Bear Lake in Noble County is a 136-acre natural lake located seven miles southwest of Albion. The lake has long been a favorite lake among northeastern Indiana bluegill anglers, and a fish survey conducted there last summer by Department of Natural Resources (DNR) biologists confirmed why.

Among all the fish caught in last summer’s Bear Lake survey, bluegills ranked first in number and overall in weight. Largemouth bass ranked second in number and overall weight. Sport fish made up 93 percent of the total catch and 78 percent of the total weight.

But what impressed biologists the most was the percentage of large bluegills. Eight-inch and larger bluegills accounted for 25 percent of adult bluegills. Larger bluegills usually make up only 5 percent of the population, in most lakes.

Based on the survey catch, 84 percent of the bluegills in Bear Lake were 7 inches and larger – a size anglers generally consider big enough to eat.

While some area lakes and farm ponds are plagued with small fish, bluegill size at Bear Lake has apparently increased over the past 25 years. Biologists have conducted standard fish population surveys at Bear Lake four times since the 1980s. Each time the percentage of big bluegills has increased.

In the most recent survey, biologists used an electrofishing boat, gill nets and trap nets to capture 345 bluegills at Bear Lake during three days of sampling in mid-June 2011.

In addition to bluegills and bass, Bear Lake also provides fishing for crappies, perch and bullheads. Although the DNR stocked northern pike in the lake many years ago, none were found during the latest survey.

A DNR public fishing site with a boat ramp is located on the lake’s east side.

The latest legal antics of the Humane Society of the Untied States (HSUS) are being reported by the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) – and the information is not good.

California Senate Bill 1221, banning the use of hounds to hunt black bears and bobcats, passed the state’s Senate last week. The passage of SB 1221 casts a dark cloud over the future of all hunting and wildlife management in California. It passed with a vote of 22-15 in favor.

The bill, which is sponsored by the radical animal rights group HSUS, triggered a strong outpouring of opposition from California sportsmen and -women, plus sportsmen’s organizations in the state and nationwide. The USSA denounced the retaliatory wildlife management bill created when HSUS could not have a state game commissioner removed for his legal mountain lion hunt.

As the bill moved forward from introduction and through the hearing process, hundreds of opponents wearing orange “NO on SB 1221” buttons also packed the corridors of the capital to let their senators know they opposed the anti-hunting bill.

“The California Senate today chose retribution and revenge over sound science-based wildlife management,” explained Evan Heusinkveld, USSA’s director of state services. “Despite having a Fish and Game Commission explicitly designed to handle these questions free from the politics of the statehouse, the California Senate voted in favor of a hunting ban.”

USSA has been working with the Masters of Foxhounds Assoc., California Houndsmen for Conservation and the California Outdoor Heritage Alliance to defeat SB 1221.

•The bill would outlaw the use of hounds to hunt bears and bobcats. Hunting bears and bobcats with hounds has been legal since the state formally organized a game commission and established game management and hunting laws.

•Hounds are actually used in wildlife management practices and projects. Hunters using hounds to pursue bears actually take fewer bears than is recommended by the state’s game department.

•The bill is being pushed by HSUS – the same group that pushed anti-farming and “puppy mill” bills in California in the past.

Chain O’Lakes opens new trail

Be among the first to set foot on the newest trail at Chain O’Lakes State Park. The new trail is three-quarters of a mile long and rated by the park as rugged. It starts and ends at the Stanley Schoolhouse, a one-room school built in 1915, and circles Kreiger Lake.

Kreiger Lake was not accessible to park visitors in the past. The trail passes through an open field and a wetland, climbs a wooded glacial hill around Kreiger Lake and offers excellent views of Long Lake and a beaver dam on Kreiger Lake.

The trail was made possible through several different work details and volunteer efforts. The Young Hoosier Conservation Corps did the initial trail clearing last summer and fall. Logan Boyer of Boy Scout Troop 302 in Huntington organized the building of a boardwalk on the trail for his Eagle Scout designation.

The boardwalk passes between Kreiger Lake and a large wetland and is a good bird-watching spot. Boyer had help from volunteer Gary Green of Syracuse, who donated a portable sawmill and his time for the project. Boyer also led Troop 302 in a workday, during which 27 volunteers built the boardwalk.

The standard park entrance fee is $5 per in-state vehicles or $7 per out-of-state vehicles. For more information, call 260-636-2654.

Don’t know a sparrow from a house finch? At Lake Monroe there will be an opportunity to learn more about the fascinating world of birding.

Bird watching is a lot of fun and an easy hobby to learn. To help introduce new people to the great outdoor activity, Monroe Lake is offering a series of four hikes on Thursdays in June.

Each hike lasts 45-60 minutes and covers different birding techniques or focuses on a particular group of birds. Visitors can participate in a single hike, or all four. If you have binoculars, bring them, but they aren’t required.

•June 8 at 8 a.m.: Paynetown SRA, meet at the overflow parking lot

•June 14 at 8 a.m.: Stillwater Waterfowl Resting Area, meet at the overlook
•June 21 at 8 a.m.: Allens Creek SRA, meet at the boat ramp parking lot

•June 28 at 8 p.m.: Fairfax SRA, meet in front of the Four Winds Resort

The hike series is free and no registration is required. If you have questions or need directions, contact the Paynetown Activity Center at 812-837-9546 or email jvance@dnr.IN.gov

Details about the hikes are also available at http://in.gov/dnr/parklake/ 2954.htm

When entering Paynetown SRA or Fairfax SRA, there is a gate fee of $5 per vehicle for Indiana residents, or $7 per vehicle for out-of-state. There is no entrance fee at Stillwater or Allens Creek SRA.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Jack Spaulding may contact him by email at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.