Small Mouth Bass Update 2017

Courtesy of Luke S. Roffler, Senior Fisheries Biologist – Racine, Kenosha and Walworth Counties, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Lake Beulah has been stocked with five inch smallmouth bass in Fall 2014, 2015 and 2016. The fish were offloaded from the Gollon hatchery truck onto the boat tanks and released in deep water at five locations. The three stockings were financed by the Triangle Sportsmen’s Club, the Lake Beulah Protective and Improvement Association (LBPIA), and individual donors, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) crews provided assistance.

Recent fish surveys do not indicate high numbers of smallmouth bass (SMB). The initial stocking is three years old and probably averaging about 10” or less in length (see chart below). Most of the stocked fish are also less likely to be captured during our surveys, as mature fish (typically 3-4 years for SMB) are generally more susceptible to capture. The other limitation is the total number of stocked fish, which currently stands at 5,530. Assuming 30% survival to adulthood (which is probably generous), we’d have roughly 1,700 bass (2.0/acre) from these three stocking events. Again, this is the best case scenario from the last three stocking events; when these fish begin to show up in our surveys, it will be easier to get a better handle on abundance and growth.

Reproduction is the next question. As adult densities increase over the years, I think we can expect to see some low levels of natural reproduction. Not many of the lakes in this area are considered suitable for SMB success, but Beulah is. The combination of size, depth and good spawning substrate (gravel to cobble) should provide the stocked fish a chance to reproduce. We won’t know until we start seeing young bass that can’t be explained by the stocking records. This is obviously even farther into the future. Whether SMB reproduction can ever hit a level where stocking is unnecessary (e.g., Geneva or Delavan) is a whole other question.

The decision of whether to continue the stocking program is up to the various parties involved in paying for the fish. The more stocked year classes we have in the lake, the greater the odds of increased adult densities and possible reproduction. And since the state is currently footing the bill for large fingerling walleye, there’s really not much else the lake needs to bolster the fishery.