Konawa Lake number one – eight years running

         For the eighth year in a row Konawa Lake ranked number one in the number of bass caught per hour in reservoirs over 1,000 acres according to the 2006 spring electrofishing data recently released by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

         Covering 1,300 acres in Seminole County, Konawa produced 132 bass per hour of electrofishing during this year's surveys.

         "It’s really no surprise Konawa is number one again – it is simply a great bass lake. Not only does Konawa have good numbers of bass, the population is also well balanced – it ranked first in the number of larger bass (over 14 inches) among lakes over 1,000 acres in the survey,” said Kim Erickson, fisheries chief for the Wildlife Department.

         Coming in second was Ft. Gibson Lake, which produced 114 bass per hour during this year's electrofishing bass surveys. Sooner Lake, north of Stillwater, ranked third with 101 bass per hour. Ranking fourth was McGee Creek Lake (86 bass per hour), with Tenkiller Lake (69 bass per hour) rounding out the top five.

         While Tenkiller Lake once again ranked in the top five, bass numbers were significantly lower than previous years according to Jim Burroughs, northeast region fisheries supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

         “The survey showed lower numbers at Tenkiller, but we don’t think this is an accurate reflection of the health of the bass fishery. Sampling at Tenkiller was difficult this year because of low lake levels due to drought conditions and repairs being made to the dam,” said Burroughs. “Many of the areas we normally sample were inaccessible and these conditions likely led to the lower than normal catch rates from spring electrofishing samples. The good news is that water levels have now returned to near normal conditions.”

         In lakes under 1,000 acres, Okmulgee Lake came in first place with an impressive 149 bass per hour.  Coon Creek Lake, near Wilburton, came in a very close second with 148 bass per hour. American Horse Lake, a Wildlife Department lake near Geary, took third place with 133 bass per hour. Located south of Lawton near the Wichita Mountains Lake Elmer Thomas claimed fourth place with 119 bass per hour. Carlton Lake, located in Robbers Cave State Park in southeast Oklahoma took fifth place with 107 bass per hour.

        The electrofishing data shows that many smaller lakes are home to healthy bass populations. But, anglers should remember that high numbers of bass reported in the electrofishing results doesn’t always guarantee quality size bass are present.

         Data from the springtime bass survey is divided between that collected from lakes larger than 1,000 acres, and lakes smaller than 1,000 acres. The data is used to determine the health of individual bass fisheries and how bass populations change over time. Regional fisheries management personnel capture bass using electrofishing equipment, then they weigh and measure each fish before releasing them back into the water unharmed. The information helps biologists determine which lakes benefit from specialized management techniques such as length and slot limits.

         Lakes are classified as "Quality" if they can produce good numbers of catchable bass (indicated by at least 40 bass per hour of electrofishing, with at least 10 of those bass 14 inches or longer). "High Quality" lakes produce excellent numbers of catchable bass (at least 60 bass per hour, with 15 or more of those fish 14 inches or longer). Lakes that have trophy potential (capable of producing two fish over 21 inches in length per hour of electrofishing) are rated as "Trophy Quality."

         Variations in electrofishing catch rates can result from lake conditions at the time of sampling or from changes in reproduction, recruitment, growth and mortality caused by habitat alteration, environmental impacts, food fish production, disease or angling pressure. Not all lakes are surveyed each year.

         Families can learn more about fisheries management techniques such as electrofishing and trap netting by attending a field trip at Guthrie Lake during the Oklahoma Wildlife Expo (Aug. 25-27).  Pre-registration is required for this venue and anyone interested in participating should check the Department's Web site - wildlifedepartment.com - for more information.

         To view the complete results of the 2006 electrofishing bass results, log onto www.wildlifedepartment.com/electrofishing2006.htm.

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2006 Spring Electrofishing Survey Results

* Denotes lakes less than 1000 acres