Lake Information for Lums Pond

The largemouth bass population has remained stable with slightly below average numbers of fish, but most bass were well over legal length. About one-fourth of the population consisted of bass over 15 inches. Average weights have stabilized in recent years. And there is always the potential for a true lunker at Lums.

Bluegill have been abundant, but few reach a “trophy” size. Black crappie have, at times, been so abundant that the fish become stunted and grow poorly. Removal of a portion of the small crappie has been ongoing to allow the remaining fish adequate food for better growth. Some citation bluegill, largemouth bass, white perch and yellow perch are reported each year. Crappie citations have become more abundant despite the problem with stunted fish. This is one of the few Delaware ponds that contains both black and white crappie (others being Becks and Noxontown).

White perch have been abundant and generally small, although occasional citations are taken. Yellow perch were much less abundant and have tended to hang out in the areas of the pond where inflow streams occur. Occasional large chain pickerel have been taken, primarily in the northeast portion of the pond.
Growth of most fish species in Lums Pond was average or slightly better. This is in marked contrast to growth documented in the early 1970s when bass in Lums Pond had the slowest growth rate of any state pond population due to a lack of food fish (forage).

Landlocked alewife (left photo) were successfully stocked into the pond in 1979 and 1980 to provide additional forage. The landlocked population has a relatively short life span and reaches only a maximum length of about nine inches, making it an excellent prey species for bass.

The alewife population maintained itself through reproduction until about 2000 when the number of fish began to decline. Supplemental stockings from Lake Hopatcong were made in 2003 and 2005 to increase alewife abundance. Studies indicated that the growth of both largemouth bass and crappie improved following introduction of the alewife.

In 1982, striped bass X white bass hybrids were stocked into Lums Pond due to the heavy angling pressure and the established alewife population (a preferred food item). The hybrids are sterile so must be maintained by stocking. Some concerns about the ability of the alewife population to support the largemouth bass, crappie, and striper hybrid populations resulted in a temporary hold on stocking of hybrid stripers during the mid-1990s. However, stocking has resumed and the hybrid stripers continue to be a popular game species.