Jim Matuga, for wvbass.com, January 27, 2000

In a report released today by West Virginia Fisheries Biologist Frank Jernejcic, the Ohio River Fisheries Management Team laid out their strategic initiatives in their Ohio River Black Bass Plan.

There have been approximately 164 species of fish collected from the Ohio River, including some 25 species of sportfish. Of those, sportfish, anglers expend the most effort on black bass species. They are the single most sought-after group of fishes in the 491 miles of the Ohio River bordering Ohio.

According to the report, anglers specifically seeking black basses accounted for 21.6% of the total recreational fishing effort in this section of the river, representing a fishery conservatively estimated to be worth $7,347,846. Additionally, black basses certainly were major contributors to anglers who were not seeking any specific species. This fishery had an estimated value of $15, 323,666. Further, black basses provide ample boat and shore-fishing opportunities throughout the Ohio River, being caught in all major habitat types in the river. Catch rates for anglers seeking black basses ranged from 0.05 fish/hr in Greenup Pool to 1.16 fish/hr in Pike Island Pool.

As the debate continues between proponents of stocking…and those who propose the answer to black bass improvement lies in habitat management, this report has its goal to" Develop and implement a long-term management plan to enhance Ohio River black bass fisheries.

The plan lists several objectives including: Determine the status of black bass populations in the Ohio River, identify the factors regulating production of black bass in the Ohio River, improve black bass habitat in the Ohio River, establish satisfactory black bass population levels in the Ohio River and promote partnerships among government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGO's), and citizen groups to enhance Ohio River black bass fisheries.

Now is your chance to let your voice be heard. Read the plan. Then email, call or fax Frank Jernejcic and let him know your thoughts on the issue.

The Ohio River Fisheries Management Team is soliciting comments from Ohio River anglers about this proposed plan. Please send or email your comments or questions by March 1 to:

Frank Jernejcic
Tele: 304-367-2720

WV DNR
1304 Goose Run Road
Fairmont WV 26554

FAX: 304-367-2727
jernef@mail.wvnet.edu

OHIO RIVER BLACK BASS PLAN
January 2000
Ohio River Fisheries Management Team

INTRODUCTION

Throughout its reach, the Ohio River basin can be divided into three areas: the eastern basin, which resides in the Appalachian Plateau, has a steep gradient; the northwestern third of the basin, relatively flat due to glacial events; and the southwestern third, which resides in the Interior Low Plateau, dominated by rolling terrain. Within each pool, there are three major habitat types: tailwater, the area immediately downstream of the locks and dams; main-channel areas, relatively slow-moving water where navigation occurs; and backwater areas, off-channel sluggish water e.g. embayments, oxbows, flooded creek mouths. Another important habitat to consider is the channel border, areas in the main-channel protected from currents by instream structures e.g. islands or gravel bars. Fish distributions are ultimately determined by weather patterns, stream gradient throughout the river, and habitat types within individual pools.

Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolimieui), and spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus) are found throughout the three basins of the Ohio River. Relative abundance for all black bass species ranks in the upper third for the total number of species captured from the Ohio River (Sanders 1991). Smallmouth bass were present at 7% more of the sample sites than spotted bass, but both were found throughout the entire river. Largemouth bass were less abundant than the other species of black bass, and were not found in the upper four miles of the Ohio River (Sanders 1991).

HABITAT

Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass originally occurred in eastern North America west of the Appalachians, but have been widely introduced elsewhere. Smallmouth bass are commonly caught in the tailwaters, and in close association with cover in water 5-20 ft deep (Coble 1975). They prefer moderate flows (Coble 1975), and areas with exposed gravel, boulder, or cobble substrates, undercut banks, and vegetation (Paragamian 1981). They tend to be absent or uncommon in areas with sand or silt substrate (Munther 1970; Todd and Rabeni 1989). Nests are often associated with some type of instream cover (Cleary 1956). They prefer gravel and cobble substrates; however, sand and bedrock are utilized (Cleary 1956).

