Lake Hawkins Survey Report 2003

Lake Hawkins Survey Report 2007

Lowlights:

Channel catfish abundance remains low despite prior fingerling stockings

The reservoir�s low fertility limits population abundance of Clupeids. Shad are low population but large in size. Redear sunfish likely contribute to the recreational fishery as abundance is considered high with large individuals (>6 inches) present. Sunfish species are probably the primary prey of predators in Lake Hawkins.

Relative abundance of largemouth bass continued to decrease.
The population consists primarily of fish less than 10 inches total length. Habitat conditions and sub-adult abundance appear sufficient to support a higher abundance of legal-harvestable size fish (>14 inches). However, slow growth and angler harvest likely limit abundance of larger fish. Largemouth bass attain harvestable size during their third year.

Stockings of Florida strain largemouth bass (FLMB) in 1975 and 1990 were successful. In 2003, the population contained 50% FLMB alleles, an increase compared to 1999.

The attempt to establish a smallmouth bass fishery in Lake Hawkins was unsuccessful as stockings that occurred from 1987 to 1991 failed to produce a self-sustaining population. Smallmouth bass have not been collected during sampling since 1993.
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This is from 2003 survey and 2007 survey - less detailed - only reinforced it. Why does a seemingly dying lake continue to receive the same management practices (doing nothing)? Seems to me a more proactive approach to limits on barely legal size bass would help increase larger populations in this lake.
The report makes it sound as if this lake is dying. It's a beautiful lake, and it's got lots of sentimental meaning for me because of the times I spent there with my sons when they were little.
Is this lake survey ominous or am I reading too much into it?

(If anyone does happen to catch a smallmouth on this lake, it is automatically a lake record, although I'm sure none exist any longer from the one previous stocking)

Interesting. It use to be a great lake.

Just found an update:

Lake Hawkins TPWD Stocking Schedule

(added 22,000 FL Largemouth fingerlings in 2010)

at least theres some pickerel in there. those are fun!

Great little lake to fish or play. I been fishing it for 30
plus years and it has some quality bass in it.

Dang that sucks

It was great in the late 80's and early 90's.

I just saw this. I've been to Hawkins three times in the last two weeks prefishing for a club tournament. Just my opinion, but I think it's one of the worst bass fishing lakes I've seen.

We fished a night tournament over there about three years ago and it was tough then, too.

It's a pretty lake and looks fishy, but dang...I keep wondering where they keep the bass.

Is there any hydrilla left?

nope, there are some small patches of milfoil/coontail in the upper end. the main lake has some pondweed along the shoreline.

I prefished this lake last weekend and the weekend before for a club night tourney, after reading the survey reports I must be blessed. I caught one 14 1/4" bass, out of four bites. I believe the other bites were from pickerel(my spinnnerbait trailer had holes in it)

Another lake with no grass and declining bass populations. Im sure that cant be related. I guess tpwd will never understand.

It's a shame because it really is a beautiful little lake. The county used to really keep up the park well. We used to camp there every year in the late 90's when the kids were little and did catch quite a few nice LMB's there. I remember so many times they would be schooling and boiling the water in the creek channel they were anywhere from 10" to 14" and the kids would have a blast two would hit a rouge as soon as it hit the water. The hydrilla did get pretty bad and the local pleasure boaters and jet flea owners as well as lot owners raised enough cane they put grass carp in 2006 that it completely stripped all of it out, fishing just hasn't been the same since like 2001 and I rarely go there anymore. My dad always liked it but he gave up on it to. Now we just go to Holbrook but it's getting tough these days as well.

not to argue, but ive been to hawkins 3 timesw since spring and have done pretty good, i grew up on the north end and will agree since the grass kill, the quantity of fish u will catch has declined, but the quality is as good if not better than it ever has been for me.i have backed off and started fishing a little deeper on it. the series 3 strike king cb has been working great for me out there..