There has been a large increase in rough fish like carp. Due to the overpopulation of "rough fish", the camping facilities are not heavily used. Throughout much of their range species are considered to be rough fish. Lake Shetek has long harbored a robust population of rough fish, native but economically undesirable. It is harvested as a rough fish and used for fish oil and fish paste. Shorthead Redhorse and White Sucker, both rough fish, are the river's most common species. Many rough fish species are federally endangered, threatened, candidate, or species of concern.