Proposed Size Limit on Largemouth Proposed Size Limit on Largemouth Bass on Scott County City LakeBass on Scott County City Lake

Josh SimmonsJosh Simmons Undergraduate, Undergraduate,

Department of BiologyDepartment of Biology Tennessee Tennessee

Technological UniversityTechnological University

IntroductionIntroduction Check to see if there needs to Check to see if there needs to

be a size limit on bass.be a size limit on bass. Physiological changes in largemPhysiological changes in largem

outh bass caused by live-releasouth bass caused by live-release angling tournaments in southee angling tournaments in southeastern Ontario.astern Ontario. By: Suski, Cory D.; Killen, By: Suski, Cory D.; Killen, Shaun S.; Morrissey, Michael Shaun S.; Morrissey, Michael B.; Lund, Susan G.; Tufts, Bruce B.; Lund, Susan G.; Tufts, Bruce L.; North American Journal of L.; North American Journal of Fisheries Management, August Fisheries Management, August 2003, v. 23, iss. 3, pp. 760-7692003, v. 23, iss. 3, pp. 760-769

The effects of growth, predation,The effects of growth, predation, and first-winter mortality on recr and first-winter mortality on recruitment of bluegill cohorts.uitment of bluegill cohorts. By: Santucci, Victor J., Jr.; By: Santucci, Victor J., Jr.; Wahl, David H.; Transactions of Wahl, David H.; Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, the American Fisheries Society, March 2003, v. 132, iss. 2, pp. March 2003, v. 132, iss. 2, pp. 346-360346-360

HypothesisHypothesis

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will have to put a 15 inch size limit on the have to put a 15 inch size limit on the Largemouth Bass (Micropterus Salmoides), Largemouth Bass (Micropterus Salmoides), in order for the Scott County residents to be in order for the Scott County residents to be able to catch larger or trophy size able to catch larger or trophy size Largemouth Bass.Largemouth Bass.

ObjectivesObjectives

The objective of this research is to see if their The objective of this research is to see if their needs to be a size limit on Largemouth Bass needs to be a size limit on Largemouth Bass on Scott County City Lake.on Scott County City Lake.

Methods Methods 1.1. Electro fish for 10 minute intervalsElectro fish for 10 minute intervals2.2. Sort FishSort Fish3.3. Write Down Length and Weight of FishWrite Down Length and Weight of Fish4.4. Write Down Species of FishWrite Down Species of Fish5.5. Release FishRelease Fish

Ref. Comparison of electrofishing and rotenone for Ref. Comparison of electrofishing and rotenone for sampling largemouth bass in vegetated areas of sampling largemouth bass in vegetated areas of two Florida lakes. By: Tate, William B.; Allen, two Florida lakes. By: Tate, William B.; Allen, Mike S.; Myers, Randall A.; Estes, James R.; Mike S.; Myers, Randall A.; Estes, James R.; North American Journal of Fisheries North American Journal of Fisheries Management, February 2003, v. 23, iss. 1, pp. Management, February 2003, v. 23, iss. 1, pp. 181-188181-188

MethodsMethods

We sampled May through July doing 1 We sampled May through July doing 1 sample a monthsample a month

We took length and weight of the We took length and weight of the Largemouth Bass (Micropterus Salmoides) Largemouth Bass (Micropterus Salmoides) that we got boat shockingthat we got boat shocking

We also pulled otoliths on 7 of the bass of We also pulled otoliths on 7 of the bass of different lengthsdifferent lengths

ResultsResults In May we took length and weights on 19 In May we took length and weights on 19

Largemouth Bass with lengths ranging from Largemouth Bass with lengths ranging from 273mm to 105mm and weights ranging from10g 273mm to 105mm and weights ranging from10g to 215g.to 215g.

In June we took length and weights on 5 In June we took length and weights on 5 Largemouth Bass with lengths ranging from Largemouth Bass with lengths ranging from 171mm to 312mm and weights ranging from 171mm to 312mm and weights ranging from 50g to 75g.50g to 75g.

In July we did not have any Largemouth Bass In July we did not have any Largemouth Bass to sample.to sample.

DiscussionDiscussion

The information shows that the reservoir is The information shows that the reservoir is somewhat new and will get better with timesomewhat new and will get better with time

The ages of the different size bass range from The ages of the different size bass range from young of the year to 2 years oldyoung of the year to 2 years old

Stocking was not the issue just giving the body of Stocking was not the issue just giving the body of water ample time to gain nutrients through agewater ample time to gain nutrients through age

The hypothesis has been proven in that the size The hypothesis has been proven in that the size limit will give the bass ample time to grow into a limit will give the bass ample time to grow into a larger fish giving the residents more chances to larger fish giving the residents more chances to catch larger basscatch larger bass

ConclusionConclusion

The hypothesis has been proven in that the The hypothesis has been proven in that the size limit will give the bass ample time to size limit will give the bass ample time to grow into a larger fish giving the residents grow into a larger fish giving the residents more chances to catch larger bassmore chances to catch larger bass

Any QuestionsAny Questions

Thank You: TWRA