Lake Gaston Chosen for Creel Survey

On September 1, 2007, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will begin a year-long creel survey.

August 27, 2007

HALIFAX COUNTY NC NEWS -- Beginning on September 1, 2007, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will be conducting a year-long creel survey on Lake Gaston. The survey is required as part of the recently issued Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license. The license agreement calls for a creel survey to be conducted once every five years at Lake Gaston or Roanoke Rapids Lake.

Divided by the Virginia - North Carolina border, Lake Gaston is located in Halifax, Northampton and Warren Counties in North Carolina. Lake Gaston begins on the western end at Kerr Dam and ends at Roanoke Rapids Lake. Both Lakes' primary function is to produce hydroelectric power. The Roanoke Rapids Lake is the smaller of the two lakes, and was constructed in 1955, while Lake Gaston is 34 miles long with more than 350 miles of shoreline, and was constructed between 1960 and 1962.

Division of Inland Fisheries biologists and creel clerks will interview anglers fishing from boats and along the bank to gather information on:

• How often anglers fish the lake.
• The species they target.
• Their catch, harvest and release rates.
• The amount of money they spend on each trip.
• Their general opinions about the quality of fishing at the lake.

Information on the intensity and patterns of angler use will help in refining and prioritizing fisheries management objectives at Lake Gaston. Collected information will also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of size and creel limits of largemouth bass, walleye, crappie and striped bass. For more information on the creel survey on Lake Gaston, contact the Commission's Division of Inland Fisheries, (919) 707-0220.