Largemouth Bass:
The largemouth bass was formerly native to eastern and central North America, but has been introduced in many parts of the world because of its sporting qualities. Largemouth bass are often found in open water; however, most of its activities are associated with the shoreline in water less than 20 ft deep. They are found in marshes, swamps, ponds, lakes, reservoirs, and from small streams to large rivers. In flowing water, they occupy pools and backwaters. Largemouth bass prefer warm, generally clear water, and are less tolerant of turbidity than spotted bass (Trautman 1981).

Nests are often associated with some protective structure like rocks, stumps, or slopes (Miller and Kramer 1971) in water 1-4 ft deep (Heidinger 1975). Nests are often grouped in certain coves or on specific shorelines (Miller and Kramer 1971) in the warmest areas that provide protection from excess wind action which can destroy a nest (Heidinger 1975).

Spotted Bass:
Spotted bass are native to the Mississippi basin and Gulf Coastal drainages. Their range reaches further south than the smallmouth bass, but not as far north as either the smallmouth bass or the largemouth bass; the upper Ohio River being the northern edge of their range. Spotted bass have been introduced into many waters, but not to the extent of the smallmouth and largemouth bass. Spotted bass habitat requirements are often intermediate between largemouth and smallmouth bass that live the same stream (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993). Frequently, they occupy areas having some current (Trautman 1957). In Arkansas, spotted bass selected areas with rocky substrate and steep, sloping shorelines, and avoided areas with mud bottom and dense emergent vegetation (Olmsted 1974). In Tennessee, they were not present in small coves <2.4 acres, and they preferred rock more than largemouth bass (Sammons and Bettoli 1998). Habitat preference appears to vary seasonally in Ohio and Illinois, where spotted bass travel downstream into the larger pools during the summer (Trautman 1957). They also appear to have frequent inshore/offshore movements that cause high variations in catch (Sammons and Bettoli 1998). Spotted bass prefer rock or gravel substrates for spawning, and appear to prefer cover near nest sites (Vogele 1975b). In Ohio hatchery ponds, nests were constructed on the muddy bottoms of the pools and on the gravel edges at depths ranging from 9 in - 4 ft (Howland 1932b).

BIOLOGY

Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass can be caught from spring through fall, though most are caught from mid-April through early May. Like most piscivorus, they begin feeding on zooplankton (Coble 1975). As adults, they feed primarily at dawn and dusk, and seem to prefer crayfish (Paragamian 1973). Smallmouth bass have been known to live up to 15 y. The average life span of smallmouth bass captured from large river systems was between 7 and 8 years, few exceeded 16 inches (Heidinger et al. 1991). Their preferred temperature is 70-78o F, but they are found in waters from 66-810 F (Bevelhimer 1995).

Movement is usually restricted to daylight hours (Emery 1973). As water temperatures begin to drop below 600 F, smallmouth bass move to deeper water and seek places that are dark with little current, i.e. crevices between rocks, holes, submarine caves, and hollow logs (Munther 1970). The fish goes into a state similar to hibernation and rarely feeds when water temperatures drop below 400 F.

Male smallmouth bass usually begin nest preparation as waters warm to about 590F (Cleary 1956). The spawning season can last from 6 to over 60 depending on conditions (Graham and Orth 1986). Males mature between ages 2 and 4, and females between ages 3 and 5.

Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth begin life feeding on zooplankton (primarily small crustaceans), and evolve to eat insects and fingerling fishes, including each other. The adults eat fish and crayfish. Largemouth capture their prey by active pursuance or the lie-in-wait method where they simply suck in the organism. They are sight feeders, feeding most often in early morning or late in the day; however, full stomachs have been found at all hours (Mraz et al. 1961). The largemouth is not a continuous feeder. Lewis et. al. (1974) reported that once a fish is ingested, the bass characteristically does not eat again for approximately 40 h. Bass feed less often and become relatively inactive throughout the winter months (Heidinger 1975). Growth ceases at temperatures above 960 F and below 500 F; their preferred temperature is approximately 810 F (Coutant 1975). The growth rate of largemouth bass is variable, and is dependent on food supply, length of growing season, and genetic makeup (Heidinger 1975). At the end of one year a largemouth bass can be anywhere from 2-14 inches in total length (Heidinger 1975).

