Fish Stocking Program

by Fred Harding

Yankee Lake has always been home to a wide variety of fish species to excite the angler, whether a 3-year old first timer or an expert old timer.

For those who enjoy a good fish dinner, the Lake abounds with "pan fish." In addition to the traditional Sunfish with its yellow underside, we have variations of the species known as Pumpkin Seeds (orange underside), Red Ears (red edge on gill cover) and Blue Gills (bluish tinge on the gill plates). Yellow Perch are plentiful, and the Lake is one of the few in the area supporting White Perch as well. Completing the pan fish list is the Rock Bass, with its big red eyes, and both the speckle-sided White and Yellow Crappies.

An ample population of eels and catfish patrol the Lake bottom to help keep it clean and also serve as a nice dinner for Southerners and Country Yankees alike.

Sport fisherman enjoy casting lures for Crappie, Chain Pickerel (24” length are frequently caught, with some exceeding 30”) and, of course, Large Mouth Bass (2 pound fish are normal, with the occasional 5+ pound catch being reported).

We are fortunate to have a clean, healthy Lake and we work hard to keep it that way. The Lake had been sporadically stocked with bass over the years, but since 1996, (through private donations, and more recently, donations added by YLPA members when they pay their annual fees), the Lake is annually stocked with approximately 200 each of 7” - 14” Perch, Crappie and Bass that arrive from the hatchery each year.

Additionally, to prevent over-fishing and to preserve the integrity of our privately-owned Lake, our Patrol team ensures that those on the Lake are YLPA Members and their invited guests.

                                              Dominick Civitano helps to restock the Lake. Summer of 2007.