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RALEIGH, N.C. (Aug. 31, 2006) – Fisheries biologists and creel clerks with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will be conducting a year-long creel survey on Lake Norman beginning Sept. 1. They will interview anglers fishing from boats and along the bank to estimate angling effort, catch and harvest at Lake Norman. “Creel clerks and biologists will use boats to travel around the lake to interview anglers in the process of fishing, and will use binoculars to scan the shoreline looking for anglers to interview,” said Brian McRae, fisheries research coordinator with the Commission who is leading the creel survey. “They will also be stationed at various boating access areas to intercept anglers as they exit the reservoir to collect information about their completed fishing trips.” They will ask anglers about the length of their fishing trips, the species of fish targeted, the number and species of fish caught as well as the number and species of fish harvested. They also will ask to take length and weight measurements from harvested fish. In addition, biologists hope to determine the positive effects angler expenditures can have on local and regional economies. “It is generally believed that angler use has increased over the last 10 years,” McRae said. “The effect of increased angling pressure and subsequent harvest is unknown but is routinely identified by anglers as the factor impacting the Lake Norman fishery. This creel survey will help assess changes in angler use, evaluate harvest regulations and address species-specific concerns.” Biologists will use creel results in preparing a comprehensive management plan for Lake Norman. Information on the intensity and patterns of angler use will help in refining and prioritizing management objectives. Collected information will also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of size and creel limits of largemouth bass, spotted bass, crappie and striped bass. For more information on the creel survey, contact the Commission’s Division of Inland Fisheries, (919) 707-0220. For more information on freshwater fishing in North Carolina, visit the Fishing section.
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