In the spring, largemouth bass migrate to shallow bays, channels, and sluggish streams to spawn when water temperatures reach 59-750 F (Swingle 1956). Sexual maturity in bass is related to size more than age. Female bass reach maturity at approximately 9 inches in length; the male bass may be mature at a somewhat smaller size (James 1939). Male bass continue to guard the young fish for several weeks after they hatch. When and how long largemouth bass spawn is related to their physical condition (Swingle and Smith 1943), and to differences in environmental variables (Jurgens and Brown 1954).

Spotted Bass:
As fry, the spotted bass diet consists of zooplankton, broadens to include crayfish and insects (Howland 1932b), and eventually fish, once the fingerlings reach 3-4 inches (Smith and Page 1969). Experiments in Ohio hatcheries showed that fish preferred to feed in early morning and late evening, and seldom fed during the day (Howland 1932b). Diet composition throughout the year did not change; however, consumption was greatest in summer months, decreased as the water cooled in the fall, and nearly ceased throughout winter months (Smith and Page 1969). Growth of spotted bass is comparatively slower than that of largemouth bass and smallmouth bass in streams and reservoirs in a number of states (Vogele 1975b). Fish captured from large river systems rarely reached 14 inches, and lived an average of 7 to 8 years (Paragamian 1973).

Spotted bass spawn at approximately the same time as other black basses in the same habitat. In Ohio hatchery ponds, spotted bass and smallmouth bass both spawned when water temperatures reached 640 F (Howland 1932b). Eggs hatch in 4-5 d, and disperse 3-4 d after hatching (Howland 1932b). In Tennessee, spotted bass reached sexual maturity during their second summer of growth (Sammons and Bettoli 1998). The spawning period of spotted bass began when water temperature reached a mean of 630 F during the first week in May and continued until about the first week in July (Sammons and Bettoli 1998).

SPORT FISHERY

There have been approximately 164 species of fish collected from the Ohio River, including some 25 species of sportfish. Of those sportfish, anglers expend the most effort on black bass species. They are the single most sought-after group of fishes in the 491 miles of the Ohio River bordering Ohio. Anglers specifically seeking black basses accounted for 21.6% of the total recreational fishing effort in this section of the river, representing a fishery conservatively estimated to be worth $7,347,846 (Schell et al.1996). Additionally, black basses certainly were major contributors to anglers who were not seeking any specific species. This fishery had an estimated value of $15, 323,666 (Schell et al. 1996). Further, black basses provide ample boat- and shore-fishing opportunities throughout the Ohio River, being caught in all major habitat types in the river. Catch rates for anglers seeking black basses ranged from 0.05 fish/hr in Greenup Pool to 1.16 fish/hr in Pike Island Pool (Schell et al. 1996).

In 1996, an estimated 22% of 2.5 million hours of effort on the Ohio River were directed towards bass (Hall 1996). According to Ohio B.A.S.S. Chapter Federation records, tournament efforts have reached record highs. Catch per hour (CPH) results from tournaments on the Ohio River from 1990-1998 (n=75) average 0.26 CPH; however, annual fluctuations have reached lows of 0.14 CPH in 1993 and 1997 and peaked at 0.42 CPH in 1994 (Hall 1997, 1998). Water level fluctuations may explain fluctuations in catch rates (Hall 1998; Buynak 1999, per. comm.). Drought years have provided increased angler catch rates, while high-water years, when water retention and light penetration were reduced, had limited productivity and lower catch rates (Buynak 1999, per. comm.).


BLACK BASS MANAGEMENT STRATEGIC PLAN

GOAL

Develop and implement a long-term management plan to enhance Ohio River black bass fisheries.

OBJECTIVES

*Determine the status of black bass populations in the Ohio River.

*Identify the factors regulating production of black bass in the Ohio River.

*Improve black bass habitat in the Ohio River.

