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Lake Information for Becks Pond
Becks is the most heavily fished pond in Delaware due to its location within heavily-populated New Castle County. Development within the watershed has resulted in some water quality problems due to a thick layer of sediment on the pond bottom.
The Division of Fish and Wildlife manages fish populations within the pond, including establishing size restrictions and bag limits for largemouth bass. Currently, there is a minimum size limit of 15 inches and possession limit of 2 bass daily. A fish consumption advisory has been listed for Becks Pond due to concerns about contaminants (primarily PCBs and mercury). The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and Department of Health and Social Services advise anglers to eat no more than one 8-ounce meal per year of any fish taken from Becks Pond. Fish advisories are posted as a precaution and are based on long-term health risks associated with eating fish year after year from specific locations.
An active management program has been in effect at Becks Pond for a number of years. Through it, the largemouth bass population rebounded following a restricted size and bag limit imposed in the early 1990s. Electrofishing catches of larger bass (those larger than 15 inches) increased from 2.4 per hour in 1990 to 21/hour by 2006 as a result of the regulation change. The average weights of largemouth bass have also improved over the same time period while growth rate remains average.
Black crappie and bluegill have varied in abundance from year to year, but have not been notably changed by the improvement in the bass population. However, growth of black crappie has increased substantially from 3 inches at one year old in 1999 to 4.5 inches at the same age by 2005. Both black and white crappie (photo above) are present here and at Lums Pond, another sizeable New Castle County pond. Occasional yellow perch are caught by anglers who have familiarity with the pond.
Businesses Located Nearby
Boat Rental
- Marsh Creek Boat Rental
- 421 Park Rd - Downingtown, PA
- (610) 458-5040
- Beaver Dam Boat Rentals
- 514 Old Beaver Dam Rd - Newport, NJ
- (856) 447-3633
- Wildlife Boat Rental
- 990 Main St - Port Norris, NJ
- (856) 785-1010
Vacation Rental
- Rentalbot Limited
- 9 Lille Ct - Newark, DE
- (302) 836-8958
- Homewood Suites by Hilton Newark Wilmington South Area
- 640 S College Ave - Newark, DE
- (302) 453-9700
- Lil' Einsteins Learning
- 234 Rickey Blvd - Bear, DE
- (302) 832-1833