Conewango Creek in Warren County was sampled by electro-shocking during June 2004 on the upper section, which is characterized by its slow flow and mud banks. Numerous smallmouth bass from 4 to 16 inches in length were captured, most near fallen trees. Better smallmouth fishing can be expected, though, downstream from Russell, where the flow is swifter and the bottom is rocky.

SOUTHCENTRAL REGION
Young-of-the-year bass sampling by electro-shocking was conducted last September and October at four Southcentral Region lakes: Holman, Opossum Creek, Raystown and Meadow Grounds. Results indicated below-average numbers of bass at all four lakes, demonstrating how lakes in reasonably close proximity are subjected to the same natural factors that largely dictate the success of bass reproduction.

Holman Lake is in Little Buffalo State Park in Perry County. Over six years, the electro-shocking catch rate of young-of-the-year bass has averaged 63 per hour, ranging from a low of 0 to a high of 110 per hour. Last fall, the catch rate was 40 per hour, lower than all but the lowest year. While this probably will result in a reduction in bass-fishing success in coming years, better spawning success through 2002 should mean there are plenty of larger bass this year.

Second-highest catch rates for young-of-the-year bass among these four lakes has been at Raystown Lake in Huntingdon County, with a six-year average of 54 per hour. Last fall, it was 18 bass per hour.

Opossum Creek Lake, which is in Cumberland County, has a six-year survey average of 30 young-of-the-year bass per hour. Last year, it continued a three-year decline to eight fish per hour.

The good news at Meadow Grounds Lake is that the young-of-the-year bass catch rate has been increasing for the past couple of years. The flip side of this take is that the catch rate last fall was just three bass per hour, which is one fish below the five-year average for this Fulton County lake.

The 2001 year-classes were relatively strong at Holman, Raystown and Opossum Creek lakes. Holman Lake and Raystown Lake had good recruitment the following year. This should mean reasonably good fishing for a few years. If there is a good spawn this year, the two-year gap might hardly be noticeable.

NORTHCENTRAL REGION
Research on catch-and-release bass mortality was concluded recently with a report written in March 2004 titled Black Bass Fishing Loss at F. J. Sayers Lake: Results of Partitioning Tournament and Non-Tournament Losses, by biologist Lorantas and David P. Kristine.

F.J. Sayers Lake is a 1,730-acre flood-control reservoir in Bald Eagle State Park in Centre County. During 2002, there were 56 bass tournaments here, which is near the median number for Pennsylvania lakes where tournaments are held.

The purpose of this study was to address concerns and contribute to angler understanding relative to non-tournament harvest or loss and tournament loss. This was done by measuring harvests and losses attributable to tournament and non-tournament anglers over the course of one year. Losses attributable to non-tournament anglers included both harvested and released bass. Tournament losses were from released bass.

The introduction of this report points out that while fishing participation has declined during recent years, bass tournament participation has been increasing. This increase in tournament fishing has raised concerns among non-tournament anglers that tournaments are depleting bass populations. Tournament anglers, at the same time, have expressed concerns that non-tournament anglers harvest too many bass.

Study results indicate that population losses due to tournament angling totaled 12 percent, while losses due to non-tournament angling totaled 33 percent. Overall loss associated with all types of fishing was 46 percent!

Of total fishing losses, both tournament and non-tournament, release losses were responsible for the majority of bass mortalities (58 percent).

Further, the study concluded that "tournament losses comprised 26 percent of all losses, with 74 percent of losses attributable to non-tournament angling."