In existence since 1961, Weiss Lake in Alabama is a 30,200-acre lake with 450 miles of shoreline. Popular as a travel destination for anglers and boaters, the lake has been known as The Crappie Capital of the World. Recognizing the drastic reduction of natural fish habitat due to the natural aging of the lake, a community-backed program was initiated to correct the habitat decline.
In a partnership with Alabama Power the Weiss Lake Improvement Association (WLIA) undertook a project to restore fish habitat in the lake with the intent of making good fishing available to future generations.
Volunteer director and coordinator Mark Collins spearheaded the grass roots effort. “Since the impoundment of Weiss Lake in 1961, we have seen a drastic reduction of natural fish habitat, due to the natural aging process,” instructed Collins. “It is proven that an aggressive fish habitat enhancement program will increase the bass and crappie populations in older lakes that are losing the natural habitat due to age and erosion.”
Collins went on to explain the expected results of the community’s efforts. “The enhancement program will provide habitat at different depths, to provide a refuge for the smaller fish for protection from predation from larger fish and birds. Largemouth bass and crappie spawn in shallow waters and stay there during their first year. The second year they move to deeper water. A good habitat enhancement program will provide habitat at different depths, to increase the survival rate of these young fish so they can mature into larger harvestable fish.” Continue reading – http://www.examiner.com/list/fish-habitat-enhancement-on-weiss-lake-bodes-well-for-the-future-fishing?CID=examiner_alerts_article