GLATOS

Lake Erie Smallmouth Bass Spatial Ecology

Project Title

Spatial Ecology of Smallmouth Bass in Lake Erie

Project Code

LESMB

Project Duration

February 2022 - December 2027

Project Description

In 2023-2024, 216 Smallmouth Bass were captured via angling and electrofishing in the Western and Central basins of Lake Erie and tagged. Tagging locations included the Bass islands, Kelleys Island, and Fairport, Ashtabula, and Lorain harbors. Scope of movement, spawning site fidelity, and seasonal habitat(s) occupied by tagged fish will be compared between angled (active/high-vulnerability fish) and passive (electrofishing).

Objectives

Quantify daily movement rates for Smallmouth Bass in west and west-central basins of Lake Erie
Compare daily movement rates between high-vulnerability (angling) and low-vulnerability fish (electrofishing).
Determine proportion of tagged fish making long-distance movements between subpopulations and whether a greater proportion of long-distance movers are angler-caught.
Identify seasonally-occupied critical habitats for Lake Erie’s SMB population.

Investigators

Zak Slagle (Ohio Department of Natural Resources) - Zachary.Slagle@dnr.state.oh.us
Matthew Faust (Ohio Department Of Natural Resources)
Chris Vandergoot (Michigan State University)

Participating Organizations

Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Division of Wildlife
United States Geological Survey - Great Lakes Science Center - Lake Erie Biological Station

Funding

Ohio Sea Grant