Shan -- size at "stunting" vs. water body size does make sense. I use an older thesis, from the Univ. of Georgia, I think, as a similar teaching example (Jakes 1987). Maybe you've seen that one?
I just don't see that occurrence much up here. I wonder if it's because all of our larger water bodies have lower density, faster growing LMB. I just don't see a bigger water (several hundred to several thousand acres) with a "stunted" LMB population. Life is tough in the northern plains, and the big waters just don't seem to have appropriate habitat for LMB.
The one excpetion I can think of is a 300-acre natural lake (Cochrane) that's about 40 miles from here. We do catch over 100 LMB/hr of night electrofishing there, and most of the LMB are probably between 10 and 13 inches or so, so that one would fit your example pretty well. That particular natural lake is one of only two in the entire state that have plenty of submergent vegetation. Depending on the year, the vegetation typically grows out to about the 12-14 foot depth contour, and the plants cover about 40-45% of the lake bottom. Very unique, and very nice natural lake, for eastern SD.
Again, thanks!
Dave
