The Iowa Department of Natural Resources dropped over 30,000 largemouth bass fingerlings into Lake Darling last week. The 2-inch fish came from the DNR’s Fairport Fish Hatchery. They should reach 15 inches within four years, when they can legally be harvested.

152,000 bluegill and 30,400 channel catfish fingerlings were introduced earlier in the spring. The DNR expects 91,000 redear sunfish to arrive in the fall, and plans to stock adult black crappie in the spring.

DNR Fisheries Biologist Chad Dolan says the bluegills and crappie are stocked last to allow the bass to mature. Bass eat the offspring of those two species, ensuring they don’t become overpopulated.

According to state law the public cannot stock or introduce any live fish, except bait, into any of Iowa’s public waters.