Age Of A Keeper Bass?

[Flippin]

I know you are looking for Table Rock data but here is some age and growth information from Bull Shoals (2012). These are the average lengths at age for 123 largemouth bass collected in the spring of 2012. We plan on doing another A&G project again next year (2015). These numbers shouldn't be too far off what you would see at Table Rock. Again these are just averages. I included a graph showing all fish ages. Some fish grow faster and some grow slower. We use this data to develop a growth curve. The curve allows us to determine how long it takes to reach a certain length (minimum length limit) or the age of a fish at particular length.

Sorry for the bad table. I couldn't get it to work any other way.

Age Length (Inches)

1 7.4

2 11.1

3 12.3

4 15.4

5 16.3

6 18.9

7 17.2

8 19.3

9 19.4

From year 6 to 7 the fish got smaller? What is the reasoning for that?

[mojorig]

We look at each species individually. We look at each species separate because each one has different life history and population characteristics. The information we will be using in the future (I've only be in D-2 for 1 year) will be our annual sampling data along with age and growth and population modeling data for each species. Also, for Bull Shoals and Norfork, we work with MDC and their data to develop regulations that could be used on both sides of the border. This reduces complication with determining where you are at in the lake and what is the regulation (AKA Minnesota/Wisconsin BASS event where Brandon Palaniuk got DQ). Finally, we take angler opinions into consideration when determining a length or creel regulation.

[mojorig]

Flippin,

The reason the length decreased from age 6 to age 7 was there was only one age 7 fish collected. That one fish just happen to be a slow grower.