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Oklahoma Department
of Wildlife Conservation
Contact: Gene Gilliland (405) 325-7288;
ggillokla@aol.com
- F-50-R Project 16: Comparison of striped bass egg
production and juvenile striped bass abundance between the Washita and
Red Rivers, Oklahoma. Jeff Boxrucker (405-325-7288,
jboxrucker@aol.com)
This project involves intensive egg and larval fish
netting in the rivers, seine & gillnet sampling in the reservoir. Gellen
balls are being used as egg surrogates to determine egg collection
efficiency (OU/ORFL Graduate Student Rob Ryan).
- F-50-R Project 17: Assessing the Effects of the
invasive White Perch on an existing sportfish population in Kaw
Reservoir, Oklahoma. Kurt Kuklinski (405-325-7288,
kurtkuk@prodigy.net)
This project involves intensive trapnet and gillnet
sampling in the reservoir to determine changes in relative abundance of
white perch as the population expands (?). Food habits of white perch,
white bass, and crappie are being examined to look at competitive
interactions.
- F-50-R Project 18: Using GIS to create and analyze
spatial relationships from Oklahoma angler data. Kurt Kuklinski
(405-325-7288, kurtkuk@prodigy.net)
This project is using GIS to look at angler
demographic and license buying patterns.
- F-50-R Project 19: Determining the degree of
hybridization in the smallmouth bass population of Broken Bow Reservoir
and the Mountain Fork River. Jeff Boxrucker (405-325-7288,
jboxrucker@aol.com)
- Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) is providing
$125,000 per year for experimental aquatic plant introductions that
will replace a late summer draw-down and millet seeding program that has
been in place for 8 years. GRDA is petitioning FERC for a change in the
rule curve that will allow them to maintain a more constant lake level
throughout the year. ODWC is working with the Okla. Water Resources
Board and LAERF on the project. Phase one is construction of a plant
nursery, begin the culturing of emergent species, and test plantings of
both submersed and emergent species at five sites in the reservoir.
- South
Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Contact: Wade Bales (803) 734-3932 -O,
wadeb@scdnr.state.sc.us
- Establishment of Submersed Aquatic Vegetation,
Richard B. Russell Lake
The saga continues. Surveys of plant sites late spring 2004
indicated variable growth patterns both inside and outside
exclosures. Normal rainfall arrived in June which made assessment
difficult due to turbidity and high lake elevations. Plans are to
evaluate sites in July for fence removal and follow-up plant and
fish assessment.
Contact: Wade Bales – 803-734-3932
- Crappie Exploitation Study, Lake Greenwood
An exploitation study was initiated March 1, 2004 on Lake Greenwood
to address potential excessive crappie harvest. Lake Greenwood is a
11,000 ac eutrophic impoundment of the Saluda River that is an
extremely popular crappie-fishing destination as well as host to
many crappie tournaments annually. FAST modeling indicated the
Greenwood crappie population could support a minimum size limit. The
study’s purpose is to measure exploitation, further evaluate size
limits, and to answer angler concerns about harvest impacts. Tagging
began March 1 with a target sample size of 1,000 fish; to date 24%
of tags have been returned. This study will run through March 1,
2005.
Contact: Gene Hayes – 864-223-1307
- Santee-Cooper Carp Mortality
A massive die-off of common carp in Santee-Cooper lakes
commenced spring 2004. Samples sent to Auburn indicated Columnaris
as the cause.
Contact: Scott Lamprecht – 843-825-3387
- Striped Bass Survival Study
A study to evaluate striped bass survival will commence spring
2005 on Lake Murray. The objective is to determine surivival of fish
stocked in three lake regions with multiple stocking sites within
regions. Fish are typically stocked at 5-10 sites on this 12,000 ha
reservoir at boat ramps. Fish will be evaluated at age 1-age 2 via
gill net surveys. Mitochondrial dna will be used to differentiate
stocks.
Contact: Wade Bales – 803-734-3932
- Lake Russell Trophy Striper Fishery
A few years ago DNR was approached by the National Striped Bass
Association and a local striper club about the possibility of
establishing a trophy striper fishery in Lake Russell. This
reservoir falls between Lake Hartwell and Lake Thurmond on the
Savannah River and currently is not stocked with striped bass.
Striped bass do occur in Russell from impoundment (late 1980s) and
migration from two upstream reservoirs; an extremely low-density
population exists that produced the former state record. Both GA and
SC looked into establishing a trophy fishery and determined a low
stocking rate (1-2 fish/acre) either annually or biennially coupled
with a large size limit (36 inches) and 2-fish bag limit (one under
36”) would work. We were concerned however about the Russell anglers
as Russell supports a popular bass and crappie fishery and striper
fishing is available in upstream and downstream reservoirs. To
address the anglers’ concerns, the states contracted Responsive
Management to conduct a survey of licensed anglers from GA and SC
counties that most frequented Russell based on creel surveys.
Most anglers surveyed from both states (N=624) fished Russell for
largemouth bass, crappie, and catfish. Only 12% belonged to a
fishing club and 18% had fished a tournament on Russell the past
year. Most anglers were aware stripers occurred in Russell (78%),
59% said striped bass had no impact on their fishing success, and
only 5% said striped bass had a negative impact on their fishing
success. Eighty percent supported establishing a quality striper
fishery (9% opposed) and 82% supported a one-time stocking of
striped bass for monitoring purposes (9% oppose). We felt the survey
was a positive step toward including human-dimensions data in
fisheries management decisions, and through this survey we gained
access to anglers not necessarily associated with fishing clubs.
Club anglers usually get our attention because they are organized
and easier to access. At this time we are waiting for the NSBA to
find a sponsor for legislation to establish regulations for such a
fