Carterville FRO biologist Nate Caswell processes a walleye captured during night electrofishing in Lake Greenwood. - FWS photo by Colby Wrasse

Carterville FRO biologist Nate Caswell and technicians Matt Mangan and Matt Wegener completed the annual fishery survey of Lake Greenwood, at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, in May. 

Crane NSWC is a large naval establishment that covers about 100 square miles, and offers a wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities for military and Department of Defense personnel. Much of the area is heavily wooded and includes several small ponds and an 800-acre reservoir (Lake Greenwood).

In most years, Carterville FRO staff members are assisted in the survey by Crane Natural Resources Manager Steve Andrews and Scott Montgomery, a base employee and avid bass angler.  Unfortunately, neither of these gentlemen was available for the 2007 survey, and their presence was certainly missed.

Carterville FRO used night electrofishing to sample four sites on Lake Greenwood, and technician Matt Mangan recently completed and submitted the annual management report.  The largemouth bass catch was down slightly from the 2005 and 2006 surveys, but the number of larger fish in the lake seems to be increasing based on our recent surveys and the results of local fishing tournaments. 

The bluegill population in the lake remains strong, providing a quality fishery for this species.  Supplemental stockings of walleye and channel catfish in Lake Greenwood provide additional fishing opportunities.