Willow Brook Lake

Willow Brook Lake (143 acres) is home to a healthy population of largemouth bass as well as good numbers of stocked hybrid striped bass. Electrofishing surveys in 2022 showed largemouth bass are abundant with most (54 percent) over the minimum length of 15 inches.  Largemouth over 18 inches composed 20 percent of our sample while 5 percent were over 20 inches.

The lake was part of a 5-year predator study (2016-2020) where high numbers of hybrid striped bass and flathead catfish were stocked to reduce over-abundant populations of gizzard shad and common carp, and also to increase growth rates of panfish. Hybrid striped bass continue to be stocked each year (hatchery production permitting) at a lower rate. The first stockings of hybrid striped bass have now grown to harvestable sizes (>20 inches) but many fish from later stockings are smaller. Expect more hybrid bass to reach legal size over the next few years but be sure to immediately release sublegal fish so they can help improve the overall fishery. Hybrid bass are often caught casting or trolling in open water (where schools of shad occur) using a variety of active fishing lures such as rattle traps and road runners.  A few flathead catfish are now exceeding the minimum length for legal harvest (24") with larger fish over 36 inches. Smaller flathead catfish (11-12 inches) were observed in the 2022 surveys suggesting that the species is now reproducing in the lake.

Fishing success for white crappie varies from year-to-year at this lake.  The 2022 surveys showed abundance of crappie had declined since 2020; however, sizes of crappie were relatively good with most (61 percent) over 8 inches and 42 percent over 10 inches. We expect crappie growth rates will improve as the hybrid bass and flathead catfish populations mature. Fish brush piles and hinge-cut trees along the shoreline with plastics or minnow-tipped jigs. Channel catfish are abundant in the lake and range from 13-20" with some fish larger than 20". Cut bait and chicken livers work well for these fish during the spring and summer months.