Fort Patrick Henry Lake - Electrofishing 2010
Sampling date: April 28, 2010
Species collected in survey (5 runs, 1.3 hrs total effort):
Largemouth Bass = 86
Smallmouth Bass = 36
The 2010 largemouth bass catch rates were above average for the second year in a row. Similar to many of the other east TN reservoirs, there was a big group of largemouth under 12-inches in Ft. Patrick Henry. The percentage of larger fish in the population was good, but a little less than what it has been the last few years.
Smallmouth bass densities were about normal for 2010 and the percentage of preferred size (> 15-inches) fish increased for two years in a row. Hopefully, the increase in larger size smallmouth bass will continue in this reservoir and will lead to a higher quality smallmouth bass fishery, due to the 18-inch minimum size limit that went into effect March 1, 2009. Recruitment was again noted in 2010 which should help this fishery to remain stable.
