LAKE REPORT: Bass removal key to lake’s health

Dwight Lake
For the Opelika-Auburn News
Published: May 10, 2008

This is the time of year I ask all anglers, especially bass anglers, to help us reduce the population of bass in the lake.

Lee County Lake is consistently overpopulated with bass. Each year we must address this problem The objective is to raise trophy bass. Removing a few hundred pounds of bass per year will also increase the numbers and size of bream and crappie.

Lee County Lake, not unlike many confined tributaries, will become overstocked with bass if not addressed. When this occurs, the lake simply will not produce enough food — bream and crappie — to supply the abundance of bass. A result of this could be stunted bass and a depletion of the bream and crappie population.

A factor to consider is the bream and crappie have two predators — anglers and bass. The bass only has one — us.

You can see how the catch-and-release of all bass could contribute to the potential problem. Fortunately, our anglers have worked with us to resolve this problem.

We’ve gone from removing every bass regardless of size, to now removing mostly bass 3 pounds or less. By doing this we have been raising larger, healthier bass like the lunker Charlie Boswell caught last week shown in the accompanying picture. When trophies like this are harvested, we know a healthy bream and crappie population is in the lake making fishing for all species better.

There is no size limit on the bass, and an angler can remove 10 per day. Now neighbor, we won’t take your birthday away if you release your bass.

Remember, every bass you remove at this time from the lake, especially the smaller ones less than 3 or 4 pounds, is going to make fishing better. If you don’t want to take them home with you, we never have a problem finding someone who will appreciate a nice mess of fish.

They won’t be wasted. I always appreciate your help. You do make a difference. 

Lake Hours: Sunrise to Sunset. Closed on Monday. We will be open Memorial Day.

Amenities: Boat rental, cabins, fishing pier, boat ramp, restrooms, picnic tables and bait house.

Water Level: Full Pond.

Visibility: 32 inches.

Temperature: 75 degrees.

Catfish: Excellent, most production in the evening around pier and fish reefs. Also good numbers off the dam. Use hen chicken liver, shrimp or shad.

Bream: Good and getting better by the day. Success in the mornings, but evenings are picking up. Crickets, red worms and wigglers best bait.

Bass: Bass have been a little contrary, but noticeable improvement has been observed since the visibility has declined and the water temperature has reached the 70s consistently.

Crappie: Hit and miss. Some anglers are catching decent numbers, but overall they are in a little slump.

Dwight Lake is manager of Lee County State Lake and Baithouse. He may be reached at 749-1275.