Electrofishing Catch per Hour as an Indicator of Largemouth Bass Density in Ohio Impoundments

Abstract

Catch data from 12 Ohio impoundments indicated a significant positive linear relationship between electrofishing catch per hour (CPH) of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) over 199 mm long and number per hectare in a lake. The regression equation that best described this relationship was log 10(number per hectare) = 1.2274 log 10(CPH) - 0.5489. Important considerations for collection of reliable CPH data are time of year, water temperature, and electrofishing effort.