SWEPCO Lake subject of regulation changes
Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission held its annual meeting for anglers, May 11, and proposed regulation changes for SWEPCO Lake near Gentry. The current catch and release only regulation would change to a 10 bass daily limit. No minimum length limit will be imposed, but only one may be 18 inches or longer.
The proposed change is due to samples from electrofishing catch per hour done, Jan. 31, as well as telephone calls from anglers fishing Lake SWEPCO who reported a high number of long, skinny fish. The sampling showed an increased level of small bass, and decreased level of bass 15 inches or larger. The average weight of bass has also decreased this past year.
The proposed regulation change is predicted to thin out over crowding, improve growth, and improve overall condition of bass.
Anglers at the meeting voiced concerns over possible over harvest, holding bass in hot livewell water, and possible increase of number of tournaments, which may be held due to regulation changes.
Arkansas Fisheries biologists will closely monitor Lake SWEPCO and make regulation changes if necessary. Everyone present at the meeting was in agreement to keep Lake SWEPCO a place where trophy bass can grow. The regulation changes would go into effect Jan. 1, 2007 if approved.
Beaver Lake Fishing Report Species: Largemouth, spotted, smallmouth, hybrid, stripers, and white bass.
Water condition: Very clear in the dam area, mud line is at Prairie Creek and moving towards the dam. River arm is muddy.
Water temperature: 64 degrees at Point 2 area.
Lake level: The lake level is 1114.1. Last year at this time the lake level was 1119.7. Normal season pool is 1120.4.
Effective lures: Black, spotted, smallmouth bass — Bomber Model 4A Chartreuse blue, Booyah Glow Blade in limetruese with limetreuse blades, Booyah Bug black and blue with Yum Crawl Papi with black blue shadow. White bass — CC Super Spot in chrome and blue. Stripers, hybrids — Cotton Cordell Jointed Red-Fin.
Patterns: Black, spotted, smallmouth bass — Anglers are facing a post spawn situation on the lake. Bass are in transition back to their summertime locations. Moving, roaming, and suspending bass are easy to catch one day than impossible the next day. Anglers can just pick their favorite techniques and catch fish. Stained water at Prairie Creek and moving slowly towards Point 9. White bass, stripers — Whites are schooling sporadically over the lower end of the lake. Stripers are being caught around the Point 6 area on live shad.
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