Although this pond often has a muddy
appearance, bass were moderate to abundant.
There are a good number of larger bass and
average weights were high. The population
was dominated by fish above 12 inches with the
dominant size being 12 to 15 inches.
A spring 2008 population estimate indicated
that about 500 bass over 6 inches were in
the pond.
A great variety and number
of panfish were present in
Moores Lake. Both bluegill
and white perch were
abundant, but pumpkinseed
sunfish, black crappie, and
yellow perch also provide
angling opportunities. Over
one-third of the bluegill were
above 6 inches. Crappie, which ranged up to 12
inches, were common with about 1 in
7 over 10 inches. Common carp and brown
bullhead catfish were also present
throughout the pond.
MOORES LAKE
27.1 acres
Dover
VEGETATION
Spatterdock beds formed the bulk of the available aquatic weeds in this
pond although
at a lesser abundance than found during the 1966 survey. High turbidity
(muddiness)
and deepening as a result of dredging during the early 1990s has
prevented reestablishment
of many other aquatic plants. Planktonic algae blooms often result in a
dark green coloration in the water during the warmest summer months.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
There is a fish ladder for river herring to gain access to the pond
during the spring
months. It is unlawful for any person to fish within ten feet of the
entrance or exit of a
fish ladder or remove fish from any ladder between March 15 and May 30.
A fish consumption advisory has been in place since 1999 to limit angler
exposure to
contaminants in the entire St. Jones watershed, including Moores Lake.
The advisory
suggests that anglers eat no more than two 8-oz meals of fish per year
based on longterm
health risks associated with eating certain quantities of fish from
localized areas.
The contaminants of concern are PCBs and DDT.