Big Indiana Bass

White River’s rebound continues after 1999 fish kill

The White River has received its cleanest bill of health since a major fish kill in 1999.

During a fall 2011 fish survey, Indiana Department of Natural Resources biologists collected 7,128 fish from 57 species at sample stations between Anderson and Indianapolis. This was the greatest number of species collected since the fish kill, and further proof that the river has recovered.

In December 1999, an estimated 4.3 million fish died as a result of a fish kill that started at the outfall of the Anderson Waste Water Treatment Plant and stretched 55 miles into downtown Indianapolis. The kill was traced to an industrial discharge from the Guide Corporation in Anderson.

A $6 million settlement overseen by the DNR, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was used to restore the river. A 10-person citizen’s advisory committee assisted the agencies.

“The fish community is healthy and an increase in darters and minnows is an indication of improving habitat and water quality” said Sandra Clark-Kolaks, a DNR fisheries research biologist.

Game species have also recovered since 1999, providing ample angling opportunities. Black bass, rock bass, saugers, crappies, and channel catfish were collected in plentiful numbers.

A total of 154 smallmouth bass ranging from 2.6 to 19.9 inches long were collected, and the number of smallmouth bass greater than 17 inches increased since 2007. A total of 223 largemouth bass ranging from 2.3 to 17.4 inches long were collected.

Of the 186 channel catfish collected 31 percent were longer than 14 inches and 19 percent were longer than 20 inches, with most being collected in the Lake Indy pool. Crappies were most prominent in backwater areas with several black crappies in the 10-to-12-inches size range. Six saugers were collected in the Landings Pit area and ranged in size from 17.5 to 21 inches.

In addition to fish, the White River is home to an abundance of other wildlife. During the fish survey, biologists noted bald eagles, great blue herons, foxes, and white-tailed deer.

“Thanks to fish stockings, monitoring, habitat protection, public access improvements and public awareness, the White River is an excellent recreational opportunity for Indianapolis residents,” said Bill James, DNR chief of fisheries.

James says groups like Friends of the White River and the White River Watchers have also had a major impact on the White River by organizing annual trash cleanups and improving public access.

A list of DNR-managed fishing access sites can be found at the DNR “Where to Fish” finder at http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3591.htm

A copy of the 2011 White River fish survey report will soon be posted to http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3352.htm

2011 Midwestern States Bass/Panfish Research Updates - Part II

MISSOURI

Smallmouth Bass Management 2011 Executive Summary

In 2009, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) released two, key smallmouth bass reports, compiling the detailed history of regulations, evaluations and management of this keystone aquatic species in Missouri. To date, there is a total of 358 miles of water on 12 streams with Stream Black Bass Special Managements Areas (SBBSMA) that differ from the statewide regulations. In an effort to expand on information supplied in these reports and the decades of smallmouth bass management in Missouri, in 2010, smallmouth bass managers and researchers were assigned to five committees to further refine future management direction. The following are the brief results, updated progress and planned work by the Smallmouth Bass Work Group and these five committees.

1) Smallmouth Bass Angler Survey Committee

Obtaining information from anglers was a consensus top priority and, although many methods of retrieving this data were discussed, an angler mail survey was chosen. To maximize value, the survey targeted smallmouth bass and rock bass (goggle-eye) anglers to gain valuable information regarding future management of both species. In October of 2010, 100,000 Missouri resident fishing license holders received a screener card, simply asking if they were a smallmouth bass or rock bass angler. If an angler responded yes about fishing for either species, they were mailed the full survey. The survey mailings were stratified toward anglers in southern Missouri while also surveying a representative group of statewide anglers.

2) Smallmouth Bass Stream Evaluation Criteria Committee

This committee was primarily assigned to evaluate and update the criteria used when the 12 SBBSMA areas were created. The following are four key areas of biological evaluation that would need to be addressed, along with social factors before any additional management areas would be considered and/or proposed:

• Are there electrofishing mortality concerns for Species of Conservation Concern or other species evaluation conflicts?
• Are the stream gradient, maximum summer temperature, dissolved oxygen levels, riparian corridor width and watershed health appropriate?
• Are the field habitat observations and fish population indices appropriate?
• Does the outcome of fish population modeling indicate a positive outcome?

