Area 8 Fisheries Biologist Mike Depew holding a large spiny softshell turtle

Biologists from the Area 8 Fisheries Management Office in Somerset, PA conducted a routine resurvey of the lake in May 2010 using Pennsylvania style trap nets and night flat bottom boat electrofishing. In our trap nets, bluegills and crappie were caught in good numbers and good sizes (Table 1). Decent numbers of nice sized yellow perch and pumpkinseed were also captured.

Total numbers of bluegills captured per net hour during the survey were lower than the last survey, while the amount of quality size fish over 7 inches remained about the same.

The amount of crappies captured was lower than in 1998; however we did capture a lot of quality fish during the survey. White crappies in particular were larger and more abundant this year than in 1998 (Figure 2). We collected 47 white crappie that were 10 inches or larger.

Our survey crew collected 269 largemouth bass during the nighttime electrofishing runs (Table 2). The overall total fish captured increased since the last survey, however the number of quality size bass dropped slightly (Figure 3).

Fisheries Biologist Aide Joseph Cocco with two typical size bass from the survey

The PFBC stocks channel catfish fingerling annually at Lower Twin Lake. Channel catfish were not collected in our net survey although we receive reports of anglers catching them. We plan to return in summer to try and capture them after water temperatures increase. If summer net survey results are consistent with the spring survey, channel catfish stocking may be discontinued.

Lower Twin Lake has excellent fishing opportunities for bluegills, pumpkinseed, crappie, yellow perch, and largemouth bass. Stocked trout also provide many fishing opportunities during the cooler months. The parks scenic background is ideal for picnic fishing trips with friends and family.