INTRODUCTION Over the last 45 years, largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides have been introduced to Upper Klamath and Agency lakes from several sources, but apparently have not become established. During the late 1930s, the Oregon State Game Commission released largemouth bass, crappie Pomoxis spp. f and yellow perch Perca Flavescens into the lakes (Gerlach 1965). These fish were salvaged from Sauvie Island, Oregon. within the watershed above Upper Klamath Lake, fisheries for largemouth bass occur in the Sprague River, Obenchain Reservoirr Campbell Reservoir, and Lake of the Woods (Figure 1)* Largemouth bass could move out of these waters and migrate into Upper Klamath Lake. Lewis et al. (1968) found that a large number of largemouth bass may move out of lakes during spring. In 1984, the Klamath Bassmasters, a bass club in Klamath Falls, Oregon, requested that the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) investigate the possibility of establishing largemouth bass in Upper Klamath and Agency lakes. A study originated from that request and was carried out during the summer and fall of 1984- Objectives of the study were to (1) determine if largemouth bass were present in Upper Klamath and Agency lakes, (2) determine what environmental factors potentially limit largemouth bass production in both bodies of water, and (3) determine the potential effect of increased production of largemouth bass on indigenous fishes. 1
ill., maps; "March 1991."; Includes bibliographical references (p. 22-23)