Introductions of striped bass Morone saxatilis into reservoirs have long been questioned, especially the potential for striped bass to prey upon native game fishes. We investigated the possibility of reduced gamefish survival in Norris Reservoir due to striped bass predation by estimating the number of gamefish consumed and accounting for compensatory mortality responses. Total annual consumption by the striped bass population was estimated using a bioenergetics model. Compensatory mortality was estimated by comparing population abundance in successive years. Striped bass were found to consume only Lepomis spp. at a rate of 2.5 kg/ha, representing 6% of the Lepomis biomass, and 4% of the striped bass diet. Because mortality of Lepomis was highly compensatory, survival was projected to actually increase by 14% as a result of striped bass predation. To simulate the impacts of possible diet shifts by striped bass, other game fishes were modeled to represent increased portions of striped bass consumption. For survival to decrease, we found that Lepomis would have to comprise about 50% of striped bass consumption, smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu 9%; spotted bass M. punctulatus 4%; largemouth bass M. salmoides 9%; and crappie Pomoxis spp. 24%. Our results suggest that predation by striped bass may actually benefit some gamefish populations, although we identified predation on Lepomis only.