SDAFS Reservoir Committee

SDAFS Reservoir Committee

Spring 2007 Project Summaries

Georgia

The purpose of the Go Fish Georgia Initiative is to promote and enhance boating and fishing tourism and to boost economic development in communities across the state. This initiative will result in a quality fisheries resource statewide, including family friendly fishing and recreation access points that will increase fishing participation in Georgia.

South Carolina

A postulated population segment that is isolated by dams, and is one of only two known dam-locked populations of shortnose sturgeon throughout the species’ range is currently being studied in the Santee Cooper system.  Previous observations of emigration by fish trans-located from a downstream population segment suggest that transfer from the dam-locked segment to downstream segments may occur, and could contribute significantly to recruitment of downstream segments.  In 2006, 21 shortnose sturgeon were implanted with telemetric devices, and an existing array of 25 data logging telemetry receivers throughout the system was used to track their movements.  Additional manual tracking was used to verify survival of any fish passed downstream of main-stem dams, isolate fish for recapture, and identify critical habitats.  This project is ongoing and plans are to implant twenty more fish with telemetry devices this year.  The results of this project will be applicable to habitat preservation and enhancement measures and fish passage consideration.  This is particularly timely because of ongoing FERC re-licensing processes on the main-stem and tributary rivers.

Intensive sampling was conducted in 2004 to help quantify key interactions among nutrient distributions, algal productivity and oxygen depletion in Lake Greenwood.  The reservoir has a productive fishery although excess nutrient loading and eutrophication may threaten water quality and biotic habitat. 

The intensive field sampling from 2004 was complemented with continued monthly sampling (Mar-Dec) in 2005 in order to fill in key data gaps necessary for model development.  In particular, the 2005 sampling focused on detailed phosphorus profiles during summer-fall stratification (July-Nov) to further quantify potential patterns of phosphorus release from hypoxic bottom sediments.  These data will be combined with the 2004 data set to calibrate a dynamic water quality model for Lake Greenwood, relating magnitude and timing of nutrient loads to overall water quality and habitat quality in the lake.

In Lakes Jocassee, Keowee, Hartwell and Russell there is an ongoing evaluation of the genetic impact of introduced Alabama spotted bass, Micropterus punctulatus henshalli on native redeye bass M. coosae.  The presence of M. henshalli in the Savannah drainage is a threat to our native M. coosae.   Preliminary data indicates that hybridization is common in lakes Keowee and Russell where M.henshalli have become established and widespread.  Work to better quantify the level of hybridization is ongoing.

In lakes Hartwell and Thurmond we are comparing the contribution of original vs. reciprocal cross hybrid striped bass.  SCDNR stocks originals and GADNR stocks reciprocals.  Fish are collected by gillnet at age 0+ and 1+.  The 1999 year class was evaluated previously and at age 1+, about when they are recruited to the fishery, catch rates were not different from respective stocking rates.  We have collected fish in subsequent years but either poor OTC marks (to distinguish originals and reciprocals), or small sample sizes have prevented a meaningful comparison.  We plan to complete a comparison on the 2006-year class.

During the spring of 2006, 62 adult striped bass (30 from the Congaree River and 32 from the Saluda River) were implanted with acoustic transmitters. Ten implanted striped bass were missing 49-180 d post implantation and 12 were harvested 4-89 d post implantation, to date 40 tagged striped bass are currently considered to be alive within the Santee-Cooper system.  After tagging, fifty-six percent of the fish successfully tagged in the Congaree River moved into the Saluda River.  The other fish tagged in the Congaree River moved down into the lower lakes (Marion and Moultrie), reaching Lake Marion between 5 and 24 d post implantation.  Two of those fish moved through the lakes and Pinopolis Dam into the Cooper River within 14 and 33 d post implantation.  Striped bass tagged in the Saluda River and the Congaree-tagged striped bass that moved into the lower Saluda River spent the spring and most of the summer in the Saluda River, then left the river and moved down to the lakes. The lower Saluda River is an important thermal refuge for adult striped bass in the Santee-Cooper system where they are subjected to relatively high exploitation rates.

Preliminary data indicates that there is seasonal segregation of adult striped bass with roughly 50% of the fish occupying the lower Saluda River and 50% occupying the lakes during the late spring through early fall seasons.  However, there does not appear to be annual segregation of the population or multiple spawning stocks.  During winter 2006/2007 up to 20 additional striped bass collected from Lake Marion and/or Lake Moultrie will be implanted with transmitters, to determine the proportion of the Lake populations that utilize tributary rivers (i.e., Wateree, Congaree and Saluda).

A general limnological assessment of Lake Murray was performed in May and June, 2006. A similar survey was conducted in 2005. The objective of conducting this survey was to characterize productivity and water quality characteristics at various potential stocking locations for striped bass juveniles. The working hypothesis was that areas of relatively high productivity would be superior stocking sites.

The mean mass of chlorophyll in the photic zone per unit area of lake surface was 55.2 mg/m3 and 25.0 mg/m2 in the upper and lower lake zones, respectively.  In the upper lake zone, there was a consistent decrease in the concentration and mass of chlorophyll per unit area from the most upstream to the most downstream sites; lower lake levels were very similar. This information suggested that three main chlorophyll production zones existed in 2006; a very productive uplake zone of 2,578 hectares, a productive mid-lake region of 5,626 hectares, and a less productive down-lake region of 9,105 hectares.  If survival were directly related to total production of chlorophyll, we would stock 24, 40, and 37 percent of the fish in the uplake, mid-lake, and down-lake zones, respectively.

