(Provided by MDNR)
Randall Chain a Good Choice for Redear Sunfish
Looking for redear sunfish? You might try Randall Chain of Lakes.
There's no shortage of fishing access for those living in or visiting southwestern Michigan. Craig and Morrison lakes - part of the Randall Chain of Lakes in Branch County - can be included on the list with a group of seven interconnected lakes that cover nearly 1,100 acres.
Located near Coldwater (population of nearly 11,000), these lakes are just a quick trip for those traveling from Indiana or Ohio and there's plenty of panfish, bass, yellow perch and northern pike to target.
Craig and Morrison lakes are the two northern most lakes in the Randall Chain of Lakes. The Coldwater River flows into the southern end of the chain and exits out of Craig Lake.
Craig Lake specifically covers 122 acres and has a maximum depth of 25 feet. It has several islands and more than half of the lake is less than 10 feet deep. Morrison Lake is larger at 288 acres with an average depth of 21 feet and a maximum depth of 46 feet.
These lakes were surveyed in June 2012, with 24 different species collected. According to Brian Gunderman, the manager of the DNR Fisheries Division's Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit, the fish populations would be categorized as good for most species found there, with average sizes found for most.
"What is unique about Craig and Morrison lakes is that you'll find redear sunfish there and they're only present in a limited number of lakes in southern Michigan," he said. "Redears were stocked upstream in Rose Lake (Lake of the Woods) in the late 1980s and early 1990s and eventually worked their way downstream into the Randall Chain. Their numbers have really increased in the last 20 years."
Redears found here can get quite a bit bigger than the bluegills you might catch, with many larger than 10 inches. This species is less likely to take artificial baits and flies and they are often fished with tight lines on the bottom.
Gunderman noted that a good year class of yellow perch was produced in 2012 with many juveniles caught during the survey.
"If those fish survived then they should be getting big enough to catch right about now," he explained. "They should be at harvestable size which would mean the perch fishery on Craig and Morrison lakes could be on the upswing."
There are lots of largemouth bass on these lakes although Gunderman shared that their growth is slow. He theorizes that two factors are in play. There may not be enough insect larvae to give bass a good jump start on growth during their first year of life. It also appears anglers may be selectively removing the faster growing fish from the adult bass population.
The Randall Chain of Lakes - especially Morrison Lake - has a fair number of wetlands that exist around it. Gunderman notes these wetlands are valuable spawning habitat for northern pike. Pike are common in the lake, and they are growing well. About 30% of the pike caught during the 2012 survey were larger than 30 inches.
Both Craig and Morrison lakes are heavily recreated with quite a bit of fishing pressure. Just as with other inland lakes found throughout Michigan it's recommended you consider fishing them early or late in the day, particularly on weekends, to avoid the congestion.
Gunderman also noted that the DNR doesnít stock any part of the chain as the fish population has not needed it. Many have asked for walleye stocking but DNR fisheries managers would not recommend it as there are already plenty of predators to be found there.