Echo stats from DWR 2018

[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]I got an inquiry from a fellow BFTer asking questions about the relative fish populations and DWR outlook for Echo...now that it is a new State Park. I couldn't answer those questions so I sent an email to Chris Penne...our helpful friendly DWR contact for this area. Attached is his interesting reply.
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[gaardvark]

Channel Cats in Mantua... that could be interesting.

Does Mantua provide the type of habitat where we might expect to see a self sustaining population develop? What kind of impact would you expect on the other species?
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]I have not seen any published studies on Mantua, but from my past experience and observations I would guess Mantua might be a good spot for channels. Lots of food from several sources and plenty of cover in the form of weeds and a few rocks. Should be enough for some natural reproduction and a healthy population over time.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]But I can already hear the bassaholics weeping and wailing about competition for their chosen darlings.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]Actually, around the country the "holy trinity" for well balanced small lakes are bass, bluegill and cats. Got a few other contenders in Mantua but none that should adversely impact catfish...or vice versa.
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[Gemcityslayer]

Used to catch a lot of really nice crappie at echo. This was over a decade ago. It was a fairly well kept secret that they were in there. I don’t know how they got in there, bucket biologists if I remember right. Anyhow the lake got super low 2-3 years in a row and they disappeared. Had days during the spawn catching 30-50 fish all over 12”. Clearly was a good environment for them. Any chance the DWR would stock some back in there?
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Will DWR stock crappies in Echo? Maybe. They have seemingly adopted a much more liberal attitude on adding additional species in a multi-level fishery. And, surprisingly, crappies have been introduced into several new venues where they did not exist (legally) before.
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[#0000FF]My suggestion is that you pose this as a suggestion when the annual online survey forms are posted.
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