New Mdc Smallmouth Survey

[Outside Bend]

Slid down to the driveway and found my newest issue of The River Hills Traveler- inside story says MDC is doing a follow-up survey for the folks who completed the last one. It'll also apparently be available through BASS, Smallmouth Alliance, & Ozark FlyFishers. About 12 pages long, with questions about both smallmouth and goggle-eye, and deals with issues like C&R & alteration of management regulations. Looks like the Department also wants to do some studies on harvest rates & movements of smallmouth and goggle-eye in Ozark streams.

It sounds interesting, and I'll have to see if I can get my hands on one. Has anyone seen the new survey, or heard anything through Smallmouth Alliance or anywhere else?

Smallmouth, Goggle-eye surveys in mail soon

by Jo Shaper

By mid-February, 10,000 to 11,000 angler surveys will be in the mailboxes of smallmouth bass and rock bass enthusiasts, soliciting comments for the Department of Conservation, according to John Ackerson, MDC fisheries biologist and project coordinator.

"We're looking for a statewide perspective on smallmouth and rock bass anglers," Ackerson said. Last October, the department sent out approximately 100,000 postcards to anglers from the fishing permit database, asking of they had done so in 2010.

"We're pretty pleased with the 10% return we got from this mailing," Ackerson said. "These anglers will be receivin the more comprehensive survey related to these species."

Survey copies will also be distributed to members of fishing groups such as the Federation of Fly Fishers, B.A.S.S., and the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance, which are specifically targeted towards these species.

Traveler obtained a pre-distribution copy of the angler survey.

It's about a dozen pages long, with questions equally divided between the two species. The survey asks for geographically and catch-based statistical data on fishing both in special management areas for these fish, and statewide fishing during 2010.

The survey also samples angler attitudes about catch and release, no-take seasons (both current and proposed), and presents some multiple choice management questions on fish length and possible alteration of statewide and special management area regulations.

Ackerson said, in addition to the survey, the department has proposed a number of research projects, as yet unbudgeted.

"We'd like to find the harvest rate on these fish." he said, "and to do so, we'd like to set up a reward tag system in order to gather that sort of information. We also want to radio tag some fish, and do migration studies.

We know that both smallmouth and goggle-eye use Missouri's large springs on the Current during the winter, but we don't know where the fish come from, or when they disperse. We're working to set up a joint project with the [National] Park Service and do fish telemetry on the Current River to find some of these answers," he said.

Last November, MDC fisheries Chief Chris Vitello, Brian Canaday, Ozark Fisheries Unit Chief, Fisheries Biologist Dave Myers, and Ackerson addressed the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance in St. Louis, getting a taste for what the response to their survey may be.

Vitello said the department look sat age and growth rates, food availability and population on specific stream segments to determine length limits and keep numbers. He emphasized that this is quite variable and t he most scientific method of management was tailored to local conditions, not generalized statewide.

Higher length limits and fewer fish kept currently are in effect on 358 miles on 12 special Black Bass Management stream sections. Those regulations were established in the 1990s. The department is currently reassessing best management practices for the fish for the future. A similar set of regulations is in effect on six streams in regard to goggle-eye.

The surveys are post paid, and Ackerson asks that people return them as soon after receipt as possible.

"We don't have a target date for compiling the data yet," he said, "but we hope to have a preliminary summary report by sometime this summer."

Smallmouth and black bass management summary reports can be found at www.riverhillstraveler.com/blackbasslinks.php

[Wayne SW/MO]

I haven't seen anything, but I'm glad the MDC is still working on stream smallmouth.

[creek wader]

I got a survey last year. Promptly replied. Definitely will put in my 2 cents, this year.