The 1999 Warmwater Fish Survey of Big Chambers Lake (Russell Lake), Thurston County

The warmwater fish population of Chambers Lake (Russell Lake) was sampled during the spring of 1999. The sampled biomass was dominated by largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), yellow perch (Perca flavescens), cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki) and bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus). Though none were captured during our survey, triploid grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) are present and probably account for the majority of the biomass. Chambers Lake is currently involved in a channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) stocking program. No channel catfish were encountered in our survey, and it is unclear as to how successful these plants have been in creating a fishery. An angler creel survey, or some other method of monitoring harvest at Chambers Lake should be proposed to obtain information on the success of the channel catfish stocking program. Public access to the Chambers Lakes is limited to Big Chambers Lake. The area accessible to the angling public could be doubled by opening up the connecting channel between the two lakes.