PHOTO BY ROB MATSUURA developing “ recovery zones ” for released fish
The Major League Fishing Fisheries Management Division ( FMD ) views the live release of tournament-caught bass as an opportunity to improve fisheries . In 2024 , FMD is focusing two of our Minn Kota Habitat Restoration Projects on release site locations – or “ recovery zones ,” as we like to call them .
The bass recovery zone is a simple idea . Each will be located around a popular release site and feature dense habitat ( to attract forage fish in high numbers ) flanked by single ambush points that allow bass to escape current and hunt prey . Creating multiple recovery zones within a half mile of a release site will allow the area to support a greater density of fish and bolster recovery and dispersal of released fish .
Our first opportunity to test these new recovery zones will come during Stage One of the Bass Pro Tour season . While anglers compete on Toledo Bend , the FMD will be working with Texas Parks and Wildlife biologists , local volunteers and anglers to complete the Minn Kota Habitat Restoration Project Supported by Kubota on nearby Sam Rayburn Reservoir .
Sam Rayburn is home to Umphrey Family Pavilion , a 200-vehicle boat ramp that hosts numerous tournament weigh-ins each year . The park is located just off the dam , adjacent to an island and a small inlet creek that opens up to the main lake . Using multiple configurations of artificial cover from MossBack Fish
MLF tournament personnel load a bag of fish to a live-release boat .
Habitat , the FMD will implement the high-density habitat and ambush components needed in a recovery zone within the surrounding area .
MLF will put the recovery zone to use during Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 1 on Sam Rayburn , which runs Feb . 9-11 out of Umphrey Park . MLF ’ s Mossy Oak live release boats will release fish in the recovery zone , and we hope to immediately see the success of the project .
Habitat enhancement around “ recovery zones ” will benefit fish transported in a live-release boat .
The recovery zone project will visit another popular tournament fishery later in the season , when the FMD joins the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and the city of Eufaula , Oklahoma , to complete the Minn Kota Habitat Restoration Project supported by Humminbird in Eufaula Cove . This is part of a much larger habitat improvement plan by ODWC and the city of Eufaula , which began with habitat being donated by MLF during REDCREST 2022 and built by the Union Sportsmen ’ s Alliance ( with supplies donated by the KVD Foundation , MossBack Fish Habitat and Ferguson ). In 2023 , the city and ODWC joined forces to purchase their own habitat materials . MLF FMD , Minn Kota and Humminbird heard about the increased work on Lake Eufaula and offered to create a recovery zone . This habitat will mimic the Sam Rayburn plan and will be deployed before Bass Pro Tour Stage Four on Eufaula ( April 30-May 5 ).
These Minn Kota Habitat Restoration Projects offer a new blueprint for evolving fish care and fishery improvement practices . If they prove successful , you ’ ll likely see the MLF FMD continue to expand our reach in an effort to improve every fishery that hosts our competitions .
INFORMATION : Check out the MLF FMD microsite at MajorLeagueFishing . com to see photos and news about these recovery zone projects as they are completed .
FEBRUARY-MARCH 2024 | MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM 11