RELATIONS BETWEEN SUBMERSED MACROPHYTE ABUNDANCE AND LARGEMOUTH BASS TOURNAMENT SUCCESS ON 2 TENNESSEE-RIVER IMPOUNDMENTS

During an eight-year period from 1986 to 1993, submersed macrophyte co verage ranged from 7 to 28% on Lake Guntersville and 2 to 14% on Wheel er Lake. Using black bass (Micropterus spp.) fishing tournaments data from these two mainstream impoundments of the Tennessee River, catch r ates of primarily largemouth bass (M. salmoides Lacepde) were generall y greater when macrophyte cover was highest. However, average weight o f fish caught was lowest during peak macrophyte coverage, but no diffe rences in weight-per-hour of fish caught were evident. The amount of e ffort to catch a memorable-size (greater than or equal to 2.27 kg) lar gemouth bass varied inversely with macrophyte abundance. Mie hypothesi zed that angling vulnerability of these larger fish likely declined du e to the refuge provided by plant cover. With the exception of catch r ates of memorable-size fish, fluctuating plant coverage had minimal im pact oil tournament success as winnings are based on total weight of f ish caught rather than the number caught.