1998 Warmwater Fish Survey of Clear Lake, Spokane County, Washington

Clear Lake was surveyed by a threeâ€"person investigation team September 14-18, 1998, under the Warmwater Fish Enhancement Program. Water quality data collected at 2:45 p.m. on September 15, 1998, revealed thermal stratification. Dissolved oxygen is likely limiting the amount of available habitat for fish in Clear Lake during the summer months. Dissolved oxygen levels recorded below six meters were too low for even low-oxygen tolerant fish species. Fish were captured using boat electrofishing, gill netting, and fyke netting. Ten fish species were collected from Clear Lake. The Clear Lake warmwater fish community was dominated by an abundance of preyâ€"size fish (e.g., brown bullhead, pumpkinseed sunfish and young largemouth bass) and numerous adult largemouth bass. Pumpkinseed sunfish were the most numerous fish collected although brown bullhead contributed equally to the biomass by weight. Adult largemouth bass CPUE, PSD (22±5) and RSD-P (11±4) values indicated a quality population compared to other surveys in nearby lakes. The black crappie population had a PSD 34±6 by electrofishing. However, of the 184 black crappie collected, none were of preferred length (> 250 mm). Management options presented included continuing with the current mixedâ€"species management strategy or adopting Washington states recommended 12-17â€"inch slotâ€"limit regulation for largemouth bass, and imposing a 10â€"inch minimum length limit and five fish bag limit restriction for black crappie.