SMALLMOUTH BASS REPORT: LAKE Co-ordinates 44º 58’ N 64º 28’ W Surface Area: N/A Max. Depth: 6 m* County: Kings * Dependant on water height

Water Clarity: 36 TCU Shoreline Length: N/A Recreational traffic: Moderate

0 100 Summary

From 1995 to present, a total of 1378 tourna- ment-caught smallmouth bass were sampled. Mean length of tournament smallmouth was 30.6cm (12 in). Bass over 35.5cm (14 in) represented 17% of the sample while bass over 45.5cm (18 in) represented only 3% of the sample. These values are heavily influenced by the mid-1990’s and bass in recent years are considerably longer. Mean yearly length from years 1995 to 1999 averaged 30.1 cm (11.9 in) and varied only 3.8 cm (1.5 in) while in 2004 and 2006 mean yearly length was considerably longer averaging 37.5 cm (14.8 in)

with similar variance (3.3 cm or 1.3 in). The trend of Photo: M. Dodge increasing length in recent years was significant. An angler displays a fine pair of Mean condition (Wr = 76) and growth in Little River Little River Lake smallmouth Lake is similar to that of other Nova Scotia lakes. Bass in Little River Lake reach 25.4cm (10 in) and 35.5cm (14 in) after 5 and 9 years, respectively. Canal from The average 5-bass bag limit required to win a tournament on Little River Trout River Lake is 4.8 kgs (10.5 lbs) and the average tournament lunker is 1.6 kgs (3.6 lbs). Pond Autumn bass tournaments produced larger winning weights than mid-summer tournaments.

Canal to General Information Methals Smallmouth bass were first introduced to Little River Lake in 1967 as part of a sanctioned introduction by the then NS Department of Lands and For- ests, Federal Fisheries (DFO) and Nova Scotia Light and Power Co. and has since become one of the most popular destinations for smallmouth bass angling in N 1 km Nova Scotia (McNeill 1995). While a fair number of cottages dot the shoreline of Little River Lake, public access is restricted to two areas. Anglers can launch a boat at the Methals Lake hydro dam and enter Little River Lake via the canal. This route is the most popular. A second launch directly on Little River Lake exists through a series of woods roads (Butler’s Road) originating from Hwy #12 between Forest Home and Murphy Lake. The land surrounding the lake is dominated primarily by granite overlain by thin, nutrient-poor and acidic soils. Many large glacially-deposited granite boulders are strewn across the lake and surrounding areas and can make navigation dangerous. The forest sur- rounding Little River Lake is dominated primarily by red spruce, white pine, hemlock, sugar maple and white birch. The Southern half of the lake is primarily less than 2 m (6 ft) deep while the North- ern end of the lake is generally deeper with a large area greater than 4 m (13 ft) deep, includ- ing a 6 m (20 ft) hole.

Nova Scotia Dept. of Fisheries and Aquaculture Last updated: July 2008 Nova ScotiaDept. of Fi ning weight. from 2005to2008. Each pointrepresents atournament win- Figure 3 median Bluelineindicates sent values. smallmouthCentre bass. ofboxesrepre- Figure 1 Total Length (cm)

20 30 40 50 60 (18 inches)!” 45.5cm longer than weighed-in were Smallmouth Bass ofall 3% tournament data, historical “Based on Weight of Lunker (kg) Weight of 5-bass limit (kg) — Weight ofwinning5-bass— tournament limits bag R-Sq=0.98, P=0.00 —Length oftournament-caught (146) 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 34567 2005 2003 2001 1999 1997 1995 (278) (482) 0420 0620 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 (342) (18) sheries and Aquaculture Aquaculture sheries and Year Change in Mean Length over Time Year Year year. bass varied significantly from yearto tournament of Length 2006. in in) cm (15.4 toof 39.2 in a high 1995 in) varied fromlow of a 28.1 cm (11.1 length of tournament angled bass averaged 24%. 2006 & 2004 years the while 2% averaged to 1998 years 1995 the in (18 in). The proportion of bass >45.5 45.5cm than 3% were longer and in) (16 40.5cm than longer 7% were in), 17% were longer than 35.5cm (14 all tournament caught bass sampled, were smaller than 30.5cm (12in). Of tian lakes, 57% oftournament bass NS Mean Winning Weight Winning Mean NS NS Mean Lunker Weight Lunker Mean NS many tournaments. in size permitted minimum the 6)(49) (63) Little River Lake For example, for theperiod In anygiven year, themean Similarmany to Nova Sco-

12345 579 1215 LengthofLittleRiver LakeBass Lake was 4.77 was Lake Little River a tournament on to win required limit 5-bass age weight of a aver- the 2004, in initiated porting was tournament re- comprehensive 23cm (9in) – mouth over small- 1378 calculated from (S.E.= 0.16) as cm (12.0 in) 30.6 was 2006 from 1995 to weigh-in scales tournament bass broughtto smallmouth River Lake Little of length average The Since “Protecting, Conserving and Enhancing Nova Scotia’s Fishery Resources” Resources” Fishery Scotia’s Nova and “Protecting, Conserving Enhancing bass was 1.61kgs (3.6 lbs) tournament-winning lunker ment. Themeansizeof bass weighed in at atourna- largest isthe single lunker (7.38 lbs) for 5 bass. A tournament was 3.35 kgs in the top 5 of any given finish to required weight the ( lbs) -bass bagwas 6.59(14.5 kgs kgs (10.5 lbs). Thelargest 5 time (R increased significantly over period. Mean length has size structure over thattime ing a change in population nificantly different indicat- periodswere however sig- HSD, P=0.14). These two nificantly differ (Tukey 2004 and 2006 did not sig- HSD, P>0.05) andagain from one another (Tukey bass did not generally differ caught tournament of length of 1995through 1999the having significantly longer longer significantly having recent years(2004and 2006) Tournament Results

Frequency Frequency Frequency

Figure 3 Figure 051015 02040 02040 03 050 40 30 20 50 40 30 20 50 40 30 20 2 =0.98, P=0.00) with Length (cm) Length (cm) Length (cm) 2006 1998 1995 ). On average, average, On ). N=342 N=146 N=49

Frequency Frequency

051015 02040 03 050 40 30 20 50 40 30 20 y-scale change1998—1999. ment caughtsmallmout Figure 2 Length (cm) Length (cm)

1999 1996 of data for 2000 to 2003. to2003. 2000 data for of lack the and 1999 in sample small a relatively of result is not obvious, potentially a 2 length frequencies( a cohort.Based onthe growth of individuals within substantial allowed have 90’s and mid-2000’s should late yearsthe between 5-7 The to this trend. contributed the population may have strong yearclasses through September being the highest. in weights with P=0.03) ( bass than previous years significantly (R tournament also increased a win to required weight the yearprogresses, the As lbs). (4.0 1.81 kgs was bass) 1717 of (out lunker largest single the while Figure 1 ), the movement of acohort —Length frequencies oftourna- N=278 N=18 Movement of

Frequency Frequency ).

051015 02040 03 050 40 30 20 50 40 30 20 h bass. Please note h bass. Length (cm) Length (cm) 2004 1997 Page 2 N=482 2 N=63 Figure =0.41,

Little River Lake Page 3

Smallmouth Growth in Little River Lake

Nova Scotia lies at captured in tourna-

NS Mean Length at Age the Northerly end of the ments (ages 1, 2 and smallmouth’s range and thus 3 years) tend to grow NS bass exhibit slower slower than the North growth than other parts of American average North America. Additionally, (Dunlop 2004). Bass lakes in Nova Scotia tend to in Little River Lake be less productive than else- grow to 25.4cm (10 where. In previous studies, in) after 5 years,

Total (cm) Length MacMillan et al. (2002) indi- 30.5cm (12 in) after 7 cated that Little River Lake years and to 35.5cm exhibited considerably slower (14 in) after 9 years. growth when compared to the Large specimens are (21) (24) (39) (16) (8) (9) (1) Photo: M. Dodge 0 102030405060 (11) (29) (36) (19) (7) (12) (3) provincial average though notoriously difficult recent data suggest that to age however bass 0 123456789 5 10 111315 12 14 15 16 growth is near the provincial as old as 16 years Age mean (Figure 4). Similarly, have been sampled in young smallmouth not often Little River Lake. Figure 4 — Length at age for Little River Lake bass. Centre of the boxes represents the median values. Sample size in (). “It takes 6-7 years for a Little Relative Weight River Lake Bass The weight of bass These values are close weight is affected by food supply to reach 30cm increases with length. Using this to the Nova Scotia mean of 77, and competition from other preda- (12”) while a relationship the relative weight, yet low when compared to bass tors. Varying rates of juvenile 50cm (20”) bass or “plumpness” of individual in New Brunswick and alewife production in Little River may be 16 years bass may be assessed. On aver- or the North American average Lake and in lakes upstream in the of age or age, the relative weight of small- of 100. watershed may affect smallmouth mouth from Little River Lake is The relative weight of relative weight at the population older !” 76.4 (S.E. = 0.24, N=1341). Little River Lake bass appears level. Yearly mean relative weights to have decreased since the ranged from a high of 79.7 in mid-1990’s however this re- 1995 to a low of 70.9 in 2004 duction is not significant R-Sq=0.36, P=0.16 Change in Relative Weight over Time 2 (Figure 5). (R =0.36, P=0.15). Relative

Common Prey and Competitor

Several fish species bass while aquatic plants, system inhabit Little River Lake stumps and logs provide (although including brook trout, white ample insect production. variable) Weight Relative perch, yellow perch, brown The fall migration of juve- presumably bullhead, American eel and nile alewife through the provides a alewife (gaspereau). Little large (352) (385) River Lake is shallow and influx of (169) (541) (18) (39) (49) has extensive littoral zones baitfish. 40 60 80 100 120 conducive with baitfish pro- 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 duction. Mice, frogs and Year other amphibians also likely Alewife (Gaspereau) Figure 5 — Relative weight of tournament-caught smallmouth from fall prey to Little River Lake 1995 to 2006. Blue line represents trend. Sample size in (). Centre of boxed represents median values.

Nova Scotia Dept. of Fisheries and Aquaculture “Protecting, Conserving and Enhancing Nova Scotia’s Fishery Resources” Bass Fishing Tips Little River Lake holds fish through- Nesting out with productive areas spread out across the lake. The abundant wood, rock and vegetation Nesting in Little River Lake is provide ideal bass cover. slightly different than many Nova Sco- Fishing in the spring is primarily tian lakes in the fact that the lake is a associated with bass as they prepare to spawn. hydroelectric impoundment. Bass nest in Smallmouth in this lake will often stage in the sheltered coves and shallow points often deepest available area adjacent to their pre- associated with woody debris. The actual Photo:s J. Leblanc ferred spawning site. Soft plastic jerkbaits, location of nesting may be impacted by topwater lures and spinnerbaits will all catch fluctuating water levels. spring bass. As the lily pads emerge in late Also, because the water in Little River June topwater fishing becomes an effective Lake is rather dark, bass often build their and exciting method. While floating lures will nests shallow as the lack of clarity offers attract bass all summer long at the appropriate protection from visual predators. Fur- times, soft plastic baits become the preferred thermore, dark water absorbs more en- lure. In particular, soft plastic “stick baits”, ergy from the sun than does clear water jerkbaits, worms and lizards are effective. Bait color depends on the time of year though in and often warms faster than clear lakes, Typical wood and rock cover in Little River reaching the 12.8 ºC necessary for nest Lake exposed by low water (above), and a general brown and black works well in the building, earlier in the spring (Scott and typical NS bass nest associated with wood spring and green, purple and black are great Crossman 1973). summertime and fall baits.

Angling Regulations April 1st to December 31st. From April 1st to June 30th, no smallmouth bass may be retained to protect spawning bass. st Current regulations for smallmouth From July 1 to the end of season, anglers are permitted to bass in Little River Lake are designed for retain three (3) smallmouth bass with a maximum length of trophy management. As such, anglers are 35 cm (13.8 in). For additional information, please refer to permitted to angle smallmouth bass from the Angler’s Handbook. Photo:: J. Leblanc J.Photo:: Leblanc

Report compiled by: References: E. A. Halfyard (Fisheries Biologist) Davis, D. and S. Browne (eds). 1997. The natural history of Nova Scotia—Theme Regions. Nimbus—Nova Scotia Museum. Halifax, NS. 304 p.

Dunlop, E.S. and B.J. Shuter. 2004. Native and introduced populations of smallmouth bass For more information, contact: differ in concordance between climate and somatic growth. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 135: 1175-1190. Warmwater Fisheries Biologist Jason LeBlanc MacMillan, J. L., A.J. MacNeill, R.G. Heighton and M.S. Ridgeway. 2002. Life history [email protected] characteristics of smallmouth bass populations in Nova Scotia based on tournament monitor- 902-485-7029 ing. Black bass: ecology, conservation and assessment. American Fisheries Society sym- posium. 31 pp. 535-544.

McNeill, A.J. 1995. An overview of the smallmouth bass n Nova Scotia. N. A. J. Fish. Mgmt. 15: 680-687.

Scott, W.B. and E. J. Crossman. 1973. Freshwater fishes of Canada. Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Environment Canada. Bulletin 184. 966 p. Fisheries and Aquaculture

Inland Fisheries Division Acknowledgements: P.O. Box 700, We wish to thank members of the Annapolis Valley Bass Club, the Cana- Pictou Nova Scotia, B0K-1H0 dian Association of Smallmouth Anglers and Nova Bassmasters. Also, a Phone: 902-485-5056 special thank you to Ralph Heighton who conducted much of the tourna- Fax: 902-485-4014 ment sampling and provided reliable aging of scale samples and to Nova http://www.gov.ns.ca/fish/ Scotia Power for their support of recreational angling and research pro- jects in this region.

Nova Scotia Dept. of Fisheries and Aquaculture Last updated: July 2008