Fish Management Archive

2021 Fish Stocking 50-50 drawing at the Annual Picnic

Betty drawing the winning ticket of our 50-50 fish fund. And the winner was Sharon Adams who then gave half of her winnings back to the fish fund. Thank you Sharon and everyone who bought tickets to help our fish fund.

Gary Knoll

2020 Walleye Release

Gary Knoll coordinated with Harrietta Hills Trout farm to release 1500 walleye into Lake James. The walleye came from Minnesota and averaged 5 inches in length. Stocking the lake is an important component of LJPOA's lake management and has lead to an increase in the walleye population. A healthy and diverse fish population is an important part of creating an environmentally balanced lake.

Here are a few pictures of the walleye release:

Early in the year,  a 28 inch walleye weighing 8.5 lb was caught while ice fishing in January of 2020 and was photographed and appeared in The Resorter. 

Greetings LJPOA, welcome to 2018

It's time to start thinking about planting fish in our lake. This of course depends on the availability of funds.

I have been talking to several lake members and they would like to have Bass planted. Others would like to have Walleye restocked. Last year we planted Bluegill.

This is my thought: I would like to plant some more Walleye. Reason being they are a predator fish like the Bass and Pike.

I have been talking with lake members who are also interested in planting them on the south east end of Shadow Lake where Denton creek flow into the lake. The creek flows through a tube under a seasonal road. At both ends of the tube there is a combined distance of about fifty yards of gravel that has accumulated over the years. Hopefully the Walleye would return to the same place to spawn in the spring when the creek is about two feet higher with a steady flow of water.

2017 Fish Management and Buoy Report - Marty Baumgartner

• 1. The 2017 LJPOA fishing contest started May 15,2017 and will end August 10, 2017. The contest rules were posted on the LJPOA website.

  2. A second tagged fish was released in the late spring, bringing the total of tagged fish to 2. Each fish is worth $25.00. Report a tagged fish to Marty B.

  3. Fish were planted on 5-12-17. 3,084 5-7 inch hybrid sunfish and 400 pounds of fathead minnows were stocked.

  4. Slow-no wake buoys, covered by a permanent DNR permit, were placed again this spring.

  5. The Dam, swimming area, shallow water, and stump buoy permits will be renewed January 2020.

  6. Last October, the buoy in Little Lake James closest to the tube was found to have 5 bullet holes in it when it was removed for the year. A police report was filed. A noticed was placed in the Resorter stating that a reward would be given for information leading to the arrest of the responsible party.

  7. The Roscommon Road Commission authorized the construction of a fence over the west end of the drainage tube to prevent non-member fishing on the lake from the road. We are still looking for bids for this project. However, they denied our request for placing no parking signs on Roscommon Road.

  8. The LJPOA Board decided that fishing tournaments of any kind are not allowed unless authorized by the board.

  9. The board reminds property owners that the mooring of water craft on their property that is not registered to dues paying property owners is prohibited. Also, letting non property owners the use of your key to the boat ramp is prohibited.

  10. January 2017 Update

  11. 2017 LJPOA Fish Management

  12. For the first time since 2013, LJPOA will be restocking fish in our lakes. I am asking for recommendations and reasoning for the species selected. All suggestions will be considered by the committee. 

  13. List of Fish Previously Stocked: 

  14. 10-10-10: 1,000 7-9 inch Walleye 

  15. 10-10-11: 1,500 7-9 inch Walleye 

  16. 5-15-13: 1,280 5-7 inch Hybrid Sunfish $2,560.00 

  17. 10-11-13: 1,325 5-7 inch Black Crappie $2,991.85 

  18. Walleye were quoted 9-30-14 at a cost of $2.50 each 

  19. The 2015 Lake James Fish Survey recommended the stocking of flathead minnows in conjunction with game fish to serve as a source of forage for the resident fish and fish to be stocked in the future. 

  20. Because of the uncertainties of which fish species flourished or declined in the past year due to the fluctuation of the water level, I would recommend planting the flathead minnows in the spring and, depending on the cost, some 5-7 inch bluegills. Also, a fall planting could be conducted depending on money reserves. 

  21. Please call me at 517-262-1589 or e-mail me at martyb1250@gmail.com. 

  22. See you on the Lake! Marty B.

December 2016 Update

Please use extreme caution this year when ice fishing, snowmobiling, and other winter sports due to the fluctuating water level in the lake due to dam repair and shoreline improvement. The early snow can create irregularities in the ice thickness.

Lake James 2015 Fish Survey