2002 BAIT Report

INTRODUCTION

The printing of the 2002 B.A.I.T. annual report marks the seventeenth year of the B.A.I.T. program. The objective of the program since its inception has been to gather information on bass populations by combining the efforts of bass club members and state fisheries scientists. The B.A.I.T. program summarizes catch data on reservoir bass populations that are collected and provided to us by participating clubs. This information is used by state fisheries scientists in combination with data from other sources as a basis for fisheries management decisions. Bass anglers use the report to establish future tournament sites or to locate a reservoir that provides a particular type of fishing action.

Through 2002, we have summarized 8,376 tournament reports. B.A.I.T. team anglers have spent 2,001,098 hours collecting data for this program. They have contributed data from 456,981 bass that weighed 766,312 pounds.

METHODS

Every year we attempt to maintain the support of the previous year’s clubs and to enlist the support of new clubs through public meetings, news releases and letters. Participating club officers or tournament directors are sent the previous year’s annual report, with tournament report postcards to be completed following each tournament. Clubs are assigned individual numbers to insure confidentiality. As tournament cards are received, they are checked for accuracy and entered into a computer database. Club officers are contacted when data are suspected to be erroneous. We compile and analyze the data following receipt of December tournament reports. Statewide tournament results are sorted by reservoir and by club.

To rank reservoirs, five "fishing quality" indicators were used: percent of successful anglers (percent of anglers with one or more bass at weigh-in), bass average weight, number of bass per angler-day, pounds of bass per angler-day, and hours required to catch a bass five pounds or larger. Since the length of a fishing day varies between tournaments, an angler-day is defined as 10 hours of fishing effort. A minimum of five tournaments for an individual reservoir is considered necessary for minimum confidence in each reservoir's dataset. Reservoirs with five or more tournament reports are ranked for each of the quality indicators. Values are assigned to each rank and an overall rank is determined for each reservoir by summing the values of the five quality indicators. This ranking system is intended to be a quick reference for club tournament site selection. It does not constitute a "best and worst" list of Alabama reservoirs and should not be interpreted that way.

Bass clubs submitted 590 tournament reports during 2002. As has been seen in many of the past years, Club representatives did an excellent job filling out the cards and few reports were rejected due to incomplete or erroneous information. We want to again, thank all of the participants of the B.A.I.T. program and urge them to keep up the good work! Fifty clubs or tournament organizations provided data in 2002. Two hundred and seventeen reports from Alabama waters were received from Dr. Carl Quertermus of the University of West Georgia, who summarizes tournament data from the Georgia B.A.S.S. Federation and 43 reports from the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency that Tennessee clubs provided from Alabama reservoirs. Without their support, several Alabama reservoirs would not have been well represented in the quality indicator rankings (Table 2). Once again we must stress that reports from more locations increase the capability of the summaries to reflect actual fish population conditions and not just a good or poor day's fishing by one or two clubs.

In 2002, tournament reports were received for 32 bodies of water that were fished 130,429 hours. B.A.I.T. anglers caught 30,359 bass that weighed 52,747.1 pounds (Table 1). A total of 231 bass 5 pounds and larger were reported for an overall catch rate of one bass five pounds or larger for every 565 hours of fishing. The number of bass reported with weights of over eight pounds has declined from 17 in 1997, to 4 in 2001 and 4 again in 2002 (Table 5). The largest bass weighed 9.06 pounds and was caught in the Mobile River Delta. With 67 bass weighing five pounds or larger, Guntersville Reservoir has again led this category.

In 2002, the overall average catch rates for both number (2.33) and pounds (4.04) of bass per day were the best reported since 1994 (Figure 1). Compared to the 2001 report, seven lakes improved in overall fishing success, one lake declined and fifteen lakes remained about the same (Appendix A).

Of the 50 clubs or tournament organizations that submitted data during 2002, 34 submitted five or more tournament reports. Nineteen clubs submitted 10 or more reports. Nine contributors submitted one report as compared to thirteen contributors last year. All club representatives should understand that every tournament report is important if this program is to continue to be successful. A list of clubs contributing tournament results for the 2002 B.A.I.T. report is presented in Table 4.

More tournament reports were received from Eufaula (57) than from any other location. Mobile Delta (49) was second and Guntersville (48) was third. Weiss, Harding, Lay, Logan Martin, Martin, Neely Henry, Pickwick, West Point, and Wheeler each had 20 or more tournament reports (Table 1). Twelve lakes were represented by 20 or more reports in 2002 which was the same as in the 2001 report. A good distribution of reports provides more representative catch statistics from which meaningful summaries can be prepared.

