North Mississippi lake ready for restocking | Outdoors | The Sun Herald

AMANDA McCOY/SUN HERALDSierra Lamey of Ocean Springs holds one of the many bluegill that she caught while weighing in her catch during a kids fishing rodeo in July, 2011. Lake Lamar Bruce in northern part of the state is going to be restocked with bluegill for recreational fishing.

AMANDA McCOY ? SUN HERALDBuy Photo

SALTILLO -- It may not look ready, but according to state wildlife officials, Lake Lamar Bruce is ready to be stocked with fish -- very small bluegill and redear sunfish as well as catfish fingerlings.

"Tupelo Fish Hatchery and Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks have partnered to raise the fish to put back into Lamar Bruce," said MDWFP's Larry Pugh. "So we'll be stocking probably 150,000 bluegill and redear ... and probably 15,000 channel catfish."

He said it'll take two years for those fish to spawn twice before they are ready to fully stock the lake with bass and other larger species.

The lake has been closed for two years to repair an old dam at its south end. Now, it's good as new.

"We've got a new dam, a new water level control structure. We were able to complete it, so we're finished with it. We've got a few other on the ground projects, but we're looking forward to getting those done too," Pugh said.

Lake Lamar Bruce will not officially reopen for another two years, but we were told that there is a possibility that one part of the lake could be opened next year.

A four-acre fishing pond at the lake is expected to be filled with water soon.

Larger fish can be placed there, Pugh said, and can be used for kids fishing.

The lake has been a mainstay in Saltillo since it opened in the early 1960s, and residents are glad to see the old lake like new again.

"We need a good place to fish around here again," said Dan Grisham, a local resident.

Pugh said there are perhaps 50-to-80 acres of water already in Lake Lamar Bruce.

He said there is plenty of submerged vegetation for young fish to feed on as well.

Source: http://www.sunherald.com/2012/12/22/4373342/north-mississippi-lake-ready-for.html

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