If you don’t fish, should you care about Clark Lake’s fish population? It depends.

If you think that better quality fish inhabiting the lake improves the Clark Lake experience, you would check the “I care” column. Right now, carp are a problem. Why? They are an invasive species. And because they are bottom feeders, carp are destructive to preferred species by destroying nesting areas. They increase turbidity (stirring up silt on the lake bottom) and have nasty eating habits that are a drag on growing the population of good species. They diminish the quality of habitat for not only fish, but other living things that you would want to encourage. Among fish, walleyes, high on the food chain, are better citizens than the lake’s “bad guys”—carp. As in many things, tipping the percentage in favor of good to bad is a win.

The Clark Lake Walleye Association wants to improve the status of the lake’s fish population. They are currently planning to restock the lake with 6 to 10 inch walleyes. These larger fish are more expensive than smaller fish, but the larger ones have a much better chance of surviving and growing to maturity. For this plan to be effective, planting only a few walleye won’t do. Current funds are inadequate for an effective stocking. But you can make a difference and help turn this around by making a donation to the Clark Lake Spirit Foundation for the benefit of the Clark Lake Walleye Association. The donation, which is tax-advantaged, can be made by check and mailed to Clark Lake Spirit Foundation, PO Box 224, Clark Lake, Michigan 49234.

You can forward questions about the work of the Walleye Association to John Deming; or about the donation, to Ann Swain, treasurer, at this email address: clarklakespirit@gmail.com.