John W. Kauffman, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, 900 Natural Resource Dr. Suite 1160, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903; Voice 804-296-4731; FAX 804-979-0927;
E-Mail jkauffman@dgif.state.va.us

Keywords: largemouth, bluegill, crappie, population structure, population indices

From 1993 to 1997 170 small impoundments (<500 acres) were sampled by electrofishing to determine catch rates and population structural indices (e.g. PSD, Wr) for largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)and black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) populations. The 25, 50 and 75 percentile values were computed for each parameter. Regional differences were examined. The Coastal Plain had lower cpue's for bass than the Piedmont but higher PSD and RSD-P. Lowest largemouth PSD and RSD-P medians were in the Ridge and Valley Province. The Piedmont had the highest bluegill stock and quality CPUE but minimal differences between the provinces for PSD. Intraspecific correlations were examined; stock and quality cpue, quality and preferred CPUE and PSD and RSD-P were correlated for bluegill and bass respectively. Largemouth bass structural indices were not correlated with any parameter of bluegill catch rates or structural indices. Bluegill populations with a PSD or less than 20 were correlated with largemouth stock and quality cpue. Bluegill and largemouth population structure and catch rates were generally independent of each other.