Of the 32 reservoirs from which reports were received, 23 had five or more tournament reports (Table 1). The following comments deal with these 23 reservoirs, which are ranked by quality indicators in Table 2. The percent of successful anglers (those with one or more fish) ranged from 50 at Coffeeville to 91 at Weiss. The average weight of bass caught ranged from 1.11 pounds at Harris to 2.55 pounds at Guntersville. (Table 1). Catch rates expressed as bass per angler-day ranged from 0.98 at Wilson to 3.45 at Logan Martin. Catch rates as pounds per angler-day ranged from 2.49 at Wilson to 5.68 at Jordan. The statewide average weight for bass caught on all 32 reservoirs was 1.74 pounds.

Overall, Weiss reservoir accumulated more quality indicator points (92) than any other reservoir in Alabama, replacing Millers Ferry from last year. Jordan (87) placed second and Pickwick (86) came in third. Readers should note that the primary intent of Table 2 was not to determine the overall "best" reservoir, but to characterize the fishery of each reservoir. Anglers should first review the quality indicator that is most important to them. The overall rating would be used to narrow choices. For example, if an angler felt that fewer hours to catch bass greater than 5 pounds was the most important indicator, then Guntersville would be the first choice. However, Pickwick that ranked second in this category has a better overall ranking and should provide large bass combined with other higher ranked qualities. If pounds per angler-day were the most important indicator, Jordan would be the first choice even though it was second in overall score.

Bass data as expressed in the B.A.I.T. report from reservoirs with harvest restrictions or length limits will be biased since the data is a function of the restrictions. Length limits are imposed to increase the number of fish below a minimum length or within a specified length range (slot limit) which should eventually result in a supply of bass above the limit. Because all minimum lengths and length ranges will be above the 12-inch limit fished in most tournaments, the restrictions will reduce the total harvest in numbers and possibly pounds. However, those fish weighed in will be larger (longer) by virtue of the minimum length or slot limit when the restriction has become fully functional within the bass community. In the B.A.I.T. report, length limit lakes should rank high for average weight and near the bottom for percent success and bass per angler-day. For instance, bass per angler-day averaged 2.33 statewide but for Wilson it was low at 0.98. Statewide average weight in 2002 was 1.74 pounds for all 32 reservoirs but at Wilson, Guntersville, and Eufaula average weight was over 2.0 pounds. These average weights were higher primarily because the fish weighed in are larger due to the imposed length limits.  Length limits remained in effect during 2002 on West Point (16-inch minimum on largemouth bass through September then 14-inch minimum), Wilson and Guntersville (15-inch minimum on black bass), Eufaula (14-inch minimum on largemouth bass) and Demopolis (14-inch minimum on black bass), Pickwick (14-inch minimum on smallmouth bass), and Harris and Smith (13 to 16-inch slot on black bass).

The quality indicator of pounds of bass per angler continued to increase in the reports from Demopolis but the average individual fish weight and the number of bass caught per angler remain somewhat flat. The reports from Wilson also continue to show a flat trend for all three quality indicators. Additional sampling and more B.A.I.T. information will be needed to determine if the length limits at these two reservoirs will be effective.

Data provided by reports from Guntersville continue to reflect a positive response in the bass population from the implementation of the length limit, with a slow but steady improvement in average fish weight and number of fish caught per angler. Between the 2001 and 2002 reports there has been a dramatic increase the the average pounds of bass caught per angler on Guntersville with the latter being as high as ever recorded on Guntersville.

Fishing as measured by the quality indicators at West Point has improved somewhat since 1999 in terms of bass per angler and pounds per angler. The 2002 quality indicators for West Point were slightly lower than those in 2001 but remained practically unchanged between those years. Fisheries biologists in Georgia and Alabama have continued to note a marked decrease in the fertility of West Point which is assumed to be the result of improved wastewater treatment upstream which has resulted in an increase in the proportion of spotted bass to largemouth bass in this reservoir.

Eufaula has shown a good increase in pounds per angler and bass per angler since 2000 but the average weight of bass caught has remained flat. Standardized sampling of the bass population in Eufaula in the late 1990’s had indicated that there had been an increase in the number of all sizes of bass but that they were in poorer condition and were exhibiting slower growth. Georgia and Alabama biologists discussed various management options and determined that the length limit should be reduced from 16-inches to 14-inches to allow increased bass harvest. This change in length limit took effect in November 2000.

