Unwanted pike and white bass found in area lakes

Indiana DNR Release:

COLUMBIA CITY – Two species of fish, although popular among Hoosier anglers, are not what biologists wanted to find in three lakes north of Columbia City in Whitley County.

In mid-June, two northern pike were netted at Loon Lake and a white bass was captured in Big Lake during fish surveys conducted by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Last fall, two northern pike were also netted in Crooked Lake, although none were caught during a follow-up survey in June.

The northern pike found in both lakes were 24 to 26 inches long. The white bass in Big Lake was 14 inches long.

“Northern pike and white bass do not occur naturally in any of these lakes,” said Jed Pearson, DNR fisheries biologist. “They were apparently illegally stocked there by someone.”

According to Indiana law, anyone who stocks a fish in public waters under state control must first get a permit from the DNR. Catching fish in one lake and releasing them into another lake without an approved permit is a Class C misdemeanor. The cost of a stocking permit is $3.

Since northern pike and white bass are popular among anglers, some people may not realize such stocking is harmful.

“Both species are predatory fish and can compete with other sportfish,” Pearson said. “They both are capable of reproducing, so they could also increase and spread to other lakes in the area. But more importantly, they could harm ongoing fish management programs at each lake.”

Northern pike could compete with muskies stocked in Loon Lake, thereby reducing survival and growth of muskies. In Crooked Lake, pike could feed on ciscoes, a unique coldwater fish species found in only 13 Indiana lakes.

“Local residents and the DNR have done a lot to protect ciscoes in Crooked Lake. If pike numbers increase, they could decimate the population,” Pearson said.

White bass are predators that usually feed offshore on gizzard shad, a silver-colored forage fish. However, shad are not present in Big Lake, so white bass there would likely be forced to eat bluegills, perch or other sportfish.

“Anglers who think it is OK for them to take fish from one lake to stock in another lake run the risk of hurting fishing for everyone else,” said Pearson.