Big Indiana Bass

An interesting piece of research recently published had a different perspective on a traditional habitat approach. Evaluating the Effectiveness of Grassbed Treatments as Habitat for Juvenile Black Bass in a Drawdown Reservoir by Ratcliff, et al. looked not at how planted habitat benefitted adult fish or forage, but instead how well it could attract juvenile fish when properly arranged. Fluctuating water levels, especially during or after the spawn are believed to be a big contributor to poor year classes, partly due to lack of cover options (vulnerability) and feeding oportunities for YOY and juvenile fish.

In the above study, researchers placed man-made grassbeds at strategic elevations so that regradless of water level, some cover was always available. They compared this to no cover as well as planted natural grassbeds whose appeal might be partially determined by existing water levels at any given point. Turned out the artificial grassbeds were about 230 times more attractive than no cover and significantly more utilized (4X) than even natural grassbeds.

How do you make an artificial grassbed?

"Artificial habitat treatments, constructed of polypropylene rope and artificial lawn (Astroturf), were placed in 15-m2 patches (335 m) at each site. Each artificial grass habitat patch was composed of 15 units made of 1-m2 pieces of Astroturf wired to a welded rebar frame on the perimeter. Artificial stems were created by attaching 195 sections of yellow, three-strand polypropylene rope (20–25 cm long, 1.5-cm diameter) through small holes in the Astroturf. These rope sections were knotted on both sides of the hole and were unwound above the Astroturf to mimic grass. The number and length of stems per unit were based on previous measurements from planted grass treatments."