Pine Mountain Lake

How big is Pine Mountain Lake?

How deep is Pine Mountain Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Pine Mountain Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Pine Mountain Lake?

Pine Mountain is a designated stream trout lake, and has been managed for trout since at least 1934. The current (2010) lake management plan continued a stocking regime for Splake that called for 6,000 fingerlings to be stocked annually. The long range goal for Splake in this lake is a minimum trap net catch of 4.8 fish/net (a relatively high number of fish), with some fish over 16 inches present. This was to have been the second of three surveys scheduled in the 2010 LMP to evaluate Splake stocking, monitor summer water quality, and monitor the lake for introductions of undesirable fish species. The first (in 2011) was canceled due to a lack of staff and funding, making this the first full standard survey completed on this lake since Splake stocking began in 2002.

Splake were abundant in Pine Mountain Lake in 2016, and although few large fish were present, many fish in the 12-15-in length range were available. The 2016 Splake trap net catch exceeded the goal from the 2010 LMP, and the size goal in that plan was met by the capture of one 17-inch fish. At 6.50 fish/net, the catch exceeded the top of the normal range (3.25 fish/net) for Splake catches in fall surveys of stream trout lakes in this area. The average weight of Splake taken in trap nets was close to average (0.74 lb/fish) for fall catches in this area. Six stocked year classes contributed to the 2016 catch, with fish from the 2012 and 2013 year classes accounting for 83% of the total catch. Low numbers of one- and two-year-old fish taken in this survey may have been due to predation from relatively high numbers of larger Splake present from earlier stockings. Splake growth had been slow; fish reached a mean length of just 10.1 inches at the end of their third year, compared to an area average of 12.8 inches. Slow growth may have been due to heavy competition with other Splake (high numbers of Splake present), and competition from relatively high numbers of White Sucker.

Temperature-oxygen measurements made in late August as part of this survey suggest slow growth of Splake could also be related to stress caused by reduced thermal habitat. Splake are believed to have habitat requirements similar to those for Brook Trout. Optimal conditions for Brook Trout are water temperatures of 68 F or less, with at least 5.0 ppm dissolved oxygen. Water temperatures over 68 F are stressful, and prolonged exposure to those higher temperatures can result in slower growth, particularly among larger fish. Exposure to water temperatures over 77 F can be lethal. Measurements in Pine Mountain Lake on August 25 2016 found optimal conditions for Splake, if any existed, were limited to a very narrow band at a depth of about 16 ft. Deep waters that might have provided cool enough water lacked sufficient dissolved oxygen, while shallower waters were too warm. While not lethal, warm surface waters observed in 2016 could have resulted in stress responses, including slower growth, among Splake.

No new (to this lake) undesirable fish species were collected in this survey. White Sucker gill and trap net catches were above normal for the lake class, and for stream trout lakes in this area, but were typical for this lake. Most suckers were too large to have provided forage for any but the largest trout, and all would have competed with trout for invertebrate forage.

Are there any state parks near Pine Mountain Lake?