 |
| FishTails |
WEST VIRGINIA BASS TOURNAMENTS SUMMARY 2003
[By Frank Jernejcic and Jim Hedrick, WV DNR, March 6 2004]
Data on 2003 catch rates, fishing effort, and fish mortalities during 519 organized fishing tournaments were collected
from 38 bass clubs and 62 open tournament sponsors.
Tournaments were held at 36 West Virginia sites. A total of 353 tournaments were held on lakes, 43 on the Kanawha
River, 28 on the Monongahela River, and 90 on the Ohio River (Table 1). Tournament
fishing success (0.14 bass per hour) increased 8% statewide from 2002 to 2003 while tournament pressure decreased
4% (Table 2).
Fishing success is measured by the number or weight of bass 12-inches or larger caught per hour. Success rates
on lakes (0.15 bass per hour) increased 7% from 2002 to 2003 while pressure increased 1% (Table
2). This was the most successful year ever for lake tournaments and is a continuing trend since 2000. The
best lakes with greater than 1,000 hours of tournament pressure were Stonewall Jackson (0.26), Mt. Storm (0.26),
and Cheat Lake (0.21) (Table 1).
Success rates on rivers (0.13 bass per hour) were equal to 2002 while pressure decreased 11%. Although river success
rates remained near the middle of the 29-year annual range (0.05 to 0.21), only five years were better than 2003.
(Table 2). The best river sites with more than 1,000 hours of pressure were the Marmet
Pool of the Kanawha River (0.22), the New Cumberland Pool of the Ohio River (0.19), and the Opekiska Pool of the
Monongahela River (0.19) (Table 1).
Open tournaments, which require a DNR permit, comprised 53% of the tournaments and 80% of the tournament hours
reported in 2003 (Table 2). Success rates for open tournament participants (0.13 bass
per hour) were 35 % less than for club tournament participants (0.20) (Table 3).
Initial bass mortality was 2.1% for clubs and 1.1% for open tournaments. Mortality was similar for river (1.6%)
and lake (1.5%) tournaments, and the highest during July (2.8%). Delayed mortality was not evaluated.
Despite the frequent occurrences of high, muddy water during 2003, tournament bass fishing success statewide was
better than 24 out of the 29 years on record (Table 2). A possible explanation was
the stable water temperatures that occurred during 2003. Water temperatures increased slowly and steadily from
early spring through mid-summer and may have been slightly cooler than normal. Consequently, heavy rainfall events
did not cause water temperatures to drop 5 to 10 degrees within a day or two as we have documented in past years.
A summary of tournament numbers, hours, and success rates from 1998 to 2003 (Table 4)
may be used to choose club tournament sites or personal fishing sites and times. All tournament data collected
since 1975 is also summarized by site (Table 4). If you have any questions or comments,
or desire additional information about West Virginia bass fishing tournament data, call Frank Jernejcic, WV DNR
fishery biologist, at 304-367-2720.
2/10/2004
|
Table 1.
Summary of black bass tournament results on West Virginia waters, 2003.
|
| |
Bass Per Hour
|
| Location |
Tournament
Numbers
|
Hours
Fished
|
Total
Weight lbs.
|
Total
|
Weight
lbs.
|
Number
|
|
| RIVERS |
| Marmet |
11
|
1,322
|
380
|
285
|
0.29
