Melton Hill Electrofishing 2008
Sampling dates: May 29 - 30, 2008
Species collected in survey (12 runs, 3.0 hrs total effort):
Black Crappie = 7
Blacknose Crappie = 1
White Crappie = 57
Largemouth Bass = 460
Smallmouth Bass = 23
Spotted Bass = 6
Musky = 1
We continue to have extremely good electrofishing catches of both largemouth bass and white crappie. Skipjack herring, threadfin, and gizzard shad provide excellent forage for game fish and are abundant throughout the reservoir.
Although our largemouth bass electrofishing catch rates remain exceptional, only 14.6% of the fish collected in 2008 were 14-inches or greater. The 14-inch minimum regulation has not proven to be effective at improving the quality of the fishery so we may need to investigate other options in the near future that might increase the average size of Melton Hill's largemouth.
The musky fishery is progressing. Early targeted sampling produced a good sample of musky allowing us to better determine the status of the fishery.
Crappie were numerous within coves and the population remains good. We have collected above average numbers of white crappie since 2006. Nearly 77% of the 57 white crappie collected in 2008 were greater than the 10-inch minimum size limit.
A large freshwater drum collected from Melton Hill in 2007
Largemouth bass length frequency
Largemouth bass catch rates
White crappie length frequency
White crappie catch rates
