Masters Theses

Date of Award

8-1995

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

Major Professor

Richard J. Strange

Committee Members

Ralph W. Dimmick, J. Mark Fly

Abstract

Norris Tailwater is located in Anderson county in East Tennessee. It was created when Norris dam impounded the Clinch River in 1936 and hypolimnetic discharges for power generation changed the cool water river to a cold-water tailwater. The tailwater has been an important trout fishery since the 1950's when regular stocking of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) began. On March 1, 1993 the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission implemented a new quality zone on 6.4 km of tailwater from Cane Creek to the bottom of Llewellyn Island. The new regulation stated only 2 fish over 14 in could be kept and only artificial lures could be used in the quality zone. Because of local controversy, the regulations were changed in 1994 to 3 fish, only one could be over 14 in and no bait restrictions applied to the quality zone. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of these new regulations. An access point creel survey of float anglers was conducted in 1993. The survey was administered at two boat ramps within the 16.4 km study area. The area was divided into three approximately equal zones; the upper zone, the quality zone, and the lower zone. In 1993, quality zone anglers' catch rate (0.6 fish/hour), total effort (360 man hours), and total catch (200 trout) was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than the lower zone anglers' catch rate (1.4 fish/hour), total effort (1720 man hours), and total catch (2420 trout). Percent release was high in the quality zone (94%) but was not significantly different from the lower zone (62%). The most common gear used over the entire area was spincast gear (91%). The most common bait used over the entire area was artificial bait (43%). It was impossible to determine if fish caught within the quality zone were larger because of the small sample size (n = 5) measured in the quality zone. Most float fishermen (59.5%) came from nearby Knox county which was the most populated county in the region. The data gathered in 1993 led to changes in the design in 1994. In 1994, two wading access points were added, survey periods were lengthened to interview more types of anglers, and questions were added to obtain fishermen's opinions of quality regulations. In 1994 float and wade anglers were interviewed. No bank anglers were included in this survey. Anglers within the quality zone had approximately the same catch rate (1.3 fish/hour) as anglers in the lower zone (1.2 fish/hour). Quality zone anglers' total effort (3090 man hours) and total catch (4070 fish) were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than lower zone anglers' total effort (7190 man hours) and total catch (8590 fish). Anglers within the quality zone released significantly more fish (95%) than anglers in the lower zone (74%). The most prevalent gear over the entire area was flyfishing gear (46%) and artificial bait was the most prevalent bait (68%). Again, it was impossible to determine if fish within the quality zone were larger because of the small sample size from the quality zone (n = 4). As in 1993, most fishermen came from Knox county (56.1%) in 1994. More anglers were in favor of quality regulations (68%) than were against (18%). Sixty-nine percent of anglers interviewed indicated the quality regulations did not change the way they fished the tailwater.

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