JULI PROBASCO-SOWERS
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
This fishing season holds a few surprises across southern Iowa.
Largemouth bass at Lake Sugema, near Keosauqua, could be a surprise to anglers because upward of 2,000 largemouth bass died last year from bass virus disease, said Steve Waters, regional fisheries manager for southeast Iowa.
"We were just sick about it last year, all those dead bass," Waters said.
Then there was an article about the fish kill in an outdoor magazine warning people that they might be disappointed in the bass fishing there.
But, said Waters, Sugema is getting a bad rap.
"What we have discovered is that the largemouth bass population is as good, if not better, than it was before the fish kill," Waters said.
He and other biologists have been sampling the fish population, particularly for the largemouth bass and walleye, through the spring and have seen great numbers and decent size on both.
"We knew we were at a peak of population at Sugema to begin with and that's why we had a catch-and-release rule for bass 12-18 inches long. Fish smaller than that and larger than that could be kept," Waters said.
He said anglers were encouraged to keep the smaller bass to help thin the population.
"I wouldn't choose to do it that way, but the bass virus disease did that for us," Waters said.
Biologists believe the disease hit the fish at a time when there were low oxygen levels in the lake due to the decay of an abundant aquatic plant. When the plant decays, the bacteria uses more oxygen, which depletes oxygen for the fish.
Waters said another lake for anglers to consider as summer slides along is Lake Rathbun. Rathbun is an oddity because walleye fishing and white bass fishing continue strong all summer long, he said. Last year was a record for walleye caught at Rathbun, and that trend could continue this year.
In southwest Iowa, anglers will find several lakes that are coming back after renovations in the past few years.
"We are in all different stages of rehabilitation," said Andy Moore, fisheries supervisor for southwest Iowa.
Although Lake Anita in eastern Cass County, just south of Anita, is not completely refilled, making boating access difficult, fishing at the lake is becoming quite good, Moore said.
The lake is seeing good fishing for largemouth bass and catfish, including legal-length (15 inches and above) largemouth bass.
In the third year following renovation, larger catfish and bluegill were included in the fish stockings to help the fisheries recover more quickly.
Lake Icaria, north of Corning, which also was recently renovated, is within 2 feet of being full and is easily accessible. Catfish, largemouth bass, bluegill and walleye fishing has been good this spring.
"We have catfish above 2 pounds and 14-inch walleye. The bass are 12-14 inches, but are not quite to the 15-inch legal size," Moore said.
Three other lakes in the southwest region where channel catfishing is doing well after lake renovations include Binder Lake at the north edge of Corning, Lake of Three Fires at Bedford and the Corning Reservoir.
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
This fishing season holds a few surprises across southern Iowa.
Largemouth bass at Lake Sugema, near Keosauqua, could be a surprise to anglers because upward of 2,000 largemouth bass died last year from bass virus disease, said Steve Waters, regional fisheries manager for southeast Iowa.
"We were just sick about it last year, all those dead bass," Waters said.
Then there was an article about the fish kill in an outdoor magazine warning people that they might be disappointed in the bass fishing there.
But, said Waters, Sugema is getting a bad rap.
"What we have discovered is that the largemouth bass population is as good, if not better, than it was before the fish kill," Waters said.
He and other biologists have been sampling the fish population, particularly for the largemouth bass and walleye, through the spring and have seen great numbers and decent size on both.
"We knew we were at a peak of population at Sugema to begin with and that's why we had a catch-and-release rule for bass 12-18 inches long. Fish smaller than that and larger than that could be kept," Waters said.
He said anglers were encouraged to keep the smaller bass to help thin the population.
"I wouldn't choose to do it that way, but the bass virus disease did that for us," Waters said.
Biologists believe the disease hit the fish at a time when there were low oxygen levels in the lake due to the decay of an abundant aquatic plant. When the plant decays, the bacteria uses more oxygen, which depletes oxygen for the fish.
Waters said another lake for anglers to consider as summer slides along is Lake Rathbun. Rathbun is an oddity because walleye fishing and white bass fishing continue strong all summer long, he said. Last year was a record for walleye caught at Rathbun, and that trend could continue this year.
In southwest Iowa, anglers will find several lakes that are coming back after renovations in the past few years.
"We are in all different stages of rehabilitation," said Andy Moore, fisheries supervisor for southwest Iowa.
Although Lake Anita in eastern Cass County, just south of Anita, is not completely refilled, making boating access difficult, fishing at the lake is becoming quite good, Moore said.
The lake is seeing good fishing for largemouth bass and catfish, including legal-length (15 inches and above) largemouth bass.
In the third year following renovation, larger catfish and bluegill were included in the fish stockings to help the fisheries recover more quickly.
Lake Icaria, north of Corning, which also was recently renovated, is within 2 feet of being full and is easily accessible. Catfish, largemouth bass, bluegill and walleye fishing has been good this spring.
"We have catfish above 2 pounds and 14-inch walleye. The bass are 12-14 inches, but are not quite to the 15-inch legal size," Moore said.
Three other lakes in the southwest region where channel catfishing is doing well after lake renovations include Binder Lake at the north edge of Corning, Lake of Three Fires at Bedford and the Corning Reservoir.