Joe Manchin III, Governor

Frank Jezioro, Director

News Release : June 6, 2005

Hoy Murphy , Public Information Officer (304) 558-3380 hoymurphy@wvdnr.gov

Contact: Bret Preston, Wildlife Resources Section (304) 558-2771 wildlife@wvdnr.gov

WVDNR Tags Black Bass in Several West Virginia Lakes

  West Virginia Division of Natural Resources fishery biologists have been tagging black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass) with colored tags at the base of the fish's dorsal fin in several lakes statewide, according to Bret Preston , Assistant Chief of the WVDNR Wildlife Resources Section. Since early March, black bass have been tagged in O'Brien Lake in Jackson County , Sutton Lake in Braxton County , Stephens Lake in Raleigh , Conaway Run Lake in Tyler County , and Warden Lake in Hardy County.

  Each tag is uniquely numbered and has the WVDNR address noted. Anglers are asked to clip the tag at the insertion into the fish and provide the DNR either the tag or tag number, and information on the date the fish was caught and if the fish was harvested or released. Information can be mailed to the WVDNR, 2311 Ohio Ave , Parkersburg , WV 26101 , e-mailed to fishtags@wvdnr.gov or by calling 304-420-4550. A reward is provided for returned tags.

  According to fishery biologist Chris O'Bara, tag return information will enable the WVDNR to determine catch rates of black bass in these lakes. This information will be useful in the management of black bass in these as well as other lakes. This current activity is part of a larger ongoing study initiated in the spring of 2003.

  Anglers are also asked to return all tags found in fish from other study lakes. To date anglers have caught 43% of the 1,543-tagged black bass in seven West Virginia lakes. Percent caught range from 26% in Sleepy Creek Lake in Berkeley County to 57% in Kimsey Run Lake in Hardy Lake . To date, return rates include 39% from Woodrum Lake ( Jackson County ), 41% from Plum Orchard Lake ( Fayette County ), 46% from Elk Fork Lake ( Jackson County ), 48% from South Mill Creek ( Grant County ), and 51% from Upper Mud Lake ( Lincoln County ). Anglers have harvested less than 15% of all caught black bass in lakes where regulations permit the harvesting of black bass.

  Funds for this study and other ongoing studies are provided from the Federal Aid for Sport Fish Restoration and West Virginia license revenues. Results from these and all WVDNR-conducted studies are useful in the management of the state's fishery resources, as well as for providing quality-fishing opportunities statewide.

**DNR**