How fish shocking and weather patterns can help with Largemouth bass conservation
City lakes like Phillips Lake located in South Columbia, depend on the Missouri Department of Conservation and weather conditions to determine the Largemouth bass population health. Fish shocking events are an important tool used to sample populations of fish, like that of the Largemouth bass in an effort to track species health.
Darby Niswonger is a fishery management biologist with MDC who helps run shocking efforts to track populations, "We just want water, so as long as we don't have drought conditions, that's a good thing." Fish are stunned for shorter periods of time and close to the surface to be collected. MDC biologists will then take measurements and health data to chart to determine local populations help. After the data is collected, fish are released back in the water safely where they are no longer stunned.
Weather can play major roles in Largemouth bass population successes or failures. Two of the most important factors for bass in terms of weather are temperatures and water levels impacted by rainfall. Darby Niswonger explains, "When there's low water and it's really hot, then that can cause a decrease in dissolved oxygen in the water and of course, fish need oxygen to live." These conditions can be stressful on fish populations at times and cause mass fish kills.
Water temperatures can also impact Largemouth bass greatly. Darby Niswonger recalls, "So, anytime that the water reaches about 65 degrees to 70 degrees, they'll start to spawn. And so that can be anywhere from late April to early June." Wind can also play a role in where Largemouth bass gravitate towards throughout the day. "Those Gizzard shad are following the plankton, and the bass are following those Gizzard shads. So usually you think where, you know, where the wind's blowing is where the plankton's going" Darby-Niswonger.
Due to near average temperatures and near average rainfall totals the last several months, spawn efforts for Largemouth bass across the state should be on a better trend than what we've seen in the last several years.
