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.
2007 Survey
The 2007 spring sportfish survey was conducted on 21 Tennessee River reservoirs from May through early June. 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 2007 results
- 21 Reservoirs were sampled in 2007: 9 on the Main-stem Tennessee River and 12 on tributary reservoirs.
- A total of 13,181 black bass and 1,673 crappie were collected.
- An overall catch rate of 51.1 fish per hour was achieved.
- Numbers of Black bass collected 3 pounds (660), 4 pounds (233) and 5 pounds (73).
- Eight tributary Reservoirs recorded there highest catch rates to date.
- Catch rates increased on 7 mainstem reservoirs from the 2006 survey
- Nottely Reservoir had the biggest increase in overall catch rate from the previous sample(26.5 in 2006 to 85.3 in 2007)---a difference of 58.8
- The highest catch rates were observed on Wilson Reservoir (91.1 fish per hour) and Nottely Reservoir (85.5 fish per hour).
- Crews collected 90 Largemouth bass over 3 pounds on Guntersville Reservoir.
- The largest black bass collected was an 8.3-pound largemouth bass from Cedar Creek Reservoir. Cedar Creek also had the largest bass (8.7 LMB) in the 2006 survey.
- The average weight of all Black bass 10 inches and longer was 1.6 pounds.
- Watauga Reservoir had the highest average weight (2.4 pounds) for all black bass over 10 inches
- Seven muskie were collected on Great Falls Reservoir
- An abundance of forage fish was observed in the main-stem reservoirs.
- Fish health and condition were better than average in the main-stem and tributary reservoirs.
- More than 160 anglers and observers participated in the 2007 survey.
Top reservoirs in each category (numbers of fish)
- Fontana reservoir had the most smallmouth bass (199)
- Parksville reservoir had the most spotted bass (424)
- Wheeler reservoir had the most largemouth bass (1,065)
- Ft Loudoun reservoir had the most crappie (374)
- Ft Loudoun reservoir had the most white crappie (239)
- Chickamauga reservoir had the most black crappie (138)
- Wheeler reservoir had the most fish sampled (1,370)
- Wheeler reservoir had the most largemouth over 4 pounds (31)
- Cedar creek reservoir had the most largemouth over 5 pounds (10)
View tables of sportfish survey results for individual reservoirs.