Lee C. Keefer

During spring and summer 1986, a massive disease-caused fish kill occurred on Lake Walter F. George, Georgia, which resulted in significant and longlasting changes in the fish populations of this reservoir. Prior to the fish kill, populations of both threadfin (Dowsoma petenense) and gizzard shad (D. cepedianum) were dominated by intermediate- and harvestable-size fish. Anglers reported largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) fishing was poor, and age analysis indicated poor recruitment for several years. Following the fish kill, shad populations were dominated by large numbers of...

During 1978-1991, Floy FD-68B "T bar" type tags and Floy internal anchor tags were used on Lake Walter F. George to estimate exploitation of the largemouth bass population. Tag loss and non-reporting of tags by anglers were calculated in an attempt to adjust exploitation and total catch estimates. Over the 5-year period, tag loss averaged 20% per year for Floy FD-68B tag and <1% for the Floy internal anchor tag. Non-reporting of tags by anglers was estimated to be 33%. Based on tag returns, exploitation was estimated to be 23% for fish tagged with FD-68B tags and 28% for fish tagged...