Cold Water Fish Management News

“Kevin Hining is a fisheries biologist for the North Carolina Wildlife
Resources Commission.  He assists with the management of freshwater gamefish
populations in northwestern North Carolina. Kevin will provide
information to the chapter on stream fish management activities in
northwestern NC when he is able to get time from his busy schedule.
Kevin is not a TU member but has graciously offered to help us out.
Kevin can be contacted at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).”

In recent years, many of the questions I’ve received about stream and river fishing have shifted from trout to smallmouth bass.  That’s not to say trout aren’t still an extremely important part of the western North Carolina fishing experience, but there does seem to be a push towards fishing for smallmouth bass.  This is probably due in part to the numerous rivers and streams in western NC that contain smallmouth bass, as well as their great fighting ability. 

While we’ve spent years sampling the reservoirs and trout streams in western North Carolina, very little is known about our smallmouth bass populations.  In part to an increased interest by anglers coupled with limited fish data, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission biologists started a three year project intended to obtain some baseline information on smallmouth bass from western North Carolina rivers and streams.  We completed the final year of data collection in 2009, and plan to submit a final report by 2011. 

Our primary goals were to (1) collect life history information for smallmouth bass so that we could determine management possibilities, (2) better educate NC anglers on where good smallmouth fishing opportunities exist, and (3) improve angler access to smallmouth populations.  In order to obtain this information we have collected length, weight, and age information for smallmouth bass from throughout western NC, and surveyed public access opportunities to these rivers and streams. 

From 2007-2009 over 3000 smallmouth bass were collected from approximately 40 different populations.  All fish were measured for length and weight, and aged.  We have not completed analyzing the data from 2009, but our findings from 2007-2008 suggest a few things:

1)  Although the vast majority of smallmouth collected were less than 11 inches (84%), fish in excess of 14 inches were collected from most of the streams (70%), and fish greater than 17 inches were collected from 12% of the streams surveyed. 

2)  There appears to be a huge variation in the growth rates of smallmouth bass from the streams sampled.  This wasn’t to surprising since we collected fish from a wide range of streams, varying from 600 feet to only 30 feet in width.  Furthermore, the elevation of the streams sampled ranged from 600 feet to 2600 feet above sea level. 

The size and elevation of a stream often plays a role in the potential growth rates of smallmouth bass.  Unlike trout, smallmouth bass are a coolwater species, so high elevation streams and rivers will likely have shorter growing seasons and slower growth rates than similar sized waters at lower elevations.  A good comparison might be the Yadkin River and the South Fork New River.  Many anglers would assume the South Fork New River would be the better of the two for catching smallmouth bass, but actually your chances of catching an 18 inch smallmouth bass are much better on the Yadkin River.  It is lower elevation, and therefore has a longer growing season for smallmouth bass.  Another important aspect controlling the size of fish is the nutrient levels.  We often associate clear, clean water with big fish, but this is often not the case.  A stream must also have nutrients to support fish growth.  Streams in the southern Appalachians are natural low in nutrients.  As a result, streams with nutrient inputs from agricultural runoff, wastewater treatment plants, etc. are often better at growing big fish than similar pristine streams.  Obviously it’s a balancing act, and streams receiving excessive nutrients can be counterproductive for fish growth and survival.

3)  On average, it takes a smallmouth bass 5 to 6 years to reach 12 inches in size in NC streams.  In some streams fish reached 12 inches in only 3 years, but in others it might take 7 or more.  This information is important when modeling the impact of possible regulation changes to these fisheries.  As a general rule, faster growing populations offer the best opportunity for improving fish sizes through restrictive creel and size limits.  Putting restrictive regulations on slow growing populations often results in limited improvement or may even reduce growth rates/fish sizes.  Stunted bluegill in a farm pond offers a good example of this.  Anglers sometimes assume the best way to improve the size of fish is to release them and give them more time to grow.  This can be counterproductive in cases where food availability is low.  In those cases, a reduction in the number of fish might be the best way to improve overall sizes, unless of course you can improve nutrient levels.  There is much data analysis needed before we can suggest any regulation changes, but the majority of streams surveyed appear to be moderate to slow growing. 

4)  In northwest NC we have a wide variety of smallmouth streams – from small streams where you might catch as many wild brown trout as smallmouth, to streams 2 to 3 football fields in width and more rocks and ledges than you could fish in a lifetime. 

