South Holston Electrofishing 2008
Sampling date: April 22-24, 2008
Species collected in survey (20 runs, 5.0 hrs total effort):
Walleye = 6
Black Crappie = 173
White Crappie = 1
Blacknose Black Crappie = 2
Smallmouth Bass = 136
Largemouth Bass = 179
The 2008 South Holston Reservoir largemouth bass catch rates were the highest recorded since 1998 and were nearly double the average catch rates. The size structure was not much different from last year which is very good. South Holston consistently has a fantastic percentage of largemouth over 15-inches. It is also consistently one of the best reservoirs in the area for good sized largemouth bass. The good numbers of largemouth under 8-inches should keep the quality of this fishery stable. The relative weights of largemouth bass in South Holston in 2008 were excellent.
Smallmouth bass size structure improved again in 2008. After seeing three years of a slight decline in smallmouth bass greater than 18-inches from 2003 to 2006, this is great news. Even though there was a slight decline in the percentage of larger (> 18-inches) smallmouth bass from 2003-2006, the size structure is still superior to most area reservoirs. Just like largemouth bass, South Holston Reservoir consistently has a great percentage of smallmouth bass over 18-inches. This should only improve with the new incremental size limits that went into effect in 2008. In 2009 when the minimum size limit goes to 18-inches, the smallmouth bass population should respond well with even more smallmouth over 18-inches. Smallmouth relative weights were really good for 2008.
Black crappie catch rates were 2.6 times higher than normal and were double the above average catch rates from last year. The size structure was also excellent with nearly 83% of the crappie that were collected were larger than 10-inches. We only collected 6 walleye in our electrofishing sample and we should see more with gill netting this fall.
The 2007 drought conditions did not seem to have any effect on the largemouth and smallmouth bass and crappie populations in South Holston Reservoir. However there was a decline in the catch rates of walleye, but this may not be due from the drought conditions in 2007.