|
0.22
|
| Winfield |
31
|
11,925
|
1,587
|
1,291
|
0.13
|
0.11
|
| Point Pleasant |
1
|
64
|
7
|
5
|
0.1
|
0.08
|
| Kanawha River |
43
|
13,311
|
1,974
|
1,581
|
0.15
|
0.12
|
|
| Opekiska |
18
|
2,776
|
652
|
514
|
0.24
|
0.19
|
| Point Marion |
10
|
693
|
190
|
164
|
0.27
|
0.24
|
| Monongahela River |
28
|
3,469
|
843
|
678
|
0.24
|
0.2
|
|
| New Cumberland |
5
|
2,937
|
834
|
565
|
0.28
|
0.19
|
| Pike Island |
11
|
3,345
|
715
|
560
|
0.22
|
0.17
|
| Hannibal |
20
|
7,667
|
1,295
|
964
|
0.17
|
0.13
|
| Willow Island |
28
|
14,507
|
2,095
|
1,737
|
0.15
|
0.12
|
| Belleville |
16
|
2,657
|
672
|
467
|
0.25
|
0.18
|
| Racine |
6
|
2,057
|
368
|
283
|
0.18
|
0.14
|
| R. C. Byrd |
3
|
1,676
|
192
|
136
|
0.11
|
0.08
|
| Greenup |
1
|
336
|
46
|
44
|
0.14
|
0.13
|
| Ohio River |
90
|
35,181
|
6,217
|
4,756
|
0.18
|
0.14
|
|
| Shenandoah River |
2
|
480
|
115
|
61
|
0.24
|
0.13
|
| South Branch River |
1
|
54
|
10
|
6
|
0.19
|
0.11
|
| Tygart River |
2
|
338
|
55
|
47
|
0.16
|
0.14
|
| ALL RIVERS |
166
|
52,833
|
9,214
|
7,129
|
0.18
|
0.13
|
|
| LAKES |
| Beech Fork Lake |
2
|
825
|
98
|
58
|
0.12
|
0.07
|
| Bluestone Lake |
23
|
6,187
|
1,498
|
1,085
|
0.24
|
0.18
|
| Burnsville Lake |
45
|
8,621
|
1,317
|
1,032
|
0.16
|
0.12
|
| Cheat Lake |
27
|
3,524
|
964
|
757
|
0.28
|
0.21
|
| East Lynn Lake* |
45
|
10,673
|
1,033
|
414
|
0.1
|
0.04
|
| Elk Fork Lake |
2
|
264
|
N/A
|
30
|
N/A
|
0.11
|
| Hawk's Nest Lake |
1
|
232
|
52
|
33
|
0.22
|
0.14
|
| Jennings Randolph Lake |
1
|
72
|
19
|
11
|
0.27
|
0.15
|
| Mountwood Lake |
1
|
256
|
9
|
12
|
0.03
|
0.05
|
| Mount Storm Lake |
6
|
1,022
|
401
|
263
|
0.39
|
0.26
|
| Plum Orchard Lake |
2
|
285
|
82
|
79
|
0.29
|
0.28
|
| R. D. Bailey |
8
|
1,484
|
336
|
224
|
0.23
|
0.15
|
| Sleepy Creek Lake |
3
|
528
|
27
|
16
|
0.05
|
0.03
|
| Stephens Lake |
7
|
2,317
|
551
|
386
|
0.24
|
0.17
|
| Stonecoal Lake |
9
|
712
|
12
|
204
|
0.17
|
0.29
|
| Stonewall Jackson |
23
|
2,503
|
1,156
|
662
|
0.47
|
0.26
|
| Summersville Lake |
51
|
15,043
|
3,305
|
2,624
|
0.22
|
0.17
|
| Sutton Lake |
74
|
14,831
|
2,540
|
2,359
|
0.17
|
0.16
|
| Tygart Lake |
22
|
2,149
|
427
|
376
|
0.2
|
0.17
|
| Upper Mud Lake |
1
|
200
|
143
|
77
|
0.71
|
0.39
|
| ALL LAKES |
353
|
71,727
|
13,968
|
10,702
|
0.2
|
0.15
|
|
| TOTALS |
519
|
124,560
|
23,182
|
17,831
|
0.19
|
0.14
|
|
| *A 12 - 16 inch slot limit artificially lowers the catch rate in this
lake |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Table 2.
Summary of West Virginia black bass tournament results, 1975 - 2003.
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Rivers
|
|
Lakes
|
|
Open Tournaments
|
|
Year
|
Number of
Tournaments
|
# of Sites
|
Hours
Fished
|
Total
Bass
|
# of Bass
per Hour
|
|
Hours
Fished
|
# of Bass
per Hour
|
|
Hours
Fished
|
# of Bass
per Hour
|
|
Number of
Tournaments
|
Hours
Fished
|
# of Bass
per Hour
|
|
|
|
1975
|
41
|
8
|
10,942
|
1,032
|
0.09
|
|
8,133
|
0.1
|
|
2,809
|
0.08
|
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
1976
|
71
|
11
|
13,884
|
1,116
|
0.08
|
|
7,983
|
0.09
|
|
5,901
|
0.07
|
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
1977
|
93
|
14
|
20,996
|
1,863
|
0.09
|
|
17,683
|
0.09
|
|
3,313
|
0.06
|
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
1978
