Largemouth Bass
Electrofishing Results, 2001

2001 Spring Electrofishing Bass Survey Results

Department releases electrofishing results (8/23/01)

Each summer bass anglers eagerly await the release of population data collected by Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Fisheries personnel through the agency's spring electrofishing survey results on lakes and reservoirs throughout the state.

During the 2001 surveying, biologists recorded 100 or more bass per hour of electrofishing at 13 different lakes, with eight lakes registering fish bigger than eight pounds. The largest fish in this year's survey was a 10.7-pounder recorded at Lake Waurika, while a 9.1-pound largemouth was caught at Arbuckle Lake. Two lakes, Konawa and Grand, both registered more than 200 bass per hour of electrofishing, with 229 and 223, respectively.

"The electrofishing survey results provide biologists and anglers alike with the latest information on both the relative quality and quantity of bass found in a lake," said Kim Erickson, Fisheries chief for the Department. "Some anglers look at the data to determine where they might go to catch good numbers of bass, while others use it to find lakes with a better chance of catching a big fish."

During the electrofishing surveys, biologists capture bass using specialized equipment, then weigh and measure each fish before releasing it back to the water unharmed, Erickson said. They then analyze the data and compare it with previous years' results to determine population trends and status of the fishery.

"If you're looking to find a place to take a youngster fishing, I'd probably choose one of the lakes having a high abundance of bass where size isn't important," he said. "For example, lakes like Dahlgren in Cleveland County have a high abundance of bass (150 per hour) but a very low percentage of fish over 14 inches. Pottawatomie County's Wes Watkins Lake in has a high percentage (almost 60 percent) of bass over 14 inches, but when compared to other lakes in the area, the overall abundance of bass is lower, possibly due to relatively poor survival of fish into the catchable sizes."

Lakes registering more than 100 bass per hour of electrofishing in the 2001 survey were: Konawa (229), Grand (223), Tenkiller (173), McGee Creek (158), Ft. Gibson (155), Dahlgren (150), American Horse (148), McMurtry (143), Dripping Springs (130), Hudson (122), Arbuckle (117), Guthrie (116), and Elmer (104). Those lakes where bass larger than eight pounds were seen while surveying were: Waurika (10.7 pounds), Arbuckle (9.1), Dripping Springs (8.6), Lawtonka and Longmire (each produced an 8.5 fish), Okmulgee (8.3), and Lone Chimney and Watonga (8.2).

The Department's Fisheries personnel perform electrofishing surveys on various lakes across the state each year. Lakes are surveyed on a rotating basis, with those lakes involved in special emphasis projects receiving higher priority. Due to the numbers of lakes in Oklahoma, not all lakes are sampled each year.

For more information on fisheries management and fishing in Oklahoma, log on the Department's Web site at www.wildlifedepartment.com.

2001 Spring Electrofishing Bass Survey Results

* Denotes Lakes Less Than 1000 Acres