3) Smallmouth Bass Research Needs Committee

Two management/evaluation projects have been initiated from recommendations presented by this committee.

a) Identification of smallmouth bass exploitation rates in selected streams – Knowing angler harvest rate is an important part of evaluating the status of smallmouth bass populations, we tagged 1,420 legal sized (12-inch minimum) smallmouth bass in five rivers (Black, Castor, Courtois, Current and North Fork of the White) with angler reward tags in 2011 and plan to repeat in 2012, pending data review and budget approval. Selection of river reach was diversified to include sections considered to be accessible by wade, float or boat fishing. Also, rivers selected are being managed with statewide regulations with no increase in minimum length limits or reduced daily limits.

b) Seasonal movement of smallmouth bass in relation to spring influences in Missouri Ozark streams - MDC is partnering with the National Park Service in 2011 to track smallmouth bass movements within the Current River while concurrently monitoring water temperatures within and adjacent to spring habitats. This information will provide baseline data on water temperatures in and adjacent to springs and provide information on fish movements within the river and spring systems that can be used in the future to evaluate the effects of climate change on the park’s aquatic resources.

4) Smallmouth Bass Sampling Protocol Committee

This committee revised the smallmouth bass sampling guidelines and developed project proposals to aid in the electrofishing efficiency of these guidelines. The updated guidelines are also intended do the following:

1) give MDC the ability to more effectively summarize black bass and goggle-eye data collected by different biologists on different streams at different times;

2) make it easier to detect significant changes in a fish population over time; and

3) help MDC evaluate future management decisions. These guidelines should be used regardless of whether or not the site is within a SBBSMA or part of a special regulation proposal. Detail and updates on these efforts should be completed in 2012.

5) Smallmouth Bass Stream Habitat Committee

The goal of this committee is to use previously collected smallmouth bass sample data and GIS watershed characteristics to define watershed conditions that are associated with various degrees of a stream’s potential to support smallmouth bass. The assumption here is that different watershed characteristics (e.g., geology, land use, riparian, springs, etc.) will be associated with a stream’s potential to support smallmouth bass. Modeling the five valuable criteria of a smallmouth bass habitat model (stream gradient, maximum water temperature, dissolved oxygen, riparian corridor width and watershed impervious surface), should produce an effective and informative tool for biologists. Modeling will be done one watershed at a time, starting with selected pilot watersheds.

NEBRASKA

Statewide Panfish and Largemouth Bass Regulation Changes for 2011

The statewide harvest regulations for panfish and largemouth bass were simplified during 2011. The catch-and-release regulation for all largemouth bass at fisheries designated as “high-use areas” was changed to 21” minimum length limit and 1 daily bag limit. The statewide length limit remains a 15” minimum. Prior to the regulation change, there were two panfish regulations in place. At high-use areas, the daily bag limit was 10 fish in any combination while the statewide regulation was 30 fish per species. These two limits were combined into a statewide limit of 15 panfish in any combination. The use of length limits to manage bluegill (8” minimum) and crappie (10” minimum) populations was also eliminated on many waters throughout the state.

Priority effects among young-of-the-year fish: reduced growth of bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) caused by yellow perch (Perca flavescens)?

