Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) population characteristics and an evaluation of management responses in two West Virginia watersheds

Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) population characteristics were examined within the Tygart and Cheat River watersheds of north-central West Virginia. Growth, mortality and recruitment were examined for each individual population prior to modeling potential effects of various management schemes. Smallmouth Bass were sampled for total length and weight, aged using sagittal otoliths and sexed through observations of gonadal or ovarian development. Growth for each population was examined using von Bertalanffy growth models and assessed for variation among populations. Population demographic characteristics differed between and among populations, most noticeably between riverine and lacustrine habitat, whereby growth, mortality and recruitment were higher in lacustrine habitats. Comparisons to developed growth standards indicated low growth amongst all populations. While similarities existed between individual von Bertalanffy parameters, each population exhibited differences in growth when testing for all three von Bertalanffy parameters. Age and length at sexual maturity differed between populations with lacustrine populations maturing at an earlier age than riverine populations. The mortality rate of Tygart Lake Smallmouth Bass exceeded that of the other study populations. Modeling indicated that growth and recruitment overfishing are not likely to occur within populations until exploitation rates are substantially elevated. In general, the modeled responses to protective slot limits demonstrated little benefit in yield per recruit and spawning potential ratio of populations, whereas modeling of minimum length limits and harvested slot limits yielded more favorable responses. Populations responded best to a minimum length limit of 254 mm for riverine habitat and 305 mm for lacustrine habitat across exploitation rates. Understanding current Smallmouth Bass population demographics in West Virginia waters may inform management strategies with the goal of improving future populations. This study provides valuable baseline information which may be instrumental for the management of Smallmouth Bass populations within the Tygart and Cheat River watersheds with potential to be used as a model for management of Smallmouth Bass populations in other West Virginia watersheds