*Establish satisfactory black bass population levels in the Ohio River.

*Promote partnerships among government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGO's), and citizen groups to enhance Ohio River black bass fisheries.

MANAGEMENT ACTIONS

ISSUE: Information is limited regarding black bass biology in the Ohio River. Biological data provide the foundation upon which fisheries management plans are built. Having a strong understanding of black bass biology in the Ohio River will enable responsible decisions regarding black bass management.

The Ohio River Fisheries Management Team (ORFMT) will undertake projects to learn more about all important facets of black bass biology in the Ohio River. This will help identify potentially chronic problems with Ohio River black bass populations and aid in developing effective management solutions.

Strategy 1.1: Review literature on black bass in large river systems.

Strategy 1.2: Compile and analyze existing fisheries and environmental databases from the Ohio River.

Strategy 1.3: Enact a long-term monitoring project for collecting standardized data on black bass populations.

Strategy 1.4: Investigate black bass reproductive success in the Ohio River.

Strategy 1.5: Determine seasonal habitat use by all black bass life stages.

ISSUE: Habitat degradation may be limiting black bass populations in the Ohio River. An essential part of effective black bass management is ensuring that quality habitat is available for all bass life stages. Because the Ohio River is a large, dynamic system, both the quality and quantity of black bass habitat vary greatly through time. For example, water level fluctuations influence availability of bass spawning habitat, embayment siltation rates, and establishment of aquatic plant beds.

The ORFMT will work to improve black bass habitat throughout the Ohio River. This includes working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to identify opportunities for water level stabilization, embayment dredging, and maintenance of snags and laydowns. Other activities will focus on improving water quality and minimizing effects of activities such as sand and gravel mining, barge fleeting, and development within the watershed on black bass habitat.

Strategy 2.1: Work with government agencies and NGO's to rehabilitate
and improve aquatic habitat.

Strategy 2.2: Work with USACE to assess water-level management opportunities.

Strategy 2.3: Work with government agencies to enforce compliance with
permitting programs and laws protecting the Ohio River ecosystem.

Strategy 2.4: Promote passage of legislation to improve water quality and prevent
habitat degradation.

ISSUE: Angling may impact black bass populations. Knowledge regarding the influence of fishing on black bass populations is crucial to successful management. To this end, the ORFMT must have a greater understanding of the dynamics of black bass fishing on the Ohio River. The ORFMT needs to understand both what type of black bass fisheries anglers desire and what type of fisheries might realistically be created in the Ohio River in order to better tailor management activities and regulations.

Strategy 3.1: Establish mandatory bass tournament data reporting from
all Ohio River states.

Strategy 3.2: Initiate a river-wide creel survey.

Strategy 3.3: Determine the impact of fishing practices on black bass
populations in the Ohio River.

Strategy 3.4: Implement needed regulations to improve black bass fishing.

ISSUE: Stocking may supplement black bass populations in the Ohio River. Traditionally, fisheries managers have relied on natural reproduction to sustain black bass populations. Stocking has been explored as a tool to enhance populations where natural reproduction has failed; however, most black bass stocking efforts have not been successful. Despite this poor record of success, many angling groups have expressed their desire for the ORFMT to use stocking to supplement black bass fisheries in the Ohio River.

The ORFMT must develop a framework for deciding when or if stocking would be a viable tool for black bass management. This would include establishing criteria for assessing biological and economic factors relevant to the impact of stocking on Ohio River black bass populations. Detailed data on black bass populations and fisheries are first needed to guide administrative decisions regarding under what circumstances bass stocking would be appropriate and how member states would coordinate such activities.

Strategy 4.1: Verify the need to supplement existing black bass populations.

Strategy 4.2: Examine potential impacts of stocked black bass on aquatic
resources and genetic diversity.

Strategy 4.3: Determine the likely contribution of stocked black bass to the fishery.

Strategy 4.4: Evaluate the economic feasibility of black bass stocking.

