(2.6) LARGEMOUTH BASS - Rodman Reservoir Bass Fishing Guide Reports His Impressive Catches to the Florida FWC
Rodman Reservoir Bass Fishing Guide Reports His Impressive Catches to the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
An Information, Opinion, & Sources Report
Compiled by Ocklawahaman Paul Nosca
Created: 25 April 2015
Last Revised: 08 October 2020
A successful largemouth bass fishing guide on north-central Florida’s Rodman Reservoir (a.k.a. Rodman Pool or Lake Ocklawaha) has reported some quite impressive angling results for 2011 and 2012 to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
The FWC evidently considers this guide’s bass-fishing report to be credible enough to be included in their “Rodman Reservoir Historical Perspective” detailed paper about the proposed Ocklawaha River restoration (to free-flowing again) issue. A thoughtfully engineered breaching of the almost 47-year old Rodman Dam (a.k.a. Kirkpatrick Dam) would allow the Ocklawaha River channel to freely and swiftly flow again for the 56 river miles from Silver Springs to the St. Johns River -- once again facilitating the long distance riverine migration of the American eel, Atlantic-race striped bass, channel catfish, white catfish, and Florida manatee much as the way that Nature originally had intended.
The following text of a selected paragraph is exactly excerpted from the “Rodman Reservoir Historical Perspective” document currently being offered by the FWC:
“The Reservoir is also a popular destination for anglers targeting trophy bass. One successful bass fishing guide reported that he and his clients caught 4,307 bass in 2011 with 21 weighing over 10 pounds. The same guide reported catching 3,350 bass from January 1-March 2, 2012 during the latest drawdown, 19 of which weighed more than 10 pounds (the FWC issues an Executive Order that requires anglers to immediately release all bass captured during a drawdown).”
I, Ocklawahaman Paul Nosca, offer the following mathematical analysis of the numbers reported by this “successful bass fishing guide” to the FWC (in the above excerpt) -- which the FWC apparently has deemed to be credible enough to be used in their “Rodman Reservoir Historical Perspective” report concerning the pros and cons of possible Ocklawaha River restoration.
2011
I assume that the year 2011 had only 365 days total. By my calculations, 365 days times (X) an average of 12 (daylight) hours per day would equal (=) 4380 hours total daylight hours available during the year 2011.
4307 bass divided-by (/) 365 days would = an average of 11.80 bass caught per day if the “successful bass fishing guide” was out on Rodman Reservoir and FISHED EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR 2011 with or without his clients.
4307 bass / 4380 hours would = an average of 0.983 bass caught per hour if the “successful bass fishing guide” was out on Rodman Reservoir and FISHED EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR 2011 FOR 12 HOURS PER DAY with or without his clients.
2012
I assume that the period from January 1, 2012 to March 2, 2012 had only 61 days total. By my calculations, 61 days x 12 (daylight) hours per day would = 732 hours total daylight hours available (actually probably less in the winter) during the period from 1-1-12 to 3-2-12.
3350 bass / 61 days would = an average of 54.92 bass caught per day if the “successful bass fishing guide” was out on Rodman Reservoir and FISHED EVERY DAY OF THE 61-DAY PERIOD DURING THE YEAR 2012 with or without his clients.
3350 bass / 732 hours would = an average of 4.58 bass per hour if the “successful bass fishing guide” was out on Rodman Reservoir and FISHED EVERY DAY OF THE 61-DAY PERIOD DURING THE YEAR 2012 FOR 12 HOURS PER DAY with or without his clients.
Let me state that as an angler myself -- who started largemouth bass fishing in Florida 50 years ago (see following link) -- I am very impressed with these reported catch-success numbers.
My own personal creel survey results computerized since 1990 show a largemouth bass average catch rate FOR ME from a man-powered canoe using artificial lures in the flowing Ocklawaha River -- kept and/or released -- of only about 1 per hour of fishing, with my angling trips randomly occurring during all 12 months (i.e., January to December) of the year over the past 25 or so. See what the old Florida Game and Fresh Water Commission wrote about creel surveys and bass-catch per hour data back in 1989.
I also reckon that this "successful bass fishing guide" must use a lot of lotion on his hands after jaw-lifting all of those largemouth bass perhaps 12 hours every day from the waters of Rodman Reservoir -- not to mention boating those occasional toothy bowfin (mudfish) and chain pickerel (jackfish) or hefty channel catfish that also love to eat wild river shiners!
The “Rodman Reservoir Historical Perspective” document by the FWC is available at the bottom of my webpage at:
https://sites.google.com/site/ocklawahamanpaulnoscareports/the-fwc-and-ocklawaha-river-restoration
Email: ocklawahaman1@gmail.com
End.