REND LAKE STATUS REPORT SUMMARY

LARGEMOUTH BASS: REND LAKE Based on information provided by the fall population survey, bass fishing should continue to improve in 2004. The catch per effort was up 81% from last year, and up more than 140% from 2001. Body condition( Wr = 102) was excellent, and population indices were within the target ranges for all sizes of bass. The PSD fell to 47(a 22% decline from the previous year), but this was expected and is a direct result of the current management plan. The number of bass greater than the 14" minimum length limit and the number of larger fish (>16") remained similar to last year.

One of the primary reasons for the decline of the Rend Lake bass fishery in recent years has been poor recruitment. To address this concern, over 75,000 bass fingerlings were stocked in 2002, and an additional 58,000 fingerlings were stocked in 2003. These fish are already having an impact on the density and size structure of the bass population as indicated by the increase in CPUE and decline in PSD. In addition to the significant increase in the number of bass in over the past two years, all sizes of bass have exhibited very good growth rates. With average or better growth rates, the size structure of the population should improve significantly over the next two years. An aggressive stocking program will continue next year.

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