inches long were found during the survey. Crystal Lake ------------------ Crystal Lake covers 8 acres of Hillenbrand Fish and Wildlife Area. Bluegills up to 8 inches in length were caught. A few small largemouth bass were found in the lake. Crystal Lake should provide fair fishing for panfish. Midland Lake ------------------- Fish surveys of Midland Lake, a 20-acre impoundment in Hillenbrand Fish and Wildlife Area, turned up some keeper largemouth bass. The largest bass was about 20 inches long. Warmouth were the second most abundant specie sampled, with specimens as long as 7 inches found. Bluegill and redear sunfish approaching 8 inches were collected. Anglers should find a variety of keeper-sized panfish and a good catch-and-release largemouth bass fishery. Retriever Pond -------------------- Biologists have determined the fishery in Glendale Fish and Wildlife Area's Retriever Pond is in good condition. The small 2.5-acre impoundment on the west side of Glendale Fish and Wildlife Area yielded bluegill up to 9 inches in length and redear sunfish as large as 11 inches. Largemouth bass were the second most abundant fish. A small population of black crappie were present, with fish up to 9 inches long collected. East Brazil and West Brazil Ponds --------------------------------------------- Brazil's East Brazil and West Brazil Ponds each cover about 6 acres. The east pond contained bluegill nearly nine inches long and largemouth bass near 16 inches in length. Low productivity conditions in the pond limit fishing opportunities for bluegill and largemouth bass. Low densities of goldfish were also found during the survey -- with goldfish up to 13 inches in length sampled. West Brazil Pond contained bluegill up to 10 inches and largemouth bass up to 17 inches. Anglers could also catch a few black crappie and redear sunfish. Aquatic vegetation appears to inhibit angler access to the west pond. Grass carp introduction could possibly reduce excessive vegetation. Hawg Pit -------------- Hawg Pit is a 5.7-acre impoundment in Chinook State Fishing Area near Staunton. Redear sunfish up to 11 inches in length and bluegill as large as 9 inches were counted. Largemouth bass were the third most abundant specie collected, but the largest bass was only 12 inches long. Good fishing opportunities for panfish are present at Hawg Pit. Scheister Pit ------------------- A fish survey at Chinook State Fishing Area's 10.2-acre Scheister Pit revealed bluegill as large as 9 inches and redear sunfish up to 9 inches in length. Panfish anglers at Scheister Pit should find a variety of fish to add to stringers. Bass anglers will find a good catch-and-release fishery. An occasional legal-sized largemouth bass could be caught. ------------------------ Media Contacts: Shawn Sapp or Brian Schoenung (812) 279-1215 ------------------------

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