Tennessee Valley Authority
Spring Sportfish Survey
TVA conducts its annual spring sportfish survey to help determine the number, age, and general health of black bass and crappie populations in TVA reservoirs. The results of the survey are used by state agencies to protect and improve sport fisheries.
2008 Survey
The 2008 spring sportfish survey was conducted on 21 Tennessee River reservoirs from March through May. The survey included twelve 30-minute electrofishing runs covering the various habitat types present. An electric current was used to temporarily stun the fish so that they floated to the surface, where they were collected by TVA crews. The fish were then weighed, measured, and released.
This approach to determining fish abundance is used by state game and fish agencies and academia.In addition to accommodating state databases, the surveying method aligns with TVA Watershed Team objectives, since the sample sites are selected using the shoreline habitat characteristics employed by the Watershed Teams.
The survey predominantly targets three species of black bass—largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass—and black and white crappie.
Summary of 2008 results
- 21 reservoirs were sampled in 2008: 9 Main-stem Tennessee River reservoirs and 12 Tributary reservoirs.
- A total of 15,938 black bass and 2,180 crappie were collected.
- An overall catch rate of 64.8 fish per hour was achieved.
- Numbers of black bass collected 3 pounds (863), 4 pounds (339) and 5 pounds (107).
- Nine tributary reservoirs recorded there highest catch rates to date.
- Catch rates increased on 7 mainstem reservoirs from the 2007 survey
- Kentucky reservoir had the biggest increase in overall catch rate from the previous sample(25.1 in 2007 to 80.1 in 2008)---a difference of 55.0
- The highest catch rates were observed on Ft Loudoun reservoir (100.4 fish per hour) and Wheeler reservoir (82.0 fish per hour).
- Crews collected 131 largemouth bass over 3 pounds on Guntersville reservoir.
- The largest black bass collected was a 9.5-pound largemouth bass from Sale Creek on Chickamauga reservoir.
- The average weight of all black bass 10 inches and longer was 1.6 pounds for the second year in a row. Five additional reservoirs had average weights over 2.0 pounds.
- The average weight of all black bass 10 inches and longer on Guntersville reservoir was 2.0 pounds for the fifth time in the last 6 years.
- Normandy reservoir had the highest average weight (2.2 pounds) for all black bass over 10 inches.
- Chatuge, Hiwassee and Normandy reservoirs all exhibited significant increases in catch rates for Spotted bass
- An abundance of forage fish was observed in main-stem reservoirs.
- More than 160 anglers and observers participated in the 2008 survey
Top reservoirs in each category (numbers of fish)
- Ft Loudoun reservoir had the most Smallmouth bass (178)
- Chatuge reservoir had the most Spotted bass (399)
- Kentucky reservoir (5 sites) had the most Largemouth bass (2,274)
- Kentucky reservoir had the most crappie (391)
- Kentucky reservoir had the most White crappie (316)
- Norris reservoir had the most Black crappie (294)
- Kentucky reservoir had the most fish sampled (2,403)
- Guntersville reservoir had the most Largemouth bass over 4 pounds (52)
- Chickamauga and Guntersville reservoirs had the most Largemouth bass over 5 pounds (17)
View tables of sportfish survey results for individual reservoirs.