The predominant fish species in our lake begins with a “B” and it isn’t bass

It was Friday, and John Miller, aka the “bass man,” was excited. Last November, John and his wife bought a cabin on a small lake located in an area known as the bass capital of the Midwest. According to the locals, the lake, aptly named “Bass Lake, “had some pretty darn good fishing. Tomorrow was the bass opener and John was ready to haul in some hawgs.

John and his buddy Larry, aka the “Leech man,” were on the water by 6 a.m. On John’s third cast, a fish took his bait. In one motion, John leaned back and jerked his rod backwards. The force of his hook set rocketed the fish right out of the water.

Smack! The fish hit John square in the forehead and flopped into the bottom of the boat.

It was a bullhead. “Hey, John, your lake’s got flying bullies,” chuckled Larry. By the end of the weekend, John and Larry had caught and released more than 40 fish, all bullheads.

On Monday morning, John’s boss suggested he check out Bass Lake on the state’s Department of Natural Resources Web site. After a few simple clicks, John learned that Bass Lake had suffered severe winterkill 3 years ago. All of the bass had perished from low oxygen levels, but the bullheads, hardy bunch that they are, were thriving. John felt a lump in his throat as he realized that Bass Lake had become the bullhead capital of the Midwest.

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