Fishing Gourdneck Lake

Gourdneck Lake offers excellent bluegill fishing with catch rates of 26 fish per net night and growth index of +1.1 above state average. Rock bass are surprisingly abundant for southern Michigan and growing well above average with a +1.9 growth index across 8 year classes. Largemouth bass provide the primary predator fishery and are best targeted by electrofishing, though growth appears average. The lake stratifies in summer with dissolved oxygen dropping below warmwater fish levels at 18 feet and becoming anaerobic by 25 feet, meaning about 50% of the lake is unsuitable for fish during stratification. This creates a community dominated by pelagic species (78% of catch) rather than bottom-dwellers. Northern pike are present but uncommon, with one fish reaching 38 inches and 9 year classes represented. The bottom consists of marl and organic matter with sand and marl shorelines. Muskgrass dominates vegetation at 52% coverage, while Eurasian watermilfoil is minimal at 0.4% and confined to deeper drop-offs. The lake is mesotrophic with Secchi depths of 11.5-16.5 feet and hard water with good buffering capacity. Fish community composition has remained stable since surveys in the 1970s, with 23 species typical of warmwater lakes and only common carp as a non-native species.