Charles R. Drumright, Christopher J. O'Bara, and Michael A. Eggleton, Center for the Management, Utilization and Protection of Water Resources, Tennessee Technological University, PO Box 5033, Cookeville, TN 38505

Abstract. Recent studies of aquatic systems often include a larval fish component. There are several types of gear that can be used in larval fish evaluations. These gear types fall into two general categories; passive, such as light traps and drift nets, and active, larval tows (Gregory and Powles 1988). Each gear type has inherit advantages and disadvantages associated with its application. Light traps are devices that use either a chemical or electric light source to attract larval fish. Designs for light traps vary, but usually consist of a central light source surrounded by plexiglass with slits wide enough to allow passage of zooplankton and larval fish. Larval tow samples typically use a plankton net towed or pushed by a specially fitted boat to sample larval fish in open water. Larval tow and light trap samples were taken concurrently for three years from Chickamauga Reservoir, Tennessee. Data obtained by each method were compared. The utilization of these sample gears to ascertain key features of larval fish dynamics, such as first appearance and peak abundance of target species, was evaluated over the three-year period. A community analysis was performed on the data to highlight differences in the communities sampled. Light trap data proved much more variable over the course of the study, possibly due in part to the smaller sample size. Larval tows, while more labor intensive, provided less variability and consistency in data points. Community assemblages between gears was similar.