In Lewis Smith, the quality indicators of number of bass caught per angler and weight of fish per angler have been erratic with up and down cycles over the entire period that BAIT data has been available. The only consistent trend that has been observed at Lewis Smith has been a fairly flat rate of change in the average weight of individual fish. There has been a slight increase in the average weight of Lewis Smith bass since 2000. Since the fall of 2002, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Biologists have been meeting with bass tournament organizers and representatives in an effort to encourage a higher harvest rate of bass that are smaller than 13-inches in size. It is hoped that if an increased harvest rate of the smaller fish will result in a faster growth rate in the bass population there.

2002 tournament data from Harris indicated a slight increase in pounds per angler and number of fish per angler. Both of these quality indicators are still well above the low values seen in 1999. However the average weight of Harris bass still remains essentially unchanged. It is very important that anglers continue to harvest largemouth and spotted bass smaller than 13-inches from both Smith and Harris Lakes.

The length limit on smallmouth bass in Pickwick is continuing to help sustain an excellent fishery for this species with there being a continued increase in the pounds per angler and number of fish per angler being reported from tournaments on this lake.

A trend that first appeared in the 1998 B.A.I.T. data, that has become a major concern since, is the large decrease in the catch of bass over five pounds from reservoirs throughout the State. The average number of hours needed to catch a five pound or larger bass increased from 265 in 1996 and 291 in 1997 to 594 in 1998 and then 837 in 1999. In 2000 this amount of effort decreased to 685 hours and then to 659 hours in 2001. In 2002 the average amount of fishing time (effort) that it took to catch a bass greater than 5 pounds dropped to 565 hours. Although we are beginning to see a definite downward trend in this indicator, these amounts of effort are still much higher than those prior to 1998. This decrease in large fish in Alabama has occurred regardless of the river system, reservoir size, reservoir location, or type of management. Similar trends have been observed in other states that collect this type of data, including Tennessee, Georgia and Oklahoma. Therefore, this phenomenon is at least regional in scope.

Our sampling data has not indicated any statewide failure of bass year-classes during the period in question. Also, B.A.I.T. data does not show that a problem has occurred with bass younger than age 3. This is indicated by the high rates of angling success in 2000 (73.9%), 2001 (73.5%) and 2002 (73.4%), as there has been every year. So we can eliminate early recruitment years as the problem. This would mean that the mortality is occurring at a later time such as at three or four pounds. Mortality is divided into angling and natural components. To suggest that harvest or delayed angling mortality, for some reason, has increased independently since 1997 does not seem to be reasonable. We do know that angling pressure is increasing so angling mortality can not be completely dismissed at this time. Could it be natural mortality? Natural mortality can be attributed to predation, old age, parasites, diseases, pollution and environmental conditions.

The only new problem that has been identified regionally in the last few years is the largemouth bass virus (LMBV). LMBV was first identified in the Santee-Cooper Reservoir of South Carolina in 1995. It has been found in bass populations throughout the southeast and as far north as Illinois and Michigan. LMBV has been attributed to largemouth bass mortalities in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas and Louisiana. Adult bass two pounds and larger seem to be the most susceptible. We are continuing to support research to determine if LMBV, or some other factor, is the cause for the reductions in catch of larger bass. We are presently working with researchers at Auburn University and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Warm Springs Fish Health Center, to assess the presence of this virus in Alabama bass populations. In addition, fisheries management biologists and fisheries pathologists from across the country are now working together to learn more about this disease as quickly as possible in hopes of determining strategies to minimize its impact on our largemouth bass fisheries. To aid us in this effort, please report any unusual bass die-offs to your district fisheries office.

Graphs in Appendix A provide you with a historical record of how your favorite waters have performed in the B.A.I.T. program. Appendix A is available in the printed report, contact Doug Darr.  A few words of caution, these graphs are not restricted to bodies of water with five or more tournaments. Data points for some years may be represented by only a few tournaments. However, those situations are restricted to those water bodies that generally have not been included in the quality indicator rankings in Table 2. Secondly, when comparing water bodies, be aware that the scale on the vertical axes have maximum ranges that vary. You can use these graphs to predict 2003 fishing by looking for trends.

Don’t forget to take a kid fishing.  They are our future anglers and stewards of Alabama’s resources.

Table 1 - Statewide summary of tournaments for bass clubs participating in the 2002 B.A.I.T. Program.
Table 2 - Ranking by quality indicators for all reservoirs with five or more tournament reports in the 2002 B.A.I.T. program.
Table 3 - Tournament summary for all bass clubs participating in the 2002 B.A.I.T. program.
Table 4 - Clubs Supporting the 2002 B.A.I.T. Annual Report
Table 5 - Bass eight pounds and larger from 2002 B.A.I.T. tournament report.