When available, Daphnia spp. are often preferred by age-0 yellow perch and bluegill sunfish because of energetic profitability. We hypothesised that predation by age-0 yellow perch could lead to a midsummer decline (MSD) of Daphnia spp. and that priority effects may favor yellow perch because they hatch before bluegill, allowing them to capitalize on Daphnia spp. prior to bluegill emergence. Data were collected from 2004-2010 in Pelican Lake, Nebraska, USA. The lake experienced a prolonged MSD in all but one year (2005), generally occurring within the first two weeks of June except in 2008 and 2010 when it occurred at the end of June. MSD timing is not solely related to seasonal patterns of age-0 yellow perch consumption. Nevertheless, when Daphnia spp. biomass was low during 2004 and 2006-2010 (< 4 mg wet weight L-1), predation by age- 0 yellow perch seems to have suppressed Daphnia spp. biomass (i.e., < 1.0 mg wet weight L-1). The exception was 2005 when age-0 yellow perch were absent. Growth of age-0 bluegill was significantly faster in 2005, when Daphnia spp. were available in greater densities (> 4 mg wet weight L-1) compared to the other years (< 0.2 mg wet weight L-1). We conclude that age-0 yellow perch are capable of reducing Daphnia biomass prior to the arrival of age-0 bluegill, ultimately slowing bluegill growth. Thus, priority effects favor age-0 yellow perch when competing with age-0 bluegill for Daphnia. However, these effects may be minimized if there is a shorter time between hatching of the two species, higher Daphnia spp. densities or lower age-0 yellow perch densities.

Kaemingk, M.A., J.C. Jolley, D.W. Willis, and S.R. Chipps. In revision. Priority effects among young-of-the-year fish: reduced growth of bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) caused by yellow perch (Perca flavescens)? Freshwater Biology.

 

WISCONSIN

Black bass

Much of the recent discussion surrounding black bass management in Wisconsin has focused on an apparent increase in bass densities, particularly Largemouth Bass in the Northwest part of the state. Concerns are being raised as to the implications of the increases which include reduced growth rates and substantive community interactions, particularly negative effects on walleye populations. The cause of the increases in bass abundances is unknown however many have been suggested including climate change, overly restrictive regulations, fluctuations in water levels, increased water clarity and changes in angler dynamics. An experimental suite of regulations and walleye stocking have been implemented on 20 waters in northern Wisconsin with the general goal of reducing bass abundance and increasing walleye abundance. AJ Repp (Masters student, UW-Stevens Point) is close to completing his thesis where he has analyzed a WDNR long-term dataset and found a negative correlation between various Largemouth Bass and Walleye population parameters. Further research at UW-Stevens Point and UW-Madison will focus on quantifying the magnitude of changes in Black Bass and walleye populations and modeling potential cause and effect pathways between the most probable variables involved in the interaction. Additionally, research and data analyses being conducted by WDNR staff and UW-Stevens Point researchers will focus on determining the effectiveness of regulations in altering black bass populations.

Panfish

A review of potential changes to the panfish regulation options in Wisconsin is being discussed as part of a larger statewide effort to evaluate the role of all sportfish regulations in the state. Kyle Mosel (Masters student, UW-Stevens Point) is nearing completion of his thesis in which he simulated the effectiveness of various black crappie and yellow perch regulations. His results indicate that a drastic reduction in bag limit would be necessary to reduce harvest enough to realize population level changes.

2011 Midwestern States Bass/Panfish Research Updates - Part I

SOUTH DAKOTA

Crappie removal project

Lake Marindahl is a 139 acre small impoundment in Yankton County, South Dakota. Game Fish and Parks survey the fish populations every other year. Black crappies are the most abundant species in the lake. Crappie size has been a problem with few fish reaching desirable keeper size for anglers. Growth is slightly slower than the small lakes and impoundments mean. Mortality is very high with only 176 age-4 fish out of 1,474 sampled from 2007, 2009, and 2011 surveys. Lake Marindahl was used as a source of black crappies for stocking other lakes.

Growth was monitored during the bi-annual lake surveys to see if the removal had an effect on crappie size. The increased mean length in 2011 is due to a large year class of age-3 fish and very few younger fish. The maximum length did not increase. Anglers in 2011 have commented on the seemingly larger crappies they are catching. The number removed may not have been enough to affect growth.

