Fishing Peach Lake

Peach Lake delivers outstanding Walleye fishing with every fish caught legal size and growing 1.1 inches faster than state average. The 2019 spring survey captured 93 Walleye averaging 21.6 inches with fish up to 31 inches, representing six different age classes that indicate both successful stocking and natural reproduction. Northern Pike also excel here, growing 1.1 inches above average with 49% reaching the 24-inch legal minimum and fish topping 35 inches. Largemouth Bass show exceptional growth at 2.7 inches above state average, with 88% of fish legal size. The lake stratifies severely in summer with oxygen dropping below fish-survivable levels at just 16 feet, concentrating all fish in the upper water column. This 208-acre lake reaches 74 feet deep but only the top 16 feet remain fishable during summer stratification. The northern and western shorelines offer gradual drop-offs with larger shoal areas, while southern and eastern shores feature steep drop-offs. Bottom composition varies from sand in nearshore areas to marl in marshy zones and pulpy peat in the deepest areas. Submerged coarse woody debris along undeveloped shorelines provides prime fish habitat. The lake connects directly to the West Branch Rifle River via Peach Lake Creek. Rough fish dominate the biomass with bullheads and carp comprising 43% of total weight despite being just 8.5% by number, creating excellent bowfishing opportunities for large bullheads averaging over 11 inches. The panfish populations show mixed results - Rock Bass average nearly 7 inches with most fish over 8 inches, but Bluegill scored very poor on quality indices with most fish small. Yellow Perch average just 5.2 inches with only two fish out of 190 reaching keeper size. Agricultural runoff from the surrounding watershed may be contributing to algal blooms and shallower thermoclines compared to historical conditions.