Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

TWRA's Region 4 - East Tennessee

Reservoir Fisheries Management Program

Norris Electrofishing 2008

Sampling date: April 18 - 25, 2008
Species collected in standard survey (30 runs, 7.5 hrs total effort):

Black Crappie = 193
Blacknose Crappie = 2
Largemouth Bass = 202
Smallmouth Bass = 70
Spotted Bass = 237
Walleye = 15

Norris Electrofishing Video

We collected 719 game fish while electrofishing various areas of Norris in 2008. This sampling included an impressive number of largemouth bass with a good percentage (43%) over the 14-inch minimum length limit. We also had our best catch for black crappie since changing electrofishing procedures back in 1998.

Spotted bass continue to be numerous and the size structure remains poor. Anglers are encouraged to harvest this species for the table since they have been shown to hybridize with Norris smallmouth and largemouth bass and do not attain quality size.

Four mature, adult blueback herring were collected below Cove Lake Dam in the back of Cove Creek in 2008. Time will tell if this newly introduced exotic will become better established in the reservoir and what effect it may have on other species.

Please visit the slide show on the Norris Lake Fisheries Advisory Committee (NLFAC) web page for a complete summary of the status of the Norris fisheries.

 

blueback herring

A Norris Reservoir blueback herring collected in 2007


 

largemouth bass length frequency

Largemouth bass length frequency


 

largemouth bass catch rates

Largemouth bass catch rates 1998-2007


 

black crappie length frequency

Black crappie length frequency


 

black crappie catch rates

Black crappie catch rates 1998-2007


 

smallmouth bass length frequency

Smallmouth bass length frequency


 

smallmouth bass catch rates

Smallmouth bass catch rates 1998-2007


 

spotted bass length frequency

Spotted bass length frequency


 

spotted bass catch rates

Spotted bass catch rates 1998-2007

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