David R. Terre

The Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC) is a professional bass fishing tournament that promotes fishing and the conservation efforts of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). This unique bass tournament, created through a partnership among Gulf States Toyota, the Professional Anglers Association, and TPWD, showcases a new “catch-weigh-immediate release” format that differs from typical stage weigh-in practices. Two events held at Lake Fork, Texas, in 2007 and 2008 demonstrated the utility of the format on a fishery managed with a slot limit. This new format opens doors for conducting...

Largemouth bass virus (LMBV), a recently identified pathogen, affected largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) in the southeastern United States beginning in the 1990s. Concern about the impacts of this little-known pathogen on largemouth bass populations, effects on fisheries management, and the need to provide anglers and the media with consistent and accurate information prompted a private organization (Bass Anglers Sportsman Society) to invite managers and researchers from state and federal agencies and universities to a series of five annual public workshops beginning in 2000. These...

Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) die-offs attributed to largemouth bass virus (LMBV) occurred during 1998 at Sam Rayburn Reservoir and 1999 at Lake Fork, Texas. We assessed largemouth bass electrofishing catch per unit effort (CPUE), mean length at age 3, relative weight (Wr), and angling success before (pre-LMBV) and after (post-LMBV) fish kill periods to address concerns that LMBV had negatively impacted the largemouth bass populations and fisheries at these two popular Texas reservoirs. There was no decline in angling catch rates, mean length at age 3, or Wr in the post-LMBV...

Genetically-marked strains of walleye (Stizostedion vitreum vitreuni) from Arkansas (ARS) and Iowa (IAS) were stocked simultaneously into a Texas reservoir in 1985 to evaluate strain-related performance differences associated with spawning and growth. Post-stocking collections made during the spring spawning season (1988-1990) resulted in the capture of 132 walleyes from this year class. ARS walleyes comprised 35% of 1985 year-class samples which was significantly higher than the stocking proportion (26%). Differences were attributed to ARS females being more abundant than IAS females in...

Percent year class contribution was evaluated for genetically-marked Florida largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides floridanus) x northern largemouth bass (A/. 5. salmoides) stocked in 3 Texas reservoirs. Electrofishing catch rate and size structure data were used to determine population characteristics of each study reservoir. Stocking rates of genetically-marked fingerlings ranged from 30 to 200 fish/ha. Post-stocking collections were made by electrofishing at permanent stations over a 4-year period. Town Reservoir, which had the highest largemouth densities and recruitment, had the...

Statewide 356-mm minimum-length and 5-fish daily creel limits for largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) were evaluated on 28 Texas reservoirs. Electrofishing catch rate data were used to evaluate changes in adult largemouth bass density and size structure 2 years after the limits were implemented. Statewide regulations successfully increased adult largemouth bass densities in Texas reservoirs. Electrofishing catch rates of fish ≥254 mm and those ≥356 mm increased significantly across the study reservoirs. Largemouth bass size structure also shifted towards larger fish.

Effects of changing harvest regulations on largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides from a 254-mm minimum length limit and 10-fish daily bag limit to a slot length limit of 356-457 mm and later to a 5-fish daily bag limit were monitored on Calaveras and Monticello reservoirs, Texas. Electrofishing was used to monitor changes in size structure at both reservoirs and density as catch per unit of effort (CPUE) at Monticello Reservoir only. A creel survey was used to monitor angler harvest at Calaveras Reservoir. In both reservoirs, RSD 203-355 decreased while RSD 356-457 and RSD 457 increased....