IBF Report

The Indiana Bass Federation (IBF), an organization with the purpose to assist and unite member clubs and to assist and cooperate with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in matters that are mutually beneficial, has announced it has allotted $5,000 to stock bass in Raccoon Lake this year.

With the cooperation and support of the Indiana DNR they are purchasing 1000, 8- to 12-inch largemouth bass from a Cincinnati hatchery.

IBF Conservation Director Maggie Templeton said the DNR was very helpful in recommending the best size of bass to stock and locating the best pricing. .

Raccoon Lake in Parke County was selected at the advice of the Indiana DNR because they created new fish habitat in the lake in 2017. Various IBF clubs have been helping the DNR with a five-year project to improve fish habitat in five impoundments around the state. Sullivan Lake in Sullivan County was the first lake to have habitat placed in the lake. In 2018 habitat improvement will be placed in Lake Monroe, near Bloomington; in 2018; in Sylvan Lake in Noble County in 2019; and Lake Patoka in Dubois County near Jasper in 2020.

The goal is to stock bass in Raccoon Lake in 2018 and 2020 and to stock bass in Lake Monroe in 2019 and 2021.

In addition to the purchase of the bass, the IBF has also set up a GoFundMe page so additional funds can be directed to continue and expand the stocking program to other lakes. To view the GoFundMe page go to www.gofundme.com.