1999 Campbell Lake Survey: The Warmwater Fish Community Fifteen Years After Implementation of a Lake Restoration Plan

Due to warmwater fishery history and due to suitability of habitat and environmental conditions for these species in Lake Campbell, the WDFW Warmwater Enhancement Program conducted a stock assessment in fall 1999. We assessed species composition, abundance, size structure, growth, and condition of fish in the lake. We also evaluated habitat, access, and the effects of current fishing rules, and outlined options for enhancing the fishery and fishing opportunity. The fish community in Lake Campbell was composed almost entirely of warmwater species, the size structures of which were heavily skewed toward sub stock and stock length fish. Smaller, older forage fish, particularly bluegill were extremely abundant, suggesting reduced foraging efficiency of largemouth bass. A sizable gap in the length frequency distribution of largemouth bass was the product of initial slow growth prior to an ontological shift to piscivory. These patterns may be the result of interspecific competition at early life stages and reduced foraging efficiency due to high densities of aquatic vegetation. Results of our survey suggest channel catfish survival is low, possibly due to small size at the time of stocking. While one public boat launch exists on Lake Campbell, shoreline access is limited. Based on these assessments, we outlined options for improving access and fishing opportunity in Lake Campbell by installing a dock at the WDFW access. We suggested altering the stocking regime for channel catfish to improve survival and outlined options for vegetation control to improve growth and accessibility of fish in the lake.