Winter Gill Netting Surveys
Gill netting is performed on various East Tennessee reservoirs in January and February of each year to determine the status of several important fisheries. Good samples of walleye, striped bass, hybrid striped bass, white bass, sauger, saugeye and other species are collected using this sampling method.
TWRA's experimental nets are generally set for a period of 18-24 hours. Most of the nets are 8 x 150-foot containing 6 panels of 0.5, 1.0. 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0-inch mesh. Sampling locations are fixed and in habitats expected to yield good catches of target species. All nets are set perpendicular to the shore with the smallest mesh towards shore.
The TWRA has recently begun experimenting with a different type of net configuration for collecting striped bass and hybrids within Boone and Cherokee Reservoirs. Non-experimental, surface set gill nets that are 300 x 8-foot are used. Three different mesh sizes (2.0, 2.5, and 3.0-inch) are being tested to determine which might provide the best samples.
Winter Gill Netting Survey Results:
Boone |
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Calderwood |
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Chilhowee |
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Fort Loudoun |
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Fort Patrick Henry |
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Melton Hill |
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Tellico |
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