Kings river survey

[Quillback]

Got an email from AFC today. here it is:

District 1 Fisheries personnel conducted an angler survey on the Kings River from March to August 2019.  We conducted 181 interviews at several accesses from Rockhouse to Romp Hole. The creel study will provide us with valuable information about the use of this extraordinary resource.  During the interviews, 1,175 Smallmouth Bass were caught and only 13 were harvested (harvest rate = 1%). Biologists also had 10 game cameras on the river to get information on angler use and general use of the river.  The cameras took a picture every 10 seconds and a software program allows the pictures to be put into video form to view the pictures faster. With all the camera data, we estimate that over 5 million pictures were viewed during the 6 month period!!  Biologists are working up the data and will have a report finished in the next few months. The Kings River is a great resource and continues to provide some great Smallmouth Bass fishing opportunities.

[Fishfighter]

The harvest rate of 1% really, really surprises me.  I wonder if the time of year has any bearing on this?  Just based on my interactions with other anglers, I don't think this is normal in the Ozarks especially in the summer.