DNR happy with outcome of West Boggs Lake

[Lipripper]

7/20/2016
DNR officials are happy with the outcome of a project to improve fishing at West Boggs Lake in Daviess and Martin counties.

In fall 2014, officials drained and treated the lake to eradicate gizzard shad and other undesirable species in an effort to restore a balanced fishery.

After the renovation, the lake was restocked with 104,374 largemouth bass, 462,476 bluegills and 195,245 redear sunfish, all fingerlings. A total of 816 adult largemouth bass also were restocked after being salvaged by anglers during spring bass tournaments and by biologists during fall electrofishing. Fifty-five adult channel catfish were returned also. In fall 2015, a total of 43,668 black crappie fingerlings and 4,496 channel catfish, ranging in size from 3.5 to 8 inches, were stocked.

DNR biologists conducted an electrofishing survey at West Boggs on June 27 to monitor the survival and growth of fish stocked.

Largemouth bass fingerlings, which averaged 3.9 inches when stocked in fall 2014, now range from 10.5 to 14.7 inches and average 11.4 inches. The average length of a 2-year-old bass is 9 inches.

Growth for bluegills and redears also was above average.

Bluegills from the initial stocking ranged from 6.5 to 8.4 inches, averaging 7.5 inches. The average 2-year-old bluegill is 4.3 inches long. Redears were collected up to 9 inches.

The restoration stocking of West Boggs will wrap up this fall with the addition of another 80,000 black crappies.

Biennial channel catfish stockings will start in 2017.