Sports

Lake Elsinore To Stock Largemouth Bass This Spring

Stocking the sport fish is designed to attract tourism and keep the lake healthy.

The City of Lake Elsinore will soon be stocking its lake with thousands of pounds of Largemouth Bass.

Tuesday night, city council members unanimously approved a $25,000 contract award to Merced-based Golden State Bait for the highly prized freshwater sport fish. Under the contract, 700 pounds of the adult fish will be stocked, and 6,667 juvenile and fingerling Largemouth will be added to the lake.

The adults will weigh between 1 and 1.75 pounds; the juveniles will measure 10 to 12 inches in length and the fingerling between 4 and 6 inches, according to a report from Pat Kilroy, director of Lake and Aquatic Resources for the city.

Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Largemouth Bass are highly prized by the majority of freshwater anglers,” Kilroy said in a report to council members.

Stocking the sport fish is designed to attract tourism to the lake and keep the water healthy, Kilroy explained. The Largemouth feed on baitfish like Threadfin Shad; the natural cycle helps maintain lake health by protecting the algae-consuming zooplankton that baitfish consume. Keeping the zooplankton population up means less algae in the lake, Kilroy explained.

Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

was at Tuesday’s meeting. Lake Elsinore city officials honored him for his accomplishment, and he in turn praised the council for considering the contract and he confirmed the popularity of the Largemouth among freshwater anglers.

The stocking is expected this spring -- in the late March, mid April timeframe -- Kilroy said.

The boat launch replaces the sunken boat ramp in the Lake Elsinore Campground and will feature a six-lane lane boat ramp, staging area, vehicle and boat trailer parking lot with 270 spaces, restroom building with eight stalls, entry kiosk, two 400-foot long floating breakwater/dock systems, a lighted and landscaped picnic area and fish-cleaning station.


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