Subsamples of each species were weighed to the nearest gram on an electronic balance. Stomach contents were examined from a few Horseshoe Lake fish and this data was supplemented with information from the literature to create a probable food web for the lake. Some data from these investigations are presented here to provide information for interested area residents and park visitors. The golden shiner was introduced to California as a bait minnow. It has become widely distributed by anglers who transported minnows from one area to another.
Golden shiners are silvery with a hint of gold and often lose scales when handled.
They feed on zooplankton, filamentous algae, and some insects. Populations of golden shiners in Horseshoe Lake have varied tremendously during the years we have studied it. . The bluegill sunfish was native to the eastern US but has been introduced around the world as a pan fish It is now the most abundant fish in many warm water lakes and ponds in California, including Horseshoe Lake, California Park Lake, and the Teichert Borrow Pits. The largemouth bass was introduced to California as a warm water game fish and has been widely distributed within the state. Largemouths are exclusively carnivorous, eating anything that will fit into their mouths as long as it tries to get away.