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Konawa Lake number one Oklahoma
Lake - eight years running
July 20, 2006 - For the eighth year in a
row Konawa Lake ranked number one in the number of bass caught
per hour in reservoirs over 1,000 acres according to the 2006
spring electrofishing data recently released by the Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Covering 1,300 acres in Seminole County, Konawa
produced 132 bass per hour of electrofishing during this year's
surveys. (Editor's Note: The lake is located southeast
of Oklahoma City and you can see its location on a map by clicking
here.)
"It's really no surprise Konawa is number
one again - it is simply a great bass lake. Not only does Konawa
have good numbers of bass, the population is also well balanced
- it ranked first in the number of larger bass (over 14 inches)
among lakes over 1,000 acres in the survey," said Kim Erickson,
fisheries chief for the Wildlife Department.
Coming in second was Ft. Gibson Lake, which produced
114 bass per hour during this year's electrofishing bass surveys.
Sooner Lake, north of Stillwater, ranked third with 101 bass
per hour. Ranking fourth was McGee Creek Lake (86 bass per hour),
with Tenkiller Lake (69 bass per hour) rounding out the top five.
While Tenkiller Lake once again ranked in the top five, bass
numbers were significantly lower than previous years according
to Jim Burroughs, northeast region fisheries supervisor for the
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
"The survey showed lower numbers at Tenkiller,
but we don't think this is an accurate reflection of the health
of the bass fishery. Sampling at Tenkiller was difficult this
year because of low lake levels due to drought conditions and
repairs being made to the dam," said Burroughs. "Many
of the areas we normally sample were inaccessible and these conditions
likely led to the lower than normal catch rates from spring electrofishing
samples. The good news is that water levels have now returned
to near normal conditions."
In lakes under 1,000 acres, Okmulgee Lake came
in first place with an impressive 149 bass per hour. Coon Creek
Lake, near Wilburton, came in a very close second with 148 bass
per hour. American Horse Lake, a Wildlife Department lake near
Geary, took third place with 133 bass per hour. Located south
of Lawton near the Wichita Mountains, Lake Elmer Thomas claimed
fourth place with 119 bass per hour. Carlton Lake, located in
Robbers Cave State Park in southeast Oklahoma took fifth place
with 107 bass per hour.
The electrofishing data shows that many smaller
lakes are home to healthy bass populations. But, anglers should
remember that high numbers of bass reported in the electrofishing
results doesn't always guarantee quality size bass are present.
Data from the springtime bass survey is divided between that
collected from lakes larger than 1,000 acres, and lakes smaller
than 1,000 acres. The data is used to determine the health of
individual bass fisheries and how bass populations change over
time. Regional fisheries management personnel capture bass using
electrofishing equipment, then they weigh and measure each fish
before releasing them back into the water unharmed. The information
helps biologists determine which lakes benefit from specialized
management techniques such as length and slot limits.
Lakes are classified as "Quality" if
they can produce good numbers of catchable bass (indicated by
at least 40 bass per hour of electrofishing, with at least 10
of those bass 14 inches or longer). "High Quality"
lakes produce excellent numbers of catchable bass (at least 60
bass per hour, with 15 or more of those fish 14 inches or longer).
Lakes that have trophy potential (capable of producing two fish
over 21 inches in length per hour of electrofishing) are rated
as "Trophy Quality."
Variations in electrofishing catch rates can result
from lake conditions at the time of sampling or from changes
in reproduction, recruitment, growth and mortality caused by
habitat alteration, environmental impacts, food fish production,
disease or angling pressure. Not all lakes are surveyed each
year.
Families can learn more about fisheries management techniques
such as electrofishing and trap netting by attending a field
trip at Guthrie Lake during the Oklahoma Wildlife Expo (Aug.
25-27). Pre-registration is required for this venue and anyone
interested in participating should check the Department's Web
site - wildlifedepartment.com - for more information.
To view the complete results of the 2006 electrofishing
bass results, log onto www.wildlifedepartment.com/electrofishing2006.htm.
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