2007 Spring Electrofishing Survey Results

Study suggests Konawa is still a hotspot

            Konawa Lake needs little introduction as a bass fishing hotspot, and recent spring electrofishing data from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation suggests the lake’s reputation is well deserved.
            Every spring, Wildlife Department fisheries personnel collect bass using electrofishing equipment and then weigh and measure each fish before releasing them back into the water unharmed. The information collected is then used to help biologists decide which lakes would benefit from specialized management techniques, such as length restrictions and slot limits.
            For the ninth year in a row, Seminole County’s 1,300-acre Konawa Lake beat out other state lakes over 1,000 acres in the number of bass sampled per hour, with 185 fish.
            “It doesn’t surprise me that Konawa produced the most bass in this survey,” said Kurt Kuklinski, fisheries research biologist for the Wildlife Department. “The lake is a great place for anglers to catch bass, and this survey seems to confirm that every year during these surveys.”
            Lake Arbuckle took the number two position with 130 bass sampled per hour, followed by Hudson Lake with 106 bass.
            American Horse lead the way in lakes under 1,000 acres with 223 bass per hour, followed by Vian with 181 bass per hour and Wetumka with 167. Anglers should be aware that flood damage has temporarily closed access to American Horse Lake.
            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.
            “Some of our major lakes, such as Grand Lake and Eufaula Lake, didn’t get sampled because such high water levels and unusual environmental conditions created by the intense rains this spring would have resulted in inaccurate data,” Kuklinski said. “We knew the information would be skewed compared to normal years and wouldn’t be useful for long term management of those fisheries.”
            Kuklinski added that conditions associated with Oklahoma’s high lake levels, such as submerged vegetation that had been growing on exposed shorelines before flooding, often prove beneficial to newly-hatched fish.
            “Even though we didn’t sample some of our bigger lakes, we are confident that anglers can enjoy good populations of fish and great angling over the next year,” Kuklinski said.  
            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 also is collected during they surveys on the number of bass sampled per hour that measure more than 14 inches, and the heaviest fish from each lake are recorded as well.
            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."
            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 Sept. 28-30. Pre-registration is required and can be done by calling Carol Lee at (405) 521-3721 or by e-mailing clee@odwc.state.ok.us between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Space is limited on the trips, and sign-up is on a first-come, first-served basis. Five trips will be taken during Expo Sept. 28-30, including 5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28 and 9 a.m. or 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.
 
-30-
 
 

2007 Spring Electrofishing Survey Results

* Denotes lakes less than 1000 acres