Species

Rank

Fish Status

BLUEGILL

Very Good

As usual, bluegill were less abundant than bass during the 2022 Devils Kitchen Lake survey. The bluegill catch rate was 45 per hour of electrofishing. Quality of the bluegill population continued to climb above management goals, as demonstrated by 77% over 6 inches and 11% larger than 8 inches. Site Regulation: 25 per day creel limit (in aggregate).

LARGEMOUTH BASS

Fair

Devils Kitchen Lake has historically contained a bass population consisting of abundant small fish and a few giants, without much in between. Largemouth bass were collected at a rate of 188 per hour in 2022 and 9% were larger than 12 inches, while 2% were larger than 15 inches. Although most bass are generally 9 to 13 inches in length, it is not unusual for bass in the 5 to 10-pound range to show up in spring electrofishing samples and/or tournament weigh-ins. Anglers are encouraged to harvest small bass to boost the average size of fish in the population Site Regulation: 6 fish daily limit.

RAINBOW TROUT

Very Good

Rainbow trout are stocked in Devils Kitchen Lake each fall to maintain the population, and there is no closed season. The Devils Kitchen trout fishery is very popular with the angling public. Possession of an inland trout stamp is required for harvesting rainbow trout. Site Regulation: Rainbow trout – no length limit, 5 per day creel limit.

REDEAR SUNFISH

Very Good

: The Devils Kitchen redear population remained fairly impressive in spring 2022. Redear abundance was was good, as measured by a catch rate of 63 per hour, and average size of these fish was much larger. Seventy-one percent of redear were larger than 7 inches and 36% exceeded 8 inches. Site Regulation: 25 per day creel limit (in aggregate).

YELLOW PERCH

Developing

Yellow perch were “officially” stocked in Devils Kitchen Lake in 2014 for the first time in the lake’s history, and additional stockings were completed through 2022. A small population of perch (of unknown origin) already existed, and was popular, but few fish ever entered anglers’ creels. Four perch were sampled in 2023, 7 to 11 inches long. The goal of the yellow perch stocking program is to produce a viable, self-sustaining fishery, and additional fish will be stocked in 2023.