|
150
|
16
|
28,023
|
2,827
|
0.1
|
|
20,687
|
0.11
|
|
7,336
|
0.07
|
|
18
|
10,392
|
0.08
|
|
1979
|
123
|
19
|
26,791
|
1,836
|
0.07
|
|
19,798
|
0.08
|
|
6,993
|
0.05
|
|
14
|
11,081
|
0.06
|
|
|
|
1980
|
144
|
21
|
25,751
|
2,457
|
0.1
|
|
16,854
|
0.12
|
|
8,897
|
0.05
|
|
15
|
7,852
|
0.1
|
|
1981
|
142
|
21
|
26,179
|
1,521
|
0.06
|
|
15,376
|
0.06
|
|
10,803
|
0.05
|
|
8
|
6,485
|
0.05
|
|
1982
|
182
|
20
|
31,484
|
2,495
|
0.08
|
|
21,668
|
0.09
|
|
9,816
|
0.05
|
|
11
|
7,138
|
0.06
|
|
1983
|
209
|
22
|
38,786
|
3,555
|
0.09
|
|
26,391
|
0.11
|
|
12,395
|
0.05
|
|
12
|
10,954
|
0.06
|
|
1984
|
227
|
23
|
43,201
|
5,039
|
0.12
|
|
32,681
|
0.13
|
|
10,520
|
0.07
|
|
27
|
17,552
|
0.09
|
|
|
|
1985
|
242
|
25
|
46,775
|
3,718
|
0.08
|
|
33,447
|
0.08
|
|
13,328
|
0.07
|
|
29
|
19,491
|
0.06
|
|
1986
|
211
|
25
|
51,736
|
4,661
|
0.09
|
|
34,635
|
0.1
|
|
17,101
|
0.06
|
|
39
|
29,890
|
0.08
|
|
1987
|
239
|
28
|
56,517
|
5,827
|
0.1
|
|
38,401
|
0.12
|
|
18,116
|
0.07
|
|
58
|
33,972
|
0.1
|
|
1988
|
233
|
23
|
56,852
|
6,849
|
0.12
|
|
38,318
|
0.15
|
|
18,534
|
0.06
|
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
1989
|
268
|
26
|
50,506
|
7,629
|
0.15
|
|
31,461
|
0.21
|
|
19,045
|
0.06
|
|
64
|
31,006
|
0.14
|
|
|
|
1990
|
289
|
26
|
77,528
|
5,222
|
0.07
|
|
55,553
|
0.06
|
|
21,975
|
0.09
|
|
124
|
58,384
|
0.06
|
|
1991
|
257
|
27
|
68,322
|
6,575
|
0.1
|
|
44,001
|
0.09
|
|
24,321
|
0.11
|
|
86
|
49,591
|
0.1
|
|
1992
|
429
|
27
|
91,446
|
13,135
|
0.14
|
|
55,258
|
0.17
|
|
36,188
|
0.11
|
|
144
|
58,453
|
0.14
|
|
1993
|
442
|
30
|
101,708
|
8,586
|
0.08
|
|
72,806
|
0.07
|
|
28,892
|
0.11
|
|
153
|
69,300
|
0.08
|
|
1994
|
432
|
28
|
107,188
|
16,196
|
0.15
|
|
65,571
|
0.18
|
|
41,619
|
0.1
|
|
135
|
74,549
|
0.14
|
|
|
|
1995
|
469
|
28
|
120,550
|
11,976
|
0.1
|
|
82,081
|
0.09
|
|
38,469
|
0.11
|
|
179
|
86,161
|
0.09
|
|
1996
|
381
|
28
|
97,493
|
11,109
|
0.11
|
|
57,276
|
0.12
|
|
40,217
|
0.11
|
|
137
|
71,220
|
0.11
|
|
1997
|
497
|
28
|
116,091
|
8,761
|
0.08
|
|
56,358
|
0.05
|
|
59,733
|
0.1
|
|
188
|
84,054
|
0.06
|
|
1998
|
451
|
28
|
119,430
|
12,888
|
0.11
|
|
46,819
|
0.1
|
|
72,611
|
0.11
|
|
190
|
89,525
|
0.1
|
|
1999
|
486
|
32
|
132,477
|
14,358
|
0.11
|
|
56,409
|
0.11
|
|
76,068
|
0.11
|
|
212
|
102,948
|
0.1
|
|
|
|
2000
|
486
|
34
|
136,498
|
21,301
|
0.16
|
|
68,029
|
0.2
|
|
68,469
|
0.12
|
|
256
|
111,735
|
0.15
|
|
2001
|
538
|
31
|
134,769
|
14,190
|
0.11
|
|
70,824
|
0.08
|
|
63,769
|
0.13
|
|
249
|
106,139
|
0.09
|
|
2002
|
539
|
33
|
130,240
|
17,314
|
0.13
|
|
59,095
|
0.13
|
|
71,146
|
0.14
|
|
299
|
107,532
|
0.12
|
|
2003
|
519
|
36
|
124,560
|
17,831
|
0.14
|
|
52,833
|
0.13
|
|
71,727
|
0.15
|
|
275
|
100,122
|
0.13
|
|
|
|
Table 3.
Summary of black bass tournament results from individual clubs on West Virginia waters, 2003.
|
| |
Bass Per Hour
|
| Club Name |
Tournament
Numbers
|
Hours
Fished
|
Total
Weight lbs.
|
Total
Bass
|
Weight lbs.
|
Number
|
|
| A & B Bassmasters |
7
|
696
|
208
|
165
|
0.3
|
0.24
|
| Appalachian Bassmaster |
5
|
711
|
206
|
158
|
0.29
|
0.22
|
| Backlash Basskasters |
8
|
556
|
90
|
65
|
0.16
|
0.12
|
| Big Bend Bassmasters |
12
|
1,650
|
340
|
296
|
0.21
|
0.18
|
| Blennerhassett Bassmasters |
9
|
1,194
|
233
|
| | | |