Smallmouth bass and yellow perch interactions project

Researchers from South Dakota State University are working in conjunction with Game, Fish and Parks biologists to examine potential interactions between smallmouth bass and juvenile yellow perch in northeastern South Dakota glacial lakes. Specifically, we are interested in evaluating the potential for smallmouth bass to act as an additional constraint to age-0 yellow perch recruitment. The research will involve estimation of smallmouth bass population size, smallmouth bass food habits, and age-0 yellow perch abundance. Bioenergetics models will be used to estimate the proportion of the yellow perch population consumed by smallmouth bass during the growing season. This research is slated to begin on Pickerel Lake (Day County) spring 2012 and Clear Lake (Marshall County) spring 2013.

NORTH DAKOTA

A tagging project was initiated the spring of 2011 on Pipestem Reservoir located near the city of Jamestown, North Dakota. During a four day period in late May, 1278 black and 11 white crappie were captured and tagged with Floy dangler tags. Lengths to the nearest cm and sex were recorded. Short-term objectives were to obtain a population estimate, and estimate angler exploitation. Tagged crappie ranged in length from 200-340mm, averaging 230mm. The male to female ratio was approximately 40/60. Standard adult population surveys conducted at Pipestem Reservoir over the last 20 years suggest that the 2005 year class comprises the bulk of the crappie population which appears to be at an all-time high. Unfortunately however, so was the water…

Record high reservoir elevations persisted throughout the summer of 2011 hampering boat access for anglers as well as the department’s ability to re-capture enough crappie to obtain a valid population estimate. Despite crappie fishing being reported as “good” overall throughout the summer, (by shore fisherman and those able to get a boat on the reservoir) only 18 tags have been reported to date.

A creel survey had tentatively been planned for the winter of 2010-11, however environmental conditions warranted postponing. Dangerous ice conditions combine with heavy snowfall prevented anglers from doing much ice fishing at all on Pipestem Reservoir last winter. The creel has been re-scheduled for this winter (2011-12). A primary objective of this creel is to evaluate a 10 fish daily crappie limit placed on Pipestem Reservoir. For all other waters of the state, the crappie limit is 20 per day.

IOWA

Monitoring smallmouth bass fishery

A dam breached in Northeast Iowa during the summer of 2010 just above one of the best smallmouth bass fisheries in the state. The habitat and fish community components were extensively studied prior to the dam washing out and have provided good comparative data. The graph below shows the population estimates over the last 30 years. The smb population crashed after the dam broke. Habitat surveys have shown a significant change from rock to mud substrates. Walleye, one of the other game fish found in this area have not shown a dramatic decrease in numbers. This fishery will continue to be monitored.

MICHIGAN

On April 1, 2006, Michigan established a catch-and-immediate-release (CIR) season for black bass (largemouth bass and smallmouth bass) that occurs prior to the start of the possession season. We used a variety of data sources to evaluate whether this change in regulations had biologically important impacts on bass populations. Specifically, we evaluated whether CIR resulted in a decrease in recruitment of young fish, an increase in adult mortality, and an increase in nest failure. Information from the statewide Lake Status and Trends Program strongly suggests there has been no measurable change in recruitment of age 1 fish and no change in mortality of adult largemouth bass and smallmouth bass before and after the regulation change. Many other sources of information provide a large amount of circumstantial evidence that there have been no large changes in black bass populations that could be attributed to the new regulations. We conclude that there have been no catastrophic effects of CIR regulations on black bass populations in Michigan. This report also contains recommendations for additional research to support black bass management.

We figure that with our current limited information, we would only be able to detect large changes in bass populations, and we did not see any such large changes. We recommended looking at this topic again in about five years. By then there should be additional information (especially from our Lake and Stream Status and Trends Program), and more time for effects and trends to make themselves evident, if they were occurring, and so we would have a better chance of detecting moderate-to-small changes in bass populations.

