E
xcellent water quality and
abundant aquatic vegetation
have returned to Goose Lake
Wildlife Management Area near
Chambers, and fi sh populations have
responded accordingly.
An Aquatic Habitat Program project
in 2003 included the construction
of barriers in Cache Creek to keep
carp out of this shallow, Sandhills
lake. Following a renovation, aquatic
vegetation (which is the base of the
food chain) and fi sh thrived. Record
rainfall in the region in 2010, however,
pushed stream levels above the
barriers, allowing carp to reenter the
lake, muddying the water and causing
a rapid decline in vegetation and game
fi sh populations.
Biologists took advantage of low
water levels in 2022 and renovated
and restocked the lake. "The water
is crystal clear without the carp in
there," said Jeff Schuckman, the Game
and Parks regional fi sheries biologist
based in Norfolk, adding that there
is an abundance of several varieties
of pondweed and other submergent
vegetation. "We wanted that water
clarity to grow sport fi sh."
And that it has. The 400 8½-inch
northern pike stocked in the lake in
2022 now measure up to 30 inches,
and the 13,000 fi ngerlings stocked in
2023 are up to 25 inches. The lake was
also stocked with 128,000 largemouth
bass fi ngerlings and fry, 3,000 small
adult bluegills and 130,000 yellow
perch fi ngerlings. "We ought to have
some bluegills that will be a half pound
and there should be some nice perch,"
Schuckman said. "The bass are doing
well, too. They're abundant. They're
not going to be huge, but there will
certainly be bass in the 10- to 15-inch
range, and they'll be fun to catch. And
they had a good spawn last year. Things
are taking off ."
Other Aquatic Habitat and Angler
Access Program projects that
Nebraskans can enjoy this year include:
Grove Lake WMA: The north boat
ramp on this lake north of Royal was
replaced in 2024 and is now compliant
By Eric Fowler B E i F l
Ready to Fish in 2025
Shoreline clearing and grading and installation of a fi shing dock improved access to the pond on East Monroe Creek at Gilbert
Baker Wildlife Management Area north of Harrison. JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
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48 Nebraskaland • March 2025