ISSUE: Introductions of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) may impact Ohio River black bass populations. Establishment of ANS often causes great disruptions in the invaded ecosystem, including extinction of native species and fundamental changes in how species interact with each other. Zebra mussels, for example, demonstrate the damage an ANS can cause on the ecosystems they invade. The ORFMT will strive to prevent ANS introduction and establishment in the Ohio River to protect populations of native fishes and other aquatic animals.

Strategy 5.1: Adopt rules prohibiting introduction of ANS.

Strategy 5.2: Develop management strategies limiting ANS spread and
associated environmental impacts.

Strategy 5.3: Determine effects of introduced sportfishes on black bass populations.

ISSUE: Lack of access may be limiting fishing opportunities. Limited access opportunities continue to be a problem for Ohio River anglers. The ORFMT should work with boating access programs in each state to organize and prioritize new ramp projects on the Ohio River while also seeking improvements at existing access sites. Dams and
embayments are important fishing areas for Ohio River anglers. The ORFMT will work with the USACE to maximize angler access at all Ohio River dams. Additionally, the ORFMT will seek agreements with the USACE to open and maintain access to embayments with closed mouths due to siltation.

Strategy 6.1: Develop new access sites on the Ohio River.

Strategy 6.2: Improve existing access sites, including access to dams
and backwater areas.

Strategy 6.3: Improve reciprocal fishing agreements among states.

ISSUE: Lack of awareness among constituents regarding black bass issues and the ORFMT's strategies for black bass management. Educating anglers regarding the possibilities and limits of black bass fishing in the Ohio River is essential to their understanding of, and participation in, ORFMT management activities. The ORFMT wants to make anglers aware of both short- and long-term trends in the black bass fishery and how management actions influence these trends. Developing improved communications among concerned parties will enable information exchange and improved management activities.

Strategy 7.1: Increase constituent's knowledge by updating existing
publications and creating new publications and new outlets
for information such as fisheries research and fish advisories.

Strategy 7.2: Create forums promoting communication between
management agencies and concerned constituents.

Strategy 7.3: Educate anglers regarding fishing practices that minimize
black bass mortality.


LITERATURE CITED

Bevelhimer, M. S. 1995. Smallmouth bass habitat use and movement patterns with respect to reservoir thermal structure. Proceedings of the 49th Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 240-249.

Cleary, R. E. 1956. Observations on factors affecting smallmouth bass production in Iowa. Journal of Wildlife Management 20:353-359.

Coble, D. W. 1975. Smallmouth bass. Pages 21-33 in Black Bass Biology and Management editors R.H. Stroud and H. Clepper. National Symposium on the Biology and Management of the Centrarchid Basses Tulsa, OK, Feb 3-6, 1975.

Coutant, C .C. Responses of bass to natural and artificial temperature regimes. Pages 272-285 in Black Bass Biology and Management editors R.H. Stroud and H. Clepper. National Symposium on the Biology and Management of the Centrarchid Basses Tulsa, OK, Feb 3-6, 1975.

Emery, A. R. 1973. Preliminary comparisons of day and night habits of freshwater fish in Ontario Lakes. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 30:761-774.

Graham, R. J. and D.J. Orth. 1986. Effects of temperature and streamflow on time and duration of spawning by smallmouth bass. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 115(693-702)

Hall R. J. 1996. Ohio bass chapter federation tournament summary. State Project F1DR17; Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Project F-69-P, Fish Management in Ohio; Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, Columbus, Ohio, USA.

1997. Ohio bass chapter federation tournament summary. State Project F1DR17; Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Project F-69-P, Fish Management in Ohio; Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, Columbus, Ohio, USA.

1998. Ohio bass chapter federation tournament summary. State Project F1DR17; Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Project F-69-P, Fish Management in Ohio; Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, Columbus, Ohio, USA.

Heidinger, R. C. 1975. Life history and biology of the largemouth bass. Pages 11-20 in Black Bass Biology and Management editors R.H. Stroud and H. Clepper. National Symposium on the Biology and Management of the Centrarchid Basses Tulsa, OK, Feb 3-6, 1975.

