Anglers searching for winter bass at Kerr Reservoir not only have to contend with cold weather but also with the aftermath of the Largemouth Bass Virus, which devastated the lake’s bass population.
The virus wasn’t noticed until 2010, but its impact began in 2004 as the mortality rate of fish increased by 10 percent. Today, the fishery’s huge impoundment is undergoing a slow recovery; the catch rates reflect good numbers of fish, but the size of the fish shows only minimal improvement.
“Samples and anglers’ catches indicate the 2013 bass fishery has slightly improved over the 2012 fishery,” said Dan Michaelson, a biologist for the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries. “The growth rates are holding steady, though larger fish are still limited in number.
“The lake will never return to the phenomenal bass fishery it was back in the 1970s, but if it continues on its slow path to recovery, Kerr can become a quality bass lake again.”
Michaelson said the virus, which is not fully understood by biologists, has apparently run its course at Kerr as it has in several affected Texas lakes. First, there’s a die-off of the larger fish affected by the virus, then a gradual leveling off. Smaller bass survive and seem to develop an immunity against the virus. A return of the virus is possible but not anticipated.
Another positive sign is the abundance of threadfin shad, which are the perfect size for largemouth to feed upon. Gizzard shad have declined in numbers.
“That’s a typical pattern with forage,” said Michaelson. “When threadfin shad increase in numbers, gizzard shad usually decrease in numbers — and vice-versa.”
Bass reproduction is holding steady, but the absence of certain year-classes remains an issue. Tournament results and fish samplings indicate quality bass weighing more than four pounds are scarce.
Fishermen seeking trophy bass winter bass have to wait for more winters to pass before that opportunity arises.
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