The report recommends (among other things) collecting information on the timing of bass reproduction across the state. We don't have much quantitative information on this, but it is important for setting the timing of fishing regulations. The best information on timing of bass reproduction comes from Mark Ridgway's long-term study of a smallmouth bass population in Canada, and I used some of his data in my predictions of timing in Michigan lakes. Michigan should probably set up a study to monitor timing of bass (and other fish?) nesting in a set of lakes across the state. Such changes in timing of fish reproduction might be a noteworthy phenological signal of climate change.

Effects of spring angling, habitat features, and guarding male attributes on largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) nest survival and implications for fall young-of-year abundance

Black bass reproduction and factors affecting individual nest success have been studied extensively, but the effects of these factors at the population level are poorly known. We monitored largemouth bass nests in four southern Michigan lakes with varying fishing pressures during spring 2008 and 2009 and sampled for young-of-year (YOY) bass abundance and condition during the fall of 2009. We used Program MARK to determine the importance of factors affecting nest survival probabilities and whether a recent change in fishing regulations in Michigan (allowing a May catch-and-immediate release [CIR] season) affected nest survival. Differences in survival among lakes and between stages of offspring development varied between years, but between-year differences may have been due to sample size and method changes. Nest survival was higher during the CIR season than during the subsequent harvest season for both years. Nest survival probability estimates for 5- or 6-day intervals ranged 14-73% among years, lakes, fishing seasons, and stages of development. Differences in nest survival among lakes and between seasons and stages indicated the importance of the timing and development of nests to the observed percent of nests that were successful in each lake. The high fishing pressure lakes during 2009 (the year for which we had more data and improved sampling methods) had higher nest survival probability estimates (during the CIR season only) than the low fishing pressure lakes and greater observed abundances of YOY in the fall. We hypothesized that among-lake differences in nest survival probabilities during the CIR season are reflective, in large part, of inherent differences among lakes in the productive capacity of their bass populations. The positive relationship between nest survival probabilities during the CIR season and general fishing pressure levels could reflect that bass anglers spend more time fishing in lakes with more productive bass populations. The seasonal difference in nest survival probabilities within lakes (higher survival during the CIR season) could reflect negative effects of intensified fishing hours and/or practices during the harvest season. Future research should explore this hypothesis. Finally, the outcome of the spring nesting season was strongly linked to fall recruitment during 2009, but the population-level effects of fishing on recruitment appeared complex. We suggest that the CIR season can remain, with continued monitoring of bass populations for long-term effects.

Drop Shotting for Smallmouth with Lowrance HDS10

This one is definitely worth watching. Right length, right detail, gets to the point. Nice.

White River Smallie Stuff

The folks over at IDNR fisheries section just finished up surveying the White River a couple weeks ago and sent me this photo. From the looks of things, the fishery is in pretty good shape. It will be a while before the write-up is done, but I'll post more when I get more info. In the mean time, it took somewhere around 13#-14# to win the all smallie tourney held this weekend on the White. Jacob and Greg got the honors this year. No official weight because noone else had more than 3 keepers weighed, so there was no question on who won from what I was told.

Think that only leaves another snowball tourney or two out at Raccoon to fish. Beyond that, it's just going fishing to go while you still can. I'll post my weekend stuff in the next day or two.

Great Lakes Smallmouth with John DeVries

It's well known that a world class smallmouth fishery exists up on the Great Lakes. What is less well known is that one of the best smallmouth anglers in the region is actually a central Indiana resident. Local pro John DeVries has a litany of wins and top finishes from the area. "I've been fishing up there for 8-10 years. I've put a lot of time and money in", says the Fishers, Indiana angler. "Lake Erie has made me a better fisherman."

Unlike the more traditional shallow water largemouth fishing many of us pursue on the lakes and reservoirs throughout the state, smallmouth fishing in the clear, open waters of the Great Lakes is a different affair. "We do a lot of electronics fishing up there. That's my primary way I like to catch fish, is trying to use my graph and find them, then drop down on them. At certain times of the year it works real well", said DeVries. So in tune with his Humminbird side-imaging units he relies on so much, he frequently jokes, "my wife is going to bury me with my 1100."

