Leaser Lake has become a high-quality bluegill fishery since it was replenished with fish a little more than ten years ago. There are plenty of the eager-to-cooperate fish, ready to eat nearly everything that fisherman throw at them.
In an effort to assist fish and fishermen alike, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is modifying its management of the sunfish population on the extensively fished lake.
The addition of Leaser Lake’s sunfish to the list of waters governed by the state’s Panfish Enhancement Special Regulations program was approved by the PFBC Board of Commissioners on Monday. The program’s goal is to raise the quantity, quality, and size of panfish species in a particular body of water by setting minimum size and creel limitations. The new rules, which also apply to bluegills, pumpkinseed, and hybrid sunfish caught in the water, will require panfish to be at least 7 inches long before an angler can creel them. The rules will take effect on January 1, 2026.
According to PFBC Area Fisheries Manager Michael Porta, the goal of the minimum size limit (of the Panfish Enhancement program) is to enhance the size structure of populations of sunfish, crappies, and yellow perch in specific waterways where it is thought to be possible to increase the quantity of large panfish. Since most anglers prefer to capture and/or harvest larger panfish, this should also lead to higher angler satisfaction.
Leaser Lake is a 117-acre state-owned impoundment that is overseen by the PFBC and is situated in northwest Lehigh County. Warmwater and coolwater fish were stocked in the lake throughout the following years, mostly from 2013 to 20. The lake was emptied in 2009 for dam and spillway repairs and refilled in 2013.
With the exception of stocked trout, fishing was catch-and-release only on the water for a number of years after it was refilled. From 2016 to 21, the agency closely monitored fish numbers. The catch-and-release rules were relaxed in 2022, and the Big Bass Program allowed for the limited harvesting of largemouth bass, while the Panfish Enhancement program introduced crappie and yellow perch to allow their numbers to flourish. Crappie and perch cannot be harvested until they are at least 9 inches long.
Additional panfish assessments at Leaser Lake in 2024 revealed a healthy bluegill population, with most fish measuring more than 7 inches, according to the PFBC. Eight trap nets were placed across the lake in April of last year, and eight distinct species were captured. 209 bluegills, ranging in size from 3 to 8 inches, were hauled in first. The agency took action to better safeguard the population because of this size structure and the tendency of anglers to harvest bluegills.
The size structure of bluegills has been steadily improving, according to Porta, who conducted recent observations in Leaser Lake. Additionally, pumpkinseeds have a nice size structure.
This proves that big sunfish can be produced in Leaser Lake. The Panfish Enhancement Regulations Program permits sunfish to grow to a length of 7 inches before they can be taken, as they may be susceptible to excessive harvesting.
Porta asserts that it is critical to preserve giant sunfish, especially bluegills, in the population because larger-growing, slower-maturing males are essential to ensuring that these characteristics are passed on to their progeny.
According to Porta, overfishing of huge bluegills can lead to a population that is stunted as a result of fish that mature quickly and don’t put much effort into growing. The ultimate objective is to increase the number of giant sunfish, which is something that fishermen want to see.
According to Porta, yellow perch and crappies are less common than bluegills, but their size structure is still good.
He noted that anglers who come to Leaser Lake have a great chance to catch yellow perch and crappies of good size.
There are now 26 lakes and impoundments in Pennsylvania with Panfish Enhancement restrictions in effect. An angler is only allowed to keep 20 panfish per species per day, with a maximum of 50 panfish overall, when fishing on waters under the Panfish Enhancement program. Anglers are permitted to harvest up to 50 species of panfish per day on all other waters, with no minimum size restriction, under the state’s standard inland water restrictions.
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