Lake Norman F1 largemouth bass stocking and evaluation, 2021-2030

Fisheries Research Fact Sheet Lake Norman FI Largemouth Bass Stocking and Evaluation, 2021-2030 December 2021 Beginning in October 2020, the N.C. Wild¬ life Resources Commission (Commission), along with support from local anglers, began stocking FI hybrid Largemouth Bass ( Micropterus salmoides floridanus X Micropterus salmoides salmoides) to aug¬ ment the Largemouth Bass population and potentially increase the quantity of trophy black bass in the reservoir. Since 2001, invasive Alabama Bass have been increas¬ ingly detected in Lake Norman, while the Largemouth Bass population density has simultaneously declined (Figure 1). FI Largemouth Bass juveniles (approxi¬ mately 8 inches in length) were stocked in fall 2020 and 2021. In June 2021, finger- lings (approximately 2 inches in length) were stocked. Fingerling stockings will continue each summer from 2022-2026, with 130,000 stocked annually. These fish will be stocked at up to 16 sites each year (Figure 2). To determine the impact these stockings have on the Largemouth Bass population, spring electrofishing surveys will be conducted from 2022 to 2030 by Commission staff. All Largemouth Bass collected will be weighed, measured, and a genetic sample will be taken that will allow staff to determine if individuals caught are stocked FI Largemouth Bass or wild Lake Norman Largemouth Bass. Genetic samples will also be opportunistically collected from fishing tournaments. ф Historical Data •4^ <л ф Largemouth Bass Figure 1. Mean number of Largemouth and Alabama Bass collected from 1993 to 2019 during electrofishing surveys. • Boat Ramps Iredell County Mecklenburg County A Catawba County Lincoln County Figure 2. Map of Lake Norman, North Carolina and Commission electro¬ fishing surveysites. ncwildlife.org N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Inland Fisheries Division