Electrofishing Catch per Effort as a Predictor of Largemouth Bass Abundance and Angler Catch in Taylorsville Lake, Kentucky

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if catch per unit effort (CPUE) of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides collected by electrofishing could be used to predict future electrofishing catch rates and angler catch of largemouth bass at Taylorsville Lake, Kentucky. Development of reliable predictive models would aid managers in selecting and evaluating management strategies and in predicting future trends in sport fisheries. Significant (P ≤ 0.10) relations existed between electrofishing CPUE and angler catch of three lengthclasses of largemouth bass. Significant relations also existed among the CPUEs of the size-classes <8.0-, 8.0–11.9-, and 12.0–14.9-in largemouth bass collected in successive years, but not between the CPUEs of 12.0–14.9and 15.0-in or longer largemouth bass collected in successive years.