Using electrofishing and netting gear, Wildlife and Parks officials have completed their assessment of fishing prospects at Clinton Lake. In a nutshell, the results show fishing for channel catfish and crappie should be good, for white bass and walleye fair and for largemouth bass poor.

Here are the forecasts:

Crappie — Numbers are up, and about 28 percent of the adult crappie surpassed 10 inches in length. Only four percent exceeded 12 inches, although anglers reported catching good numbers of large fish last year. Body condition was average for all sizes. Fishing should be improved compared to 2002, which was a fairly good year. Clinton ranked fourth among state reservoirs in adult crappie density. Forecast: good.

White bass — Numbers are down, but size is good. About 70 percent of the samples exceeded 12 inches, and five percent were longer than 15 inches. Anglers have reported catching fish over two pounds. Body condition was average. Forecast: fair.

Channel catfish — Numbers are above average with most fish in the 11- to 16-inch range. In recent years, channel catfish have trended downward in size and upward in quantity. Condition of catfish below 24 inches has been low to moderate the past several years and may relate to increased competition for food due to increasing numbers. Forecast: good, but many will be small.

Walleye — Clinton received 59,000 fingerling walleye last year. Stockings are necessary to maintain walleye fisheries in most eastern Kansas reservoirs due to problems associated with habitat and competition with other species. Samplings were up 50 percent with a good mix of sizes noted. About a quarter of the samples exceeded 20 inches. Forecast: better than last year.

Largemouth bass — Kansas reservoirs are generally poor largemouth bass lakes because turbid, wind-swept water creates feeding and spawning problems, as does a lack of nursery habitat in the form of aquatic vegetation. Numbers are up, but the population is still low. About a third of the samples exceeded 15 inches. Forecast: poor, as it has been for a long time.