When it comes to baits and tactics, everyone is well aware of the most practiced techniques and baits. Historically, dragging a tube has been one of the premier techniques. More recently, the drop shot has taken over as the #1 technique. John will do both, but in the most recent Bassmaster Northern Open up on Erie, John used a technique termed 'cracking a tube' to waylay a monstrous 26-7 sack of smallmouth.

I asked John if it's similar to stroking a jig, a technique largemouth fishermen use a lot down on the TVA impoundments. "It's a lot like stroking a jig. A lot of guys are dropping straight down and popping it off the bottom. And what they're trying to do is, you know the fish are there, you're trying to get them to eat, and you're trying to get a reaction strike out of them. So when that thing jumps off the bottom, they'll either hit it when it jumps or they'll hit it when it falls."

What's a bit unique with John's method is in the execution of the technique. "I'll do it in deep water and shallow water", said John. "If I know there is a fish there and I can't get it to react  underneath the boat to a drop shot or a tube, I have a tendency to back away from the spot and point at it with my boat".

Continuing on, John says, "I'll throw past it, wait for that tube to fall, and when it hits the bottom, I'll start cracking it back to me. It doesn't necessarily come high off the bottom. I think sometimes the fish get a little boat shy."

I thought that perhaps the technique would share tackle similarities with jig stroking for largemouth, that being a predominant baitcasting gear technique due to the violent snapping and heavier weights frequently used, but John prefers spinning rods for this situation. "It's just safer to throw a spinning reel as often as possible", he said. "Sometimes the wind is so strong, you're fighting the waves, you're trying to look at your graph, you're trying to control the boat, and then on top of that, you're getting tired, you're getting beat up. Now you have to remember to make an accurate cast and not get a backlash. Spinning reels are idiot proof."

John prefers to use fluorocarbon with his tube fishing, and tries to go as heavy as he can depending on the conditions. However, "on my dropshot I'll switch back to braid, between 8-12 lb. test with a 6# fluorocarbon leader", he said. And as for rod length, "7-foot is a minimum. I really like a 7'2" or a 7'6" rod".

John's Top-10 finish earlier this month certainly wasn't a fluke. Back in 2009, John and his partner won the Angler's Dream Tournament of Champions event out of the Detroit R. area. "We were fishing much deeper, same kind of pattern, fishing 30' of water on tubes and dropshots. I got 2nd place in a BFL the month before, and a Top-10 in the Michigan Division Super Tournament the week before off the exact same spot, then won the Tournament of Champions event on it also - A spot not any bigger than my boat."

Hours of practice and idle time using his electronics helped John find the little subtle spot that held so many bass. "It came up out of 30' of water, up into about 28' of water...and I haven't caught a keeper bass off of it since," he laughs.

I asked John about why he thought that is, and he said he believes that about 10% of Great Lakes smallmouth are resident fish living and feeding in the rocks, but added, "I believe that 90% of the fish are nomads, roamers. They follow bait, but relate to associated structure, and when the bait moves, they're done. Where ever the wind blows the bait, that's where you'll find the huge schools of fish."

Of course, I had to ask him about the Nate Wellman controversy that took place at the Open event. "I found out about it the next day", said John. "I take it personal, because he was cheating to beat me. I was in 2nd place (after Day 2), my co-angler from Day 2 was in his boat, and he was worried that I was going to come back in with another 25 pound sack." Enough said.

I asked him what was next on the agenda for his fishing career, and he said that he'd like to use this Open finish as a stepping stone to get on a team and represent somebody. John believes in the equipment he uses, and knows it inside and out. He's frequently contacted by other pros who ask his advice on various matters, especially all things electronic.

