Big Bass Regulations were implemented on January 1, 1991. The largemouth bass response to this change in regulation has been monitored annually by performing a population estimate every fall since 1990 (includes 1 year of pre-Big Bass Regs. data).

This annual event also provides a valuable opportunity to Clarion University students studying aquatic ecology and other fields within the environmental sciences. Each year 15-25 students assist with the fieldwork and receive experience in field operations, data collection and data recording in exchange for their volunteer efforts in collecting and processing fish. This long term monitoring could not be done without their assistance as well as that from the Warmwater Unit of the Fisheries Management Division. Thanks to Bob Lorantas and Dave Kristine of the Warmwater Unit for their help this fall.

Clarion University student Heather Zuraski measures bass, removes scales for aging, and marks tails

On the evenings of October 12th and 13th, 2004 we electrofished the entire 6.7 km (4.2 mi.) shoreline of Kahle Lake in six runs totaling 235 minutes. We captured a total of 425 largemouth bass ranging from 2 to 22 inches (Table 1). All these bass were marked with a small clip to the tail fin and released back into the lake.

Table 1. Length/frequency distribution and catch per hour statistics for largemouth bass electrofished from Kahle Lake on the evenings of October 12th and 13th, 2004.

After one week to allow the fish to redistribute themselves, we returned to Kahle Lake and again electrofished the entire shoreline in six runs. All the bass were measured and any with fin clip marks were noted. The ratio of marked to unmarked bass in this recapture effort provides us with an estimate of the bass population in Kahle Lake (Table 2).

Table 2. Estimated Abundance of largemouth bass from Kahle Lake using a Petersen estimator. Estimates are rounded to the nearest whole fish. Survey Date: 10/19/2004.

During our survey there was a very heavy bloom of algae clouding the upper 2 feet of the water column that reduced our electrofishing efficiency. There was also a 10°F drop in surface water temperature between the marking and recapture runs and this reduced the number of bass in our shallow water target zone during the recapture run.

Other fish of note during our efforts were a 26.5 inch tiger muskellunge and 2 walleyes at 26 and 28 inches. Also observed were large numbers of yellow perch, bluegills and black crappies.

Clarion University student Ryan Miller with a 19.9 inch 4.8 lb. Largemouth Bass

Clarion University student Marty Heben with a 22 inch 6 lb. Largemouth Bass

Clarion University student Nicole Bossart with a 28 inch 5.5 lb. Walleye

Clarion University student Amy Myers with a 26 inch 6.2 lb. Walleye

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