Beaver Lake Tailwater | Creel Survey 1998-2000 - Arkansas Game ...

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Winter catch rates of cutthroat trout were the highest at 0.06 trout/h, followed by spring(0.03 trout/h) and fall (0.03 trout/h). There was no significant difference, however,among these three seasons. Summer anglers caught the fewest cutthroat trout (0.02trout/h), which was significantly lower than winter. The Beaver Tailwater is stockedwith cutthroat trout from late winter through early spring and this probably accounts forthe high catch rates during this time.Cutthroat trout less than 300mm (12 in) in length made up 81% of all those caught. Theannual percentage increased from 68% in 1998 to 83% in 2000. Conversely, thepercentage of cutthroats caught that were between 300mm (12in) and 406mm (16in)decreased from 32 % in 1998 to 17% in 2000. Less than 1% of the total cutthroat catchincluded trout over 406mm (16 in).Brook TroutNo brook trout were harvested between September 1998 and August 2001 although morethan 37,000 brook trout (1,176 kg) were stocked. In the 1998 creel period, 10,084 brooktrout (S.E = 2,415 trout) were caught and released. This figure declined to 5,568 brooktrout (S.E = 1,374 trout) in 1999 and again to only 1,926 brook trout (S.E = 656 trout) in2000 (Figure 23).Annual catch rates for brook trout declined steadily from a high of 0.095 trout/h (S.E. =0.058 trout/h) in 1998 to 0.030 trout/h (S.E. = 0.020 trout/h) in 2000. Despite thisdecline, catch rates for brook trout were consistently higher than those observed forcutthroat trout.Catch rates for brook trout were higher in Zone 1 (0.11 trout/h) than all other areas(p
Other SpeciesPaddlefishPaddlefish (Polyodon spathula) are native to the White River although damming andother habitat alterations limited their distribution to the lower reaches (Robison andBuchanan 1988). The Missouri Department of Conservation has reestablished apopulation of paddlefish in Table Rock Lake. In some years, sexually mature adults werethought to move upstream into the Beaver Tailwater and congregate below the dam.Reclassification of paddlefish as a sport fish in 1989, restricted snagging for this speciesto within 0.09 km (100 yards) below dams statewide. Angling of any kind below BeaverDam, however, is prohibited in the first 0.09 km below the dam for safety reasons. Thisrestriction precluded any snagging opportunities for paddlefish below Beaver Dam.Pressure from anglers caused the AGFC to open the area between the “No FishingBeyond This Point” sign and the concrete boat ramp approximately 0.18 km (200 yards)downstream of the dam to snagging. Snagging is permitted from April 15 to June 15with a daily creel limit of two paddlefish. Anglers must cease snagging once half thedaily limit of trout is taken. In 1991 and 1998, access point creel surveys were conductedon the Beaver tailwater during the snagging season in order to determine snagging effortand harvest for paddlefish, trout, and other species.In 1991, estimated snagging effort on the Beaver Tailwater was 467 hours, whichaccounted for 14% of the total angling pressure within the area where snagging waspermitted (Fielder 1991). Snagging effort dropped 48% in 1998 to 242 hours (5% of totalangling pressure) (Fielder and Fourt 1999). During the 1991 study, approximately 128paddlefish were snagged and harvested by anglers. The report for the 1998 snaggingstudy indicates that no paddlefish, or trout, were snagged by anglers. Results of the1998-2000 creel survey indicated that anglers on the Beaver Tailwater caught anestimated 33 paddlefish. These paddlefish were taken in the spring of the first creel yearfrom Zone 4 and all were released. No paddlefish were caught the second or third yearsof the creel survey. Although paddlefish did not contribute a significantly to the totalfishery during the 1998-2001 creel survey, this may not always be the case. Paddlefishtend to be more abundant in the Beaver Tailwater when spring water levels are high. Theextremely low water levels observed during Spring 1999 and reduced discharge in Spring2000 may have resulted in decreased numbers of paddlefish. Paddlefish are likely tocontribute a greater portion to the Beaver Tailwater fishery in years when spring waterlevels are above normal.WalleyeWalleye (Stizostedion vitreum) are considered native to Arkansas only in the northernportion of the White River drainage (Robison and Buchanan 1988). Impoundment of theupper White River destroyed much of walleye’s original habitat although populationscontinue to survive in most of the reservoirs. During the spawning months (March12
Page 1 and 2: Beaver Tailwater Creel Survey 1998
Page 3 and 4: Executive Summary (continued)(27,51
Page 5 and 6: conducted on the Beaver Tailwater.
Page 7 and 8: Summer angling effort was highest o
Page 9 and 10: Annual harvest estimates were 26,85
Page 11: highest mean catch rate at 0.41 bro
Page 15 and 16: Stocking LevelsStocking levels duri
Page 17 and 18: Literature CitedBacon, E. J., Jr.,
Page 19 and 20: Figure 1. Map showing the Beaver Ta
Page 21 and 22: Figure 4. Contribution of various a
Page 23 and 24: Figure 8. Total angling effort per
Page 25 and 26: Figure 12. Percent use of artificia
Page 27 and 28: Figure 16. Percentage of anglers fi
Page 29 and 30: Figure 20. Stocking, catch, and har
Page 31 and 32: Figure 24. Illegal harvest and cita
Page 33 and 34: Table 1. Comparison of angler effor

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