Cherokee Electrofishing 2008
Sampling date: April 10 - 15, 2008
Species collected in survey (15 runs, 3.8 hrs total effort):
Largemouth Bass = 228
Smallmouth Bass = 6
Spotted Bass = 35
Black Crappie = 87
Blacknose Black Crappie = 2
Walleye = 5
The largemouth bass size-structure improved greatly over the past several years since the 15-inch size limit went into effect, but declined slightly in 2008. Only 28% of those measured in 2008 were over 15-inches and 5% were 18-inches or better. Eight years ago most of the Cherokee Reservoir's largemouth were in the 12 to 15-inch range and very few were over 17-inches. Anglers should be pleased with the quality of the largemouth bass fishery.
A good number of crappie were collected throughout the reservoir. More than 82% of them were longer than 10-inches and available for harvest.
Only 5 walleye were collected by electrofishing in 2008, but our winter gill netting demonstrates they are abundant in the reservoir. Nearly 147,000 walleye were stocked in 2007 and approximately 2,931,359 have been stocked since 1990.
A Cherokee Reservoir paddlefish collected in 2006
Largemouth bass length frequency
Largemouth bass catch rates 1998-2007
Black crappie length frequency
Spotted bass length frequency