Still, he has two long term goals he'd like to accomplish. One is, "to make the BFL All-American for my family". They support him at every step, and he'd like to qualify for this Championship event, where FLW Outdoors pretty much rolls out the red carpet for qualifiers and their families. The other goal, "I want to fish the Bassmaster Classic. I've had that dream since before I really knew what bass fishing was". Don't be surprised to see this talented Indiana angler accomplish these goals in the near future.

Climate change likely to be both a boom and a bust for smallmouth bass populations

"Potential effects of climate change on growth of smallmouth bass in streams of the central U.S."

Allison Pease and Craig Paukert

Objectives:

• For focal SMB populations (chosen based on data availability and to ensure broad coverage throughout the native SMB range), examine potential impacts of climate change on somatic growth of different life stages.
• Project and compare the effects of projected climate change and future land use on SMB population dynamics in areas across their native range (and possibly expand the analysis to their non-native range).
• At the national scale, project potential changes in the distribution of SMB under climate change and land use scenarios. Improve upon prior attempts by explicitly incorporating population dynamics and predicted impacts on performance (i.e., growth).


Final Products:

• Predict changes in growth rate and consumption within focal SMB populations related to climate change scenarios.
• Predict impacts of changing climate and land use on population dynamics of native SMB.
• Create map of potential range shifts of stream-dwelling SMB related to climate and land-use change scenarios.

The smallmouth bass is a popular sport fish that has spread far and wide beyond its native range, but climate change may play a significant role in where it goes next. USGS and University of Missouri scientists modeled the effects of conservative climate change estimates on smallmouth bass population growth, assuming a 2-degree Celsius increase in temperature over the next 30 years. While smallmouth bass populations in more northern habitats were expected to increase growth, southern climates could expect a decline in growth, since this fish doesn’t do as well when temperatures frequently exceed 27 degrees Celsius (80 F). This research shows that climate has direct implications for smallmouth bass survival and reproduction, and understanding how smallmouth bass populations will react to warmer temperatures can help decision makers manage and conserve this sought-after game fish.

Fishing in Ft. Wayne

Public Hearings scheduled for proposed rule changes to black bass rules in streams

The Natural Resources Commission will conduct two public hearings on proposed changes to the black bass fishing rule, one on Oct. 11 in Spencer, the other on Oct. 17 in Peru. The term “black bass” refers to smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and spotted bass.

The DNR has proposed changes that will replace the minimum size limit of 12 inches for black bass taken from rivers or streams with a requirement that black bass taken from rivers and streams must be less than 12 inches long or more than 15 inches long, with not more than two being greater than 15 inches long. The bag limit of five in aggregate per day will remain the same.

The DNR believes that this proposed slot limit will afford increased protection, particularly for smallmouth bass populations, and may increase the quality of smallmouth bass fishing opportunities in certain streams. Allowing some harvest of bass less than 12 inches is aimed at preventing “stockpiling” of small bass, and the resulting slow growth that occurs. It would also allow the take of spotted bass, which are plentiful in some streams, compete directly with smallmouth bass, and seldom grow larger than 12 inches.

The proposed rule language can be found at: http://www.in.gov/nrc/files/smallmouth_bass_10154d.pdf.

Individuals can provide comments at one of the public hearings scheduled as follows:

*Tuesday, October 11*
Canyon Inn, Oak Room
McCormick’s Creek State Park
Spencer, IN 47460
6 p.m. (EDT)

*Monday, October 17*
Community Building
Miami County Fairgrounds
1029 W. 200 N.
Peru, IN 46970
6 p.m. (EDT)

Submit comments regarding these proposed changes to the NRC at: http://www.in.gov/nrc/2377.htm and click on "Comment on Proposed Rule" next to the “Smallmouth Bass (Black Bass) Amendments.” The deadline for submitting comments is Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011.

Comments can also be mailed to:

Natural Resources Commission
Indiana Government Center North
100 North Senate Ave., Room N501
Indianapolis, IN 46204

All comments sent to the NRC regarding these proposed rule changes will be provided to its members and DNR staff and will be publicly disclosed and searchable on the Internet and in a paper docket as part of the final report.

