Scott Porter and Christopher O'Bara, Center for the Management, Utilization and Protection of Water Resources, Tennessee Technological University, PO Box 5033, Cookeville, TN 38505

Large tailwaters provide an easily accessible area for anglers to enjoy fishing. A modified bus stop creel survey was employed to evaluate the fishery downstream of the Watts Bar Dam, Tennessee. The survey has been conducted since April 1996. Ninety-six percent of all anglers resided in Tennessee, with most 62%, residing in adjacent counties. Non-Tennessee anglers resided in 12 states including Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. Seventy-one percent of the parties encountered were bank anglers. Bank anglers fished primarily for sauger (15%), catfish (13%) and white bass (11%). Boat anglers primarily sought catfish (27%), sauger (14%), black bass (11%) and white bass (11%). Anglers expended an estimated 277,284 (+/-986) hours from April 1996 through March 1997. Peak effort was in March 1997 with a general decline in effort during the late summer. Seasonal trends were evident with peak sauger angling effort in December-February period and catfish greatest in the summer months. Catch and harvest rates generally exceeded that for adjacent reservoirs (Watts Bar and Chickamauga reservoirs).