Not really. The BNBC has provisions to assist in fish stocking programs for local area waters that we patronize. As such, many of you, members and non-members alike, have inquired about the program and wanted to know more. Here is a compendium of information related to the BNBC's fish stocking program. I'll update this page whenever further program information is received.
In June of 2009, the BNBC stocked 8000 smallmouth bass in Lake Bloomington. This effort will hopefully rejuvenate the smallmouth's presence at Lake Bloomington.
We will put another round of smallmouth in Bloomington in October. These fish will be between 6 and 8 inches. More information on dates and quantities of fish will be forthcoming as the time draws nearer. Volunteers will be needed to distribute the fish around the lake, and we'll post that as well once we have confirmation of dates.
At right: Smallmouth fingerlings are netted from the delivery tank.
Bottom right: Our 6 to 8 inch smallmouth
Click here for our fish stocking photo album
From the President, Larry Russell:
It is with great happiness that I share with you the results of a BOD initiative! J. Martoglio approached the Lake Bloomington Lake Associatation on the idea of joining forces to improve the fishing at Lake Bloomington. Resulting from that idea, the Lake Bloomington Lake Association, and the BNBC have agreed to form an alliance to improve the fishing potentials at Lake Bloomington. Beginning this year, the Lake Bloomington Lake Association has committed $500 for fish stocking, and the BNBC is committing $550 to allow the purchase of 700 Smallmouth Bass fingerlings roughly 6" in length to be released into Lake Bloomington. An additional $150 has been committed by Board member J. Hurt, who challenges anyone else in the club to match his contribution. With this commitment from James, we will purchase an additional 100 fingerlings to be stocked into the lake, this will bring the total stocking number to 800. This Lake Bloomington Lake Association and BNBC partnership is supposed to run for the next several years, with the expectation that we will see a measurable increase in fish catching at the lake. The expectations of survival rates on these fingerlings was told to me to be around 80%, which would be terrific.
The actual fish stocking will occur sometime in October, and we will advise the membership of the timing and potentially request for volunteers to assist in fish distribution.
At the end of March, 2009, the BNBC Board of Directors convened and decided upon donating $300 to assist in the Clinton Lake hatchery initiative. They required aeration equipment for the rearing ponds at the facility. This facility is the home of the 8000 smallmouth mentioned above, so a donation here directly impacts our ability to get these fish. Our donation was pooled with funds from the IL Bass Federation and the McLean County Sportsmen. The check presentation was done at the IHSA Sectionals at Clinton Lake (see photo above right).
Evergreen Lake. Two words that invoke images of long, fishless days on the water for some of us. Many ask about stocking fish here to improve the situation. We're working with McLean County Parks to increase our success. Based on the recent shocking survey on the lake, it is apparent that the musky are not affecting the population of bass too adversely. The BNBC will continue to support Evergreen Lake through habitat restructuring and other means deemed necessary to provide the community with a great place to fish.
Over 100 spawning structures have been created and placed in Clinton Lake and Evergreen to improve natural reproduction. Time and materials have been provided by various BNBC members and through their efforts to acquire sponsors for both as well.