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.
2009 Survey
The 2009 spring sportfish survey was conducted on 20 Tennessee River reservoirs from March through May. 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 2009 results
- 20 reservoirs were sampled in 2009: 9 Main-stem Tennessee River reservoirs and 11 Tributary reservoirs.
- A total of 13,491 black bass and 1,957 crappie were collected.
- An overall catch rate of 60.0 fish per hour was achieved.
- Numbers of black bass collected 3 pounds (809), 4 pounds (327), 5 pounds and over (133).
- Fontana and Guntersville reservoirs recorded there highest catch rates to date.
- Guntersville reservoir recorded the highest numbers of fish in the 3, 4, and 5 pounds and over range. (3 pounds 190 fish – 4 pounds 87 fish -5 pounds and over (35)
- Douglas reservoir recorded its highest catch rate (68.9) since 2000.
- The highest catch rates were observed on Wilson reservoir (89.1 fish per hour) and Ft Loudoun reservoir (78.6 fish per hour).
- For the second year in a row, the largest black bass collected came from Chickamauga reservoir. A 25.3-inch, 11-pound largemouth bass was collected in Wolftever Creek. The largest fish in the 2008 survey was 9.5-pound largemouth from Sale Creek.
- The average weight of all black bass 10 inches and longer was 1.6 pounds for the third year in a row. Four additional reservoirs had average weights over 2.0 pounds.
- The average weight of all black bass 10 inches and longer on Guntersville reservoir was 2.1 pounds for the sixth time in the last seven years.
- Watauga reservoir and South Holston reservoir had the highest average weight (2.9 pounds) for all black bass over 10 inches.
- Chickamauga reservoir recorded the second highest amount of crappie (519) sampled during a spring sportfish survey (2006 Watts Bar 609 crappie)
- Fontana, Nottely and Parksville reservoirs continue to exhibited significant numbers of spotted bass
- An abundance of forage fish was observed in main-stem reservoirs.
- More than 110 anglers and observers participated in the 2009 survey.
Top reservoirs in each category (numbers of fish)
- Ft Loudoun reservoir had the most Smallmouth bass (152)
- Parksville reservoir had the most Spotted bass (306)
- Ft Loudoun reservoir had the most Largemouth bass (1,262)
- Chickamauga reservoir had the most crappie (519)
- Watts Bar reservoir had the most White crappie (198)
- Chickamauga reservoir had the most Black crappie (508)
- Ft Loudoun reservoir had the most fish sampled (1,658)
- Guntersville reservoir had the most Largemouth bass over 4 pounds (87)
- Chickamauga and Guntersville reservoirs had the most Largemouth bass 5 pounds and over (35 and 26)
View tables of sportfish survey results for individual reservoirs.