Federal Aid to Fish Restoration Annual Performance Report, Man-Made Lakes Fisheries Investigations, 1975b

(1975) Federal Aid to Fish Restoration Annual Performance Report, Man-Made Lakes Fisheries Investigations, 1975b. Natural Resources, Department of

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Abstract

Catch statistics in 1973 showed 3,861 anglers fished 9,528 hours and caught 3,857 fish, of which 1,410 were channel catfish. Fishing success was .14 catfish per hour. Mean lengths of the 1971 and 1972 sub-populations in October, 1973 were 420 mm (16.5 in) and 327 mm (12.9 in). Cage cultured fish in 1973 were released at a mean length of 237 mm (9.3 in). Mean body condition in October for the 1971 group was .74 compared to .83 for the 1972 sub-population. Released channel catfish had mean body condition of .82. There was a general decline in body plumpness after release. By October, 1973, the estimated standing stock of released catfish was 830 kg (1,820lbs), Food habit studies showed channel catfish consumed mainly insects with dipteran larvae most numerous in the stomach samples, but waste from cage culture was found in 30% of the stomachs. Fish remains were found in larger fish and the sample from the 1971 sub-population showed 80% of the catfish stomachs contained fish remains.