Assessing the spawning movement and habitat needs in Utah

Limited information is available about the movements of riverine smallmouth bass in landscapes with prevalent river-reservoir interfaces. This lack of information is especially problematic for the Neosho subspecies of smallmouth bass given the distribution covers an interwoven landscape of rivers and reservoirs. This research focuses on the movement and habitat use of the Neosho smallmouth bass with an emphasis on the reproductive and juvenile development periods. Project results could identify areas across the landscape that contribute substantially to reproduction and recruitment. Identifying the environmental conditions that support high yield could aid decision-based protective regulations or enhancements, as needed, by the management agencies.