Fisheries biologists with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Fisheries Division proposed changing Norfork Lake’s black bass minimum length limits. Biologists are proposing to reduce the largemouth and smallmouth bass minimum length limits from 15 to 13 inches and and to remove the minimum length limit on spotted bass.
Game and Fish officials say the commission adopted a 15-inch minimum length limit for largemouth bass on Norfork Lake nearly 30 years ago in response to declining population numbers caused by multiple years of poor reproduction and juvenile survival related to the lake remaining at or below conservation pool during spawning and early developmental stages (AprilSeptember). Data has shown that the number of juvenile largemouth bass produced is seven times greater during high-water years than other years on Norfork Lake.
Over the past decade, the increased frequency of high water years has substantially increased largemouth bass numbers, especially below the 15-inch minimum length limit. Game and Fish officals have observed four times as many largemouth bass during the last five spring samples compared to samples from 1987 to 1992, and growth rates have declined as a result. It now takes largemouth bass an additional year to reach 15 inches and two other years to get to 18 inches compared to 1992.
Forty years of data have been used to observe the response from the Largemouth Bass population to various potential minimum and slot length limits and determine if a regulation change should be pursued. The proposed 13-inch minimum length allowed for the harvest of smaller fish while improving the growth rate for the remaining fish.
According to Game and Fish, a recent survey indicated anglers were not satisfied with the size of bass they were catching in Norfork Lake. High water years also produce higher numbers of forage fish, keeping the black bass population healthy. However, bass have a much longer lifespan than forage fish like shad. If Norfork Lake experienced long periods at or below the conservation pool, the forage production would decrease. At the same time, the bass would still be there, which could result in a lake full of skinny bass or, even worse, a population decline similar to Greers Ferry Lake in 2014. Game and Fish says removing some of the small bass from the system would be beneficial, and decreasing the largemouth bass length limit from 15 to 13 inches would be the most effective way to accomplish this without any overharvesting risk.
The 12-inch spotted bass minimum length limit, enacted in 1979, has not drastically improved growth or numbers in Norfork Lake. Norfork Lake’s spotted bass grow slower than in Table Rock Lake, and Game and Fish offiicals say a larger minimum-length limit would be detrimental to the population. However, the proposed no minimum-length limit would reportedly align management efforts with other large reservoirs around Arkansas and many other states in the southern U.S. while having minimal impact on the population. Additionally, harvesting smaller spotted bass will allow the remaining bass to grow faster and reach greater sizes.
In 1998, Game and Fish adopted the 15-inch smallmouth bass minimum length limit on Norfork Lake to align regulation with Missouri, but data has shown anglers harvest smallmouth mass at a much lower rate than largemouth and spotted bass on Norfork Lake. The proposed regulation change is not expected to impact the smallmouth bass population.
Game and Fish is seeking public input on these proposals. CLICK HERE to participate in a survey to provide your input. After 30 days, Game and Fish will compile the results and submit them to the commissioners. If adopted, the regulations will go into effect at the beginning of next year. Anyone seeking more information can email Jeremy Risley at Jeremy.Risley@agfc.ar.gov.
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