BIOLOGIST REPORT
Chambers Lake
Chambers Lake, located in Hybernia County Park, Chester
County was surveyed in October 1999 by Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
biologists in an effort to:
- continue to monitor the development of the
fish community in this recently created impoundment, and
- begin to monitor
changes in the fish community following the official opening of the lake
to angling (June 12, 1999).
Ten Pennsylvania style trap nets fished for an average
of 21.8 hours each and one complete circuit of the lake’s shoreline during
night electrofishing efforts were used to sample the lake's fish populations.
The total catch of bluegill, pumpkinseed, and black crappie were at levels
similar to other lakes in southeast Pennsylvania. These populations
appeared to be stunting however, with few individual fish larger than 7
– 10 inches present in the catch. Chain pickerel were collected in
good numbers with individuals in the 20 – 26 inch range common. The
yellow perch population was moderate with fish up to 10 inches long captured
with most fish being 7 – 9 inches long. Few catfish (including channel
catfish and brown bullhead) were collected.
The statewide management objectives for bass include:
A total catch of 35 bass per hour of electro fishing,
A catch rate of at least seven bass larger than 12 inches per hour
A catch of at least 2 – 3 bass per hour which are greater than 15 inches
There rates were met and exceeded in Chambers Lake.
The Chambers Lake electrofishing effort yielded a total catch of:
69 bass per hour
21 bass per hour larger than 12 inches
6 bass per hour larger than 15 inches.
Efforts to improve the panfish fishery at Chambers Lake
have been made. Recently white crappie have been stocked into Chambers
Lake in favor of black crappie. White crappie may be better adapted
to the seasonal temperature and oxygen conditions in Chambers Lake.
Additionally, biologists have attempted to develop a naturally reproducing
population of forage fish through the stocking of spotfin shiners.
This, along with the appearance of aquatic vegetation, which provides suitable
habitat for aquatic insects, should help to increase the growth rates of
bluegill and other panfish. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
has continued to stock channel catfish in an attempt to improve the catfish
fishery.
In general, biologists were very pleased with bass, chain pickerel, and yellow perch populations and will continue
to work toward improving the other panfish fisheries.
-- Fisheries Management Area 6
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