1st Annual Southern Lake Michigan Smallmouth Slam

Proceeds are for the benefit of the Orak Shrine and are not tax deductable.
June 25 Portage Marina (If bad weather we will will fish on Sunday)
$200 Entry Fee
Tournament Time: Safe Light Till 4PM
Trailered weigh In at Portage Bass Pro Shops
Pre-tournament Meeting held at Bass Pro Shops - Friday June 24 at 6PM
Boat positions will be drawn at pretournament meeting
Contact: Dave Heath   219-405-4330;    email: fastfruit@frontier.com

In signing this entry form, I hereby waive and release all other contestants, the sponsors and tournament officials from all claims of injury and / or damage incurred in connections with this tournament. I further understand and agree that the tournament director reserves the right to refund this entry fee if it shall choose for any reason not to accept this entry form. I also agree to accept the fact, that all decisions made by the tournament officials will be final. I swear that all facts submitted are true and accurate to the best of my knowledge.

NAME 1_________________________
ADDRESS 1______________________
CITY ____________ STATE _______ ZIP _________
PHONE 1___________________
EMERGENCY #1 (___)___________________
WORK # ____________ CELL #______________

NAME 2__________________________
ADDRESS 2________________________
CITY_______________STATE_______ ZIP _________
PHONE 2___________________
EMERGENCY #2 (___)___________________
WORK # ____________ CELL #______________

CONTACT PERSON 1 _______________________
CONTACT PERSON 2 _________________________

SIGNATURE 1 _____________________________
SSN # 1__________________________________

SIGNATURE 2 _______________________________
SSN # 2__________________________________

BOAT MAKE_______________________
BOAT COLOR_______________
IN#__________________________

CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS MADE PAYABLE T0: Dave Heath

Flying Under The Radar Screen

I can't say for certain, but if I had to hazard a guess, perhaps the most overlooked bass fishery in all of Indiana is sitting up on Lake Michigan. There's been a Bassmaster's Classic there, and there have been several big local events, but for whatever reason, you hardly ever hear about guys fishing up there. I'm just as guilty as the next guy, but it's just far enough, and just unknown enough, not to mention the huge weather threat of driving all that way and not being able to safely go out in any type bass boat, let alone something smaller.

That said, after looking at some of the stats from the IDNR 2009 Lake Michigan Creel Survey Report, the fishery just keeps getting better, and a few more anglers keep finding out about this fishery every year. Smallmouth bass anglers now make up 12% of targeted species anglers, in the top 4 along with yellow perch (easily #1), and a pair of salmon species. Check out this chart from the report. Over 12,000 bass a year are now being reported caught by boat anglers, and 14" or larger "keepers" outnumber shorts 2:1, plus only 3% are reported as being harvested, meaning a 97% release rate. That bodes well for the fishery.

Needless to say, I've added it to my 'wish list' of places to visit sometime in the (near) future. 

Relationship Between Rain/Stream Flow and Smallmouth Spawning Success

Reproduction, habitat preference, and year class strength of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) in the Eel River near North Manchester, Indiana

Matthew Linn, Manchester College

 

Stream discharge was examined in relationship to reproductive success and year class strength of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui) in the Eel River near North Manchester, Indiana. Smallmouth bass nests were documented over three spawning seasons (2006-2008), from late May to mid June. Larval fish were enumerated along with stomach content. Dorsal spines were removed from adult fish to determine age and year class strength. The most productive spawning year in the Eel River was 2007 with sixteen nests documented. The least productive year for spawning was 2008 with zero nests documented. Back-calculated growth and age based on dorsal spines revealed a strong year class in 2007, while zero 2008 year class fish were documented. The spring of 2007 was relatively “dry” with a median May and June discharge of 173 cfs, compared to 345 cfs in 2008. These data suggest a negative relationship between discharge and reproductive success of smallmouth bass. Stomach content analysis also revealed a shift in diet of juvenile fish during years of increased discharge.