Here’s a quick synopsis (without providing to much detail in case one of these is your favorite ).  The Yadkin has the potential for big smallmouth anywhere below W. Kerr Scott Reservoir that has habitat (think rocks!), but I personally prefer the stretch between the Mitchell River and the HWY 67 bridge in Donnaha.  I know that’s a long stretch, about 40 miles, but I guess my point is there’s plenty of room to spread out.  In addition to the Yadkin, the area around Wilkes and Surry County contain numerous fun smallmouth destinations.  Practically all of the sizeable tributaries of the Yadkin hold smallmouth.  The Elk, Reddies, Roaring, Mulberry, Mitchell, and Fisher all offer some great fishing opportunities.  They all have numbers, but a few have some nice surprises for the angler willing to give it a trip or two.  Maybe just as important, these rivers along with the New (Ashe and Alleghany County), Watauga (Watauga County) and Dan River (Stokes County) have some gorgeous areas.  The numerous tall, hemlock bluffs on the Dan River are worth a float trip even if the fish aren’t biting!

5)  We have encountered some exceptional landowners during this study, and have recently worked out agreements for smallmouth bass fishing and small boat access at a few new spots in northwest NC.  These access sites were basically obtained from generous landowners that wished to provide anglers an opportunity to get in the river and fish.  We are working with various state agencies and local governments to obtain additional access sites, and hopefully the list will continue to grow. 

Feel free to give me a call for additional information or more specifics - Thanks,
Kevin

Kevin Hining
Fisheries Biologist - NC Wildlife Resources Commission
336-818-0283
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Most trout anglers are familiar with the NC Wildlife Commission’s “Delayed Harvest” and “Wild” trout fishing programs, and many split their time between these two management types.  However, streams managed by the NC Wildlife Commission as “Hatchery Supported” streams are often overlooked by these same anglers.  There are several Hatchery Supported streams in northwest NC that hold good numbers of wild trout.  As a result, anglers fishing these streams have the opportunity to catch the same fish they might catch in a Delayed Harvest stream (i.e. hatchery reared trout), as well as the opportunity to catch wild trout. 

As a general rule, the NC Wildlife Commission does not stock on top of healthy wild trout populations.  However, there are a few exceptions.  The streams mentioned in this article have been managed as Hatchery Supported for many years, and continue to be stocked because they are popular with Hatchery Supported anglers and have good public access.  While it is true that most Hatchery Supported streams hold few if any wild trout, the lack of wild trout in Hatchery Supported streams is primarily a function of poor habitat rather than fishing regulations/practices.  Even though these streams may be fished using bait and treble hooks, and up to seven trout a day may be kept, the wild trout populations continue to do quite well.  As a result, whether you like to fly fish, spinner fish, or bait fish, you can have a great day of fishing. 

Here’s a list of Hatchery Supported streams in northwest NC I’d suggest anglers try. 

Beech Creek – Watauga Co.
Laurel Creek – Watauga Co.
Howards Creek – Watauga Co.
Meat Camp Creek – Watauga Co.
Middle Fork New River – Watauga Co.
North Fork New River- primarily the headwaters in Watauga Co.

You can view the location of these streams by checking out the Watauga County section of the “Trout Maps” http://www.ncwildlife.org/pg03_Fishing/watauga.pdf provided by the NC Wildlife Commission http://www.ncwildlife.org.  The Trout Maps along with a NC gazetteer will probably provide all the information you need to find these streams.  However, feel free to contact me directly for detailed directions or more information. 

Two very important notes: - (1)Many streams open for public trout fishing are located on private lands, and this includes practically all of the streams in northwest NC.  Fishing is allowed on these streams because landowners have generously provided access to the public for fishing. Show your appreciation to these landowners by removing your trash and being respectful of their property. Failure to do so could result in the closure of these streams in the future. Finally, when in doubt, be sure to ask permission before fishing. 

(2)All “Hatchery Supported” streams and stream segments are closed to fishing from March 1st until the first Saturday in April.  As many of you well know, Hatchery Supported streams are often crowded the first Saturday in April (opening day).  However, you may well have the stream all to yourself other times of the year.

Best of luck!
Kevin

Kevin Hining
Fisheries Biologist
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission