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| Conservation
Issues |
Ohio River Black Bass
By Jim Summers, WVBF Conservation Director
I recently received a status report from the Ohio River Fisheries Management Team (ORFMT) and I hope to bring everyone
up to date on the status and activities of ORFMT.
The black bass are important to the Ohio River in that they provide boat and shoreline fishing opportunities from
all areas of the river, which makes bass fishing and important recreational activity and a valued source of revenue
for the regional economy. The states bordering the Ohio River have been working collectively to identify the factors,
which regulate the reproduction and survival of black bass in order to better manage the fishery. So, in the fall
of 2001 ORFMT began monitoring black bass population's river-wide. The Pools being studied in our area are the
Hannibal and Belleville pools. Habitat changes a lot from the headwaters of the river to the mouth 981 miles away
in Indiana.
These changes include temperature, gradient, flows, substrate, and backwater areas influence species composition.
Habitat in the upper Ohio, areas we fish, are more suitable for smallmouth bass, whereas areas downstream in Indiana
and Kentucky are more suitable for spotted bass.
It was found throughout the study that there are less bass in the Ohio River than in Reservoirs in Ohio and Kentucky,
Also. The Ohio River black bass are growing as fast if not faster than largemouth from inland reservoirs in Ohio
and Kentucky. The Ohio River black bass attain 12 inches by their third growing year. By monitoring the abundance
and growth rates of younger fish it gives ORFMT an indication of how good the fishery will be in 2 to 3 years.
Ohio River bass are in good to excellent condition, indicating that there is a good supply of food available.
In 1999 ORFMT started collecting tournament data river wide. The river was divide into 4 Sections again our areas
were Section 1 (New Cumberland to and including Hannibal) and Section 2 (Willow Island to and including Racine).
In 1999 the Ohio River average, all four sections, was 4.2 hours to catch a fish 12 inches long. Section 1 was
3.8 and Section 2 was 3.6. Section 4 in Indiana and Kentucky was 6.7hours to catch a 12-inch fish. The success
in our sections was attributed to the abundance of smallmouth bass, which are not present in the lower Ohio River.
The West Virginia DNR initiated an experimental largemouth bass stocking program in 2000. Over winter survival
was less than 10% for bass stocked in 2000, but increased to 60% for bass stocked in 2001. Low survival rates of
bass stocked in 2000 was due to cold temperatures and ice on embayments and the river. Similar results were found
with bass stocked into Lee Creek in November of 2000. Few fish were recovered in electro fishing surveys in December
2000. Since then no fish stocked in 2000 have been recovered. Evaluations will continue through 2005 in Lee Creek
embayment.
ORFMT has installed temperature and water level monitors at six locations on the Belleville pool. They are being
used to explore how these factors influence bass reproduction and survival. Water fluctuations are at the least
in Dec, Jan, Feb and March. Water fluctuations are at their greatest in Aug, Sept, Oct and November. With water
fluctuating as much as 45 inches in a couple of days.
I think ORFMT is on the right track and working collectively in a group effort to help improve the fishery. It
is not easy to get six states to work toward the same goals and to try to improve nearly 1000 mile of a river.
We need to support the Ohio River Fisheries Management Team in anyway we can. As far as the fish kill on the South
Branch. I will report something as soon as we have a definite answer on the cause and effects of what has happened.
There are a lot of stories out there on what could have happened and theories on suspected causes. I do know the
WVDNR is looking to purchase some shad for Mt Storm Lake to be stocked for forage fish for the bass. Good Luck
to all in the upcoming Divisionals and State Tournament and remember a good bass is worth being caught again Practice
catch and release.
God Bless you all,
Jim |
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