Heidinger, R. C., B.L. Tetzlaff, B. Woolard. 1991. Lower Ohio River largemouth bass: Fishing mortality and movement of displaced largemouth bass in Smithland Pool. Illinois Dept. of Conserv. , Final Report. ILF-059-R/Jobs 101.1-3/Study 1, 154 pp.

Howland, J. W. 1932b. Experiments in the propagation of spotted black bass. Transaction of the American Fisheries Society 62:185-188.

James, M. F. 1939. Studies on starvation in largemouth bass. Ill. State Acad. Sci., Transactions 32(2):220-221.

Jenkins, R. E. and N. M. Burkhead. 1993. Freshwater fishes of Virginia. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland.

Jurgens, K. C. and W. H. Brown. 1954. Chilling the eggs of the largemouth bass. Progressive Fish-Culturalist 16(4):172-175.

Lewis, W. M.; R. Heidinger; W. Kirk; W. Chapman, and D. Johnson. 1974. Food intake of the largemouth bass. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 103(2):277-280.

Miller, K. D. and R.H. Kramer. 1971. Spawning and early life history of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) in Lake Powell. Pages 73-83 in Reservoir Fisheries and Limnology editor G. E. Hall. American Fisheries Society Special Publication No. 8.

Mraz, D., S. Kmiotek, and L. Frankenberger. 1961. Largemouth bass, its life history, ecology and Management. WI. Conservation Department PUB. 232. WI Div. of Forestry, Wildlife & Recreation. Project no.: WI F-083-R Publ. 15pp.

Munther, G. L. 1970. Movement and distribution of smallmouth bass in the Middle Snake River. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 99(1):44-53.

Olmsted, L. L. 1974 . The ecology of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus) in Lake Fort Smith, Arkansas. Ph.D. thesis, Univ. Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 16pp.

Paragamian, V. L. 1973. Population characteristics of smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieui, in the Plover and Red Cedar Rivers, WI. WI. Coop. Fish. Res. Unit, Master's Thesis-University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. 89pp.

Paragamian, V. L. 1981. Some habitat characteristics that affect abundance and winter survival of smallmouth bass in the Maquoketa River, Iowa. Pages 45-53 in L. A. Krumholz, editor. Warmwater streams symposium. Southern Division, American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland.

Sammons, S. M. and P. W. Bettoli. 1998. Influence of water levels and habitat manipulations of fish recruitment in Normandy Reservoir. TN Coop. Fish. Res. Unit, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN. TWRA Fish Report 98-42.

Sanders, R. E. 1991. A 1990 night electrofishing survey of the Upper Ohio River Mainstem (RM 40.5 to 270.8) and recommendations for a long-term monitoring program. Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, Columbus.

Schell, S. A., D. J. Bright, J. A. Marshall, and M. A. Greenlee. 1996. Ohio River recreational use survey. Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, Performance Report, Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Project F-69-P, Fish Management in Ohio, Athens, OH 45701.

Smith, P. W. and L. M. Page. 1969. The food of spotted bass in streams of the Wabash River drainage. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 98(4):647-651.

Swingle, H. S. 1956. Appraisal of methods of fish population study. Part IV: Determination of balance in farm fish ponds. 21st N. Amer. Wildl. Conf. Trans. 298-322.

Swingle, H. S. and E. V. Smith. 1943. Factors affecting the reproduction of bluegill bream and largemouth black bass in ponds. Ala. Polytech. Inst., Agric. Exp. Stn., Circ. 87. 8pp.

Todd, B. L. and C. F. Rabeni. 1989. Movement and habitat use by stream-dwelling smallmouth bass. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 118:229-242.

Trautman, M. B. 1957. The fishes of Ohio. Ohio State University Press. 683pp.

1981. The fishes of Ohio with illustrated keys. Ohio State University Press, Columbus.

Vogele, L. E. 1975b. Spotted bass. Pages 34-45 in Black Bass Biology and Management editors R.H. Stroud and H. Clepper. National Symposium on the Biology and Management of the Centrarchid Basses Tulsa, OK, Feb 3-6, 1975.