A creel survey in the Lake Greenwood tailwater found fishing pressure, primarily from bank angling, was over 7x greater than fishing effort expended in the upstream impoundment.  Catch rates of 1.68 fish/angler-hr were comparable with that observed in Lake Greenwood.  Striped bass were the most targeted species year round, and a very unique and popular redbreast sunfish fishery also exists in this upstate stretch of the Saluda River.  Valuation of the tailwater fishery (out-of-pocket) was calculated to be $804/ac of water compared to $481/ac in the reservoir.

A black crappie exploitation study was completed on Lake Greenwood in 2005 with 1043 fish marked with 4 denominations of reward tags.  Annual exploitation, adjusted for tag loss and handling mortality, was estimated to be 43%.  Total mortality calculated from fall trapnet over 4 consecutive years was estimated at 67%.  Staff are discussing future management options (e.g. size limits, creel reduction, device reduction etc.).

Introduced spotted bass population has exploded in Lake Russell comprising 42% of the spring '06 electrofishing catch of black bass.  Creel shows harvest of SPB in '98 was 123 individuals compared with an estimated 19,830 fish now.

An agreement with Greenwood county officials to submit for approval to FERC for a change in water level management on Lake Greenwood is in the final stages.  In essence the modification would be (1) from Jan 1 to Mar 15 each year, reservoir level will be raised at a constantly ascending rate to reach full pool by Mar 15th, (2) full pool maintained from Mar 15 to Nov 1, (3) Nov 1 to Jan 1 drawdown of 4.5 ft by Dec 15.  This represents a great improvement over the past and current operational rule curves that have been in place since 1966, particularly in late winter and early spring.

Should hear any day if we got approval on grant from B.A.S.S. to plant water willow and pickerel weed at sites on Lakes Hartwell and Russell to improve shoreline habitat.  This is a joint venture with COE, GADNR, BASS and Lake Hartwell HOA.

Texas

Toyota Texas Bass Classic
Contact: Dave Terre, 903.566.1615, dave.terre@tpwd.state.tx.us

With a new and unique format for a bass fishing tournament and a first place prize of $250,000, the Toyota Texas Bass Classic has attracted a top-level field of professional anglers.  The format will combine the conservation aspects of Lake Fork's slot limits with the competitiveness of a Professional Anglers Association (PAA) tournament.

“Our goal for this tournament is to create a premier fishing event that will support Texas Parks and Wildlife's youth fishing and outreach programs. It is also a tremendous way to celebrate Lake Fork's 25th anniversary," said Dan Friedkin, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) commissioner who worked with Commissioner Donato Ramos to create the concept of the tournament.

The 160 contestants, all of whom are qualified members of the PAA, will be arranged in four-man teams for the tournament's first two days on Friday and Saturday, with five of those teams qualifying for the finals on the tournament's third day. The four-man teams will consist of two pairs of anglers, one pair fishing in one boat for four hours each morning and the other pair in the afternoon.

With 160 entries, 40 boats will be actively fishing on the lake in the morning and again in the afternoon.  As the morning competitors return to the dock, they will put their heads together with the second pair in strategy sessions to share tips and info on what they have learned about the lake and conditions that morning, and where the afternoon pair might be more successful.

“This tournament is different and is going to be a lot of fun for the contestants because it puts a premium on teamwork," said Gary Klein, chairman of the tournament committee and one of the leading competitors on the tournament circuit.  "It is attracting top level professionals to compete on Lake Fork, one of the best bass lakes in the U.S., and will take advantage of the slot limits to demonstrate the depth and diversity of the lake's bass population.”

In addition to the cash prizes, the angler who catches the biggest bass of the tournament will receive a 2007 Toyota Tundra.  If the state record is surpassed, the angler will also win $100,000 and a new boat.

In the Toyota Texas Bass Classic, all fish caught above 14 inches will be weighed and the top five caught each day credited to each angler.  Fish falling within the slot limit will be weighed in the boat by a certified and independent observer, then returned to the lake immediately.  Contestants will be allowed to keep one fish larger than 24 inches, which will be weighed at the dockside weigh-in scales, then turned over to TPWD for proper handling.

TPWD will have two large aquariums at the weigh-in, as well as two large tanker trucks, for use if a ShareLunker bass - normally a fish weighing more than 13 pounds - is caught.

"Normally, tournaments on slot limit lakes turn into large-fish competitions because the slot limit minimizes for all practical purposes the effect of entering multiple fish," said Gene Ellison of the Professional Anglers Association. "In this tournament, having the independent certified observer on each boat and weighing the fish in the boat means that each contestant will be able to have five fish of various sizes count towards their competitive total.

According to Phil Durocher, head of TPWD Inland Fisheries, "This tournament will showcase the excellent fishing at Lake Fork that has resulted from innovative fisheries management strategies that have been strongly supported by our friends at the Sabine River Authority. Anglers who have fished the waters of Lake Fork have been enjoying the results of this partnership for years.

The tournament's format is designed to appeal to spectators, and includes kids activities, live music and a Jumbotron showing continuous action to the audience.  Weigh-ins morning and afternoon will assure high levels of activity during the day.  While half of the anglers are on the water fishing, the other flight of anglers on shore will be giving clinics, signing autographs and interacting with the public.

The Toyota Texas Bass Classic is sanctioned by the PAA with technical assistance and support from TPW Inland Fisheries Division.  Title sponsor for the event is Toyota, presenting sponsor is Enterprise Rent-A-Car and the City of Lindale is the official host city.  Entertainment for the tournament will include Clay Walker, Tracy Lawrence, Danielle Peck, Zona Jones, Kacey Musgraves and Todd Fritsch.