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TVA went sport fishing Tuesday in Chickamauga Lake, and what fish experts netted was loads of data.
With an electrofishing boat, teams of TVA fisheries biologists filled net after net with bass and crappie from Wolftever Creek during the utility’s annual spring sportfish survey.
This year’s catch will be added to 10 years of data that tracks bass and crappie numbers by species, as well as by size and general health, according to TVA fisheries biologist John Justice.
But the exercise is not just to tell ordinary anglers there are fish in water.
“These fish are apex species. They’re the top of the [aquatic] food chain, Justice said. “So if they’re healthy, that gives you an indication of the water quality.”