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.