Big Indiana Bass

More Hal Schramm

Over on the Versus Country website, Hal Schramm is featured in a neat little tracking map that followed the bass spawn across the country for the 2008 season. I'm not sure if they'll repeat again in 2009, but it is interesting to click on the date ranges to the right of the map and then see how the spawn progressed north throughout the year. Also be sure and read some of Hal's insight and tips in the commentary section underneath each map. After reading the first 'Overview' they repeat exactly the same in each window. I found it handy after clicking on each date range and after the page loaded to click on 'Hide Overview' just above the date ranges. That will bring Hal's weekly comments right under the map for faster reading.

Weekly Bass Spawn Map and Report

Hal Schramm Videos

Quite possibly one of the coolest things I've come across and posted in a long time. Dr. Hal Schramm is leader of the U.S. Geological Survey Mississippi Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and professor in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries at Mississippi State University. I have posted several research studies on this site that he has been involved with. This weekend I also found out he has made a series of short (2-3 minute) videos on a number of fishery related subjects, many of the topics being ones we've covered on this site. I searched the WWW to find as many available videos as I could. Here is what I was able to come up with. Grab a hot cup of coffee and sit back and enjoy.

• Big Bluegill
• Back Waters
• Shoreline Development
• Climate Changes
• Logs
• Catchability
• Catfish Management
• Stocking 101
• Fishing Biology 101
• Slot Limits
• Striped Bass
• Stocking Walleye
• Bass Metabolism
• Fishing Pressure
• Scented Plastics
• Circle Hooks
• Yellow Perch

I'll have more of Dr. Schramm in the next few days. I found other good stuff while tracking down the videos.

Two New Largemouth Studies

Two new largemouth bass studies are about to be published in the N.A. Journal of Fisheries Management. One concerning stocking of fingerlings into existing fisheries (only highest level of stocking density showed significant contributions to relative abundance) and the other showing no negative effects of spraying endothall to nesting and fidelity.

• Stocking of Advanced-Fingerling Largemouth Bass to Supplement Year-Classes in Lake Talquin, Florida - "Public pressure to stock largemouth bass into existing populations necessitates that fisheries managers have criteria for identifying the bodies of water that will benefit from stocking and the factors that are most important for long-term survival and recruitment in each system. Our results suggest that prior to stocking largemouth bass into waters with existing populations, managers should investigate variability in natural year-class density, hatchery fish stocking size that is appropriate for the size composition of potential fish prey, abundance of suitable fish prey, timing of stocking so that an abundant food supply is available for the fish, and potential hatchery production limitations. Future investigations of interactions between hatchery and wild fish could further reveal the potential for supplementing largemouth bass fisheries by stocking and the potential carrying capacity constraints."
• Impacts of Endothall Applications on Largemouth Bass Spawning Behavior and Reproductive Success - "The results of our controlled study clearly showed that direct applications of endothall were not deleterious to largemouth bass nesting activity and fidelity and had no effect on the size and production of young largemouth bass. These results confirmed some of our earlier observations made at larger field sites in a reservoir (Lake Seminole, Georgia) where there was less experimental control (Maceina and Slipke 2004a; 2004b; Sammons and Maceina 2005). Managers should be able to use the results of our study to answer concerns of anglers and reduce conflicts over necessary efforts to control excessive SAV."

David Dudley Interview/Article

For those who might not have seen it, FLW Outdoors has a really good 2 part article/interview with David Dudley concerning instincts, decision-making, tackle organization and open water/deep water angling. David is a straight-shooting, no-frills angler who values results over all the intricate details that the media and advertisers so much like to tell you will make you better. He falls into the same ranks as Rick Clunn or Mike Reynolds as far as bass fishing thought processes, or perhaps Mike McClelland or Gary Roach for all you walleye anglers. He pretty much nails it in my book when discussing decision-making and instincts. Follow the links below to the two parts of the article.

• David Dudley, Part I
• David Dudley, Part II

For the Angler Who Has Everything

Here is a seminar I'm looking forward to. Can't wait to see what it looks like - perhaps a Mars land rover? Who wouldn't want one of these cool toys to scope out the bottom of their lake?

"Autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) water quality mapping in Indiana lakes"

Cary Troy, Sultan Ahmed, and John Newton

Abstract: We describe the use of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to obtain detailed spatial maps of water quality parameters in Indiana lakes. The vehicle is a fully-autonomous underwater vehicle capable of measuring temperature, dissolved oxygen, blue-green algae, turbidity, chlorophyll A, pH, conductivity, tracer dyes, and bathymetry to depths of 200ft. The vehicle can provide detailed spatial maps of algal blooms, thermal discharges, and turbidity plumes, allowing for the correlation of hydrodynamic features with water quality observations. Possible survey profiles include constant-depth and variable-depth modes. Preliminary survey results are presented from Lake Maxinkuckee in northern Indiana, and we discuss planned 2009 deployments for Lake Michigan and other Indiana lakes in the context of longer-term efforts to model and measure water quality in Midwestern lakes.

The Importance of Clean Water

"Temporal variation of the fish community in White River, 1983 - 2007"

Andrew Holloway, Jason Doll, and Richard Conrad

Abstract: In the early 1970s White River in Muncie, Indiana was experiencing unregulated industrial discharge. This with the addition of agricultural run-off and stream modification damaged the stability of the White River. The Clean Water Act established in 1972 set a goal of restoring the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waterways. Tolerant and sensitive species have a predictable response to water quality. As water quality improves the proportion of sensitive species in the total biomass increases. The objective of this study was to quantify temporal variation in the fish community of White River. Fish were sampled from White River with a boat mounted Smith-Root Inc. 5.0 GPP unit beginning in 1983 and continuing variably until 2007. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was used to detect temporal trends in proportional species abundance using the Relative Euclidean distance measure. A total of 55,666 fish was sampled from up to eight sample zones each year totaling 140 sampling events. The ordination produced decadal clusters for the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. The decadal clusters became more precise and increased on axis 1 and 2. Axis 1 of the NMDS explained 60% of the data’s variability while axis 2 explained an additional 30%. Many of the 45 species in this study showed an increase or decrease overtime. The most notable changes were found in tolerant and sensitive species. Tolerant species such as the Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and Green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) decreased in proportion while sensitive species such as Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) and Golden redhorse (Moxostoma erythrurum) increased in proportion. Many things can be attributed to the improvement of White River and subsequent changes in the fish community. Public knowledge on the status and improvement of the waterway along with regulated standards for water quality allow White River’s monitors and managers to continue striving for the desired goal of the Clean Water Act.

Natural Lakes Bass Population Analysis

Lots of conference material floating around right now. Over the next week or so I'll start posting some of the abstracts that apply specificially to Indiana. The first one below deals with a major study of bass populations in our natural lakes over the past (nearly) 30 years. Have changes in regulations, pressure and tournies affected things for the better or the worse?

"Change in largemouth bass populations associated with minimum size limits at Indiana natural lakes"

Jed Pearson
IDNR Fish and Wildlife District 3 Fisheries Biologist

Abstract: Largemouth bass were sampled by electrofishing at 59 Indiana natural lakes from 1980 through 2007 to assess changes in bass numbers and size associated with changes in bass fishing regulations and promotion of catch-and-release fishing. Angler effort and catch estimates from 101 creel surveys conducted at 47 Indiana natural lakes were also used to examine bass fishing trends. Densities of 8-inch and larger bass ranged from 1 to 69/acre and averaged 18/acre. Electrofishing catch rates ranged from 6 to 370/hour and averaged 101/hour. Based on linear regression, densities of stock-size bass doubled from 13 to 24/acre and electrofishing catch rates increased 78 to 123/hour. Size structure shifted to larger fish and larger bass were generally associated with larger size limits (12-in, 14-in, 18-in). Angler interest in bass fishing has been constant since 1980. Decreases in harvest and increases in catch occurred in response to more restrictive limits. Based on linear regression, overall harvest rate decreased 99% to less than 1 bass per 100 hours of fishing. Harvest rates of 14-inch and larger bass stayed constant at 4 bass per 100 hours. Angler exploitation of 14-inch and larger bass decreased from 49% to 28% by 2007, although the current exploitation rate at large lakes (>500 ac) is 54%. Largemouth bass are now more abundant in Indiana natural lakes, exhibit better size structure, and provide greater catch rates to anglers.

Another Indiana G&F article added

I found another article I had contributed to concerning hybrid striped bass fishing that appeared in a 2003 issue of Indiana Game & Fish magazine. I have transcribed the portion I was involved with along with the opening and placed it in the 'Articles' sidebar under the name "Eagle Creek Wipers." IDNR never did start the hybrid stockings back up, so the number of wipers in EC is probably pretty slim, save a straggler or possible backcross candidate. However, the basic methods and pattern details will apply and work on most all of our reservoirs that do currently maintain a population. In our area, the strongest wiper population is probably contained in Lake Monroe near Bloomington. 

69th Midwest F&W Conference

Most DNR resource biologists have gathered this week over in Columbus, Ohio for the 69th Midwest F&W Conference. Obviously I couldn't make this one, but I have the link to the full program broken down by day and primary topic (HERE). If you click on any one topic header you'll get all the abstracts for the particular presentations given for that discipline. I didn't really see much in the way of studies specifically targeted at bass. There is an entire session geared toward walleye studies, including several studies related to livewell/tournament mortality and holding conditions. There is also a rather extensive amount of research on invasive species and recreational transfer of invasives. There is some interesting carp, musky and bass/bluegill studies in the reservoir management section. Finally, some interesting bass studies along with walleye, musky and other stuff can be found at this inland lakes and reservoirs section.

More Tourney Schedules

I posted the link for the Boggs 2009 tourneys last week. More circuits are finalizing and posting their 2009 schedules as we move through December. Here are the links for a few more with updates:

• Hoosier Open (H.O.T.) - Entry fees are $200 this year in the regular team division. Besides their opens and seniors schedules, they also have the I.B.F. schedule, the BFL Hoosier Div. schedule, Zone 4 Top-8's and State Finals, The Hospice, Patoka Valley Open and M.D.A. tourneys.
• Got2LoveIt - Entry fees for 2009 are now $185 per team. They decided NOT to run an Indpls. circuit on Geist/Morse Res. They have also dropped their senior circuit. They are running 3 benefit tourneys, all being held on Saturday's before their regularly scheduled events.
• USA Bassin' - New Indiana Divisional schedules are starting to get posted. Lemon, which is probably their largest division isn't posted yet, but Waveland, Glenn Flint and Raccoon among others are now officially posted.

Article Updated

I've added a whole bunch of new information to the article I wrote on panfish floats including some great links to bait descriptions and pictures and graphs detailing a cool experiment I did over the weekend. A lot more bulk to the article now. If you're interested in that kind of thing, check out the new version on the right hand sidebar of the site under 'Articles' (Float Fishing - Panfish Basics).

West Boggs Tourney Schedule

The folks at West Boggs Park have posted their tourney applications and schedules on their website for the 2009 season. You can find the schedule at the following link:

WEST BOGGS 2009 BASS TOURNEYS