Movements and Habitat Use of Walleye in Watts Bar Reservoir, Tennessee River (UTKTNRIVERWAE)

The Tennessee River is the largest tributary to the Ohio River and contains multiple reservoirs formed by nine mainstem dams. Watts Bar Reservoir, the second largest reservoir in Tennessee, has an area of 39,600 acres and is a popular recreation area for anglers targeting a variety of species. In 2011, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency began stocking Walleye (Sander vitreus) into Watts Bar Reservoir. Walleye are native to the Tennessee River, but their numbers had been reduced following dam construction in the 1940s. While the stocking program has been successful at enhancing the Walleye fishery in Watts Bar, studies on the habitat use and movements of Walleye in southeastern reservoirs has been limited compared to their northern counterparts. Furthermore, it’s unknown what areas of the reservoir are used as potential thermal refuge for Walleye, a coolwater species, during the thermally stressful summer months. The objective of this study is to document the movement patterns and habitat use of Walleye throughout the year, with particular focus on (1) potential spawning habitat and site fidelity, and (2) potential summer thermal refugia.

Points of Contact

• Lisa Izzo

  UTK

  Principal Investigator