Ralph A. Fourt, Ronald D. Moore, and Carolyn Fielder, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, 2805 West Oak, Rogers, AR 72756

Abstract. Routine trapnet sampling from 1991 to 1995 and rotenone sampling from 1988 through 1993 on 80-hectare Bob Kidd Lake were evaluated. Trapnet estimates of recruitment ranged from 0 to 0.8 age 0 fish per net night. Trapnet estimates of density ranged from 1.82 to 7.2 (age 1 and over) per net-night. Rotenone sampling demonstrated massive spawns in 1989, 91, and 93, when numbers per hectare were 2,375, 1,920, and 4,797, respectively. These spawns were shown by rotenone sampling to have recruited to strong intermediate densities the following year, and to strong adult populations in subsequent years. Trapnet densities actually declined in the years following the big spawns. We conclude that neither sampling technique gave a complete picture of the crappie Pomoxis spp. population in Bob Kidd lake. Trapnets severely underestimated recruitment and density, whereas rotenone showed both to be quite high. Conversely, rotenone underestimated the proportion of fish over 250 mm in length while trapnets showed they comprised a relatively large portion of the population. Rotenone sampling proved to be more efficient in the capture of crappie at 50 per man hour compared to 1.5 per man hour for trap nets.