A close up of a Golden Shiner. Goldies can reach up to 9-10 inches when adult. Notice the deep belly and golden tint. We have high hopes for the potential positive impact the bass and pike population could experience if these minnows establish breeding populations.

A close up view of the Fathead minnows. The Fatheads we stocked are sexually mature but should continue to grow another half inch to and inch. Keep your eyes peeled. If you catch and keep predator fish (perch, crappies, pike, bass) check their stomachs and see if they have been eating Fatheads.

Mitch from Lucky's Bait stocks Fathead minnows into Kitt Lake. Notice how high the water is. This will provide excellent cover and spawning substrate for the minnows this spring.

Spring 2006 Minnow Stocking

It appears this may be the last year budget funds will be earmarked for fish stocking, at least for the time being. In light of this, we feel strongly that these available funds be used to attempt to establish brood stock lakes as was recommended in the 2005 CLAM Program annual report. Past stockings in the Main Lakes have not produced a self-sustaining spawning population to date. Therefore, the newly profiled smaller systems will receive all of the minnows this spring. Residents on the Main Lakes need to keep in mind that they have received the vast majority of past stocking monies and if brood stocks can be established, the Main Lakes can again be receiving minnows annually, at little to no cost to the Canadian Lakes Property Owners Corporation.
On Monday April 3, 2006, Summit Laboratory and Lucky’s Bait conducted the minnow stocking of the smaller aquatic systems detailed in the table above. Rush Lake (no fish prior to stocking), Lost Canyon Lake, Golden Pond, Sunset Lake, Lake of the Clouds, and Fawn Lake all received Golden Shiners. Kitt Lake (No pike, bass, perch, crappie), South Camper Pond, and the #5 Royal Pond all received Fathead minnows. Though similar, many of these smaller systems are biologically and ecologically unique allowing us to determine which systems are most likely to support minnow populations and which will not. The stocking scheme was designed to give us the best chance of establishing a self-sustaining breeding population from which to take fish for future stockings
All totaled we stocked 80 gallons of Golden Shiners with ~15 dozen fish (180) per gallon= 14,400 fish and 15 gallons of Fatheads with ~2000 fish per gallon= 30,000 fish.

Breakdown by Lake:
Kitt= ~20,000 Fatheads
Royal #5 Pond= ~6,000
South Camper Pond= ~4,000

Sunset= ~2,880 Goldens
Fawn= ~2,880 Goldens
Golden Pond= ~1,440 Goldens
Rush Lake= ~1,440 Goldens
Lost Canyon Lake= ~2,880 Goldens
Lake of the Clouds= ~2,880 Goldens