2000 Warmwater Fisheries Survey of Rock Island Ponds Douglas County, Washington

Rock Island Ponds (Blue Heron, Big Bow, Hideaway, Pit, Putters, and Hammond ponds), Douglas County, Washington, were surveyed between October 23-November 6, 2000, using a boat electrofisher, gill nets, and fyke nets. Although sample sizes were low, a total of four fish species were observed in Blue Heron Pond: largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus), yellow perch (Perca flavescens), and common carp (Cyprinus carpio). All species were observed in low abundance although carp were likely more abundant than what these data indicated. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has not actively managed Blue Heron Pond in recent years and rehabilitation may be required in order to establish suitable warmwater fisheries in the future. A total of six fish species were observed in Big Bow Pond: bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), largemouth bass, largescale sucker (Catastomus macrocheilus), pumpkinseed (L. gibbosus), and yellow perch. Growth and condition of most species were poor which may have been due to water chemistry problems or excessive quantities of aquatic vegetation. Four fish species were observed in Hideaway Pond: brown bullhead (I. nebulosus), bluegill, largemouth bass, and pumpkinseed. Hideaway Pond contains a high density of brown bullhead which likely contributed to limited spawning success and recruitment of largemouth bass, and poor condition of the panfish. Hideaway Pond may require rehabilitation to reduce the high abundance of brown bullhead. Although Pit Pond was designated as a juvenile trout fishing pond, three warmwater species were observed: largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, and yellow perch. Due to limited littoral habitat, warmwater species will not likely achieve densities that would warrant rehabilitation. A total of seven fish species were observed in Putters Pond: bluegill, brown bullhead, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), tench (Tinca tinca), and yellow perch. Putters Pond appears to be overpopulated with bluegill and pumpkinseed and is a candidate for vegetation removal efforts and possibly rehabilitation. Five fish species were observed in Hammond Pond: bluegill, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, rainbow trout, and yellow perch. Hammond Pond appears to be overpopulated with yellow perch and pumpkinseed and is a candidate for aquatic vegetation removal and possibly rehabilitation. High pumpkinseed and yellow perch densities likely contributed to the poor condition of panfish and smaller size largemouth bass. Similar to Putters Pond, dense aquatic vegetation in Hammond Pond most likely inhibited largemouth bass feeding efficiency and contributed to the overpopulation of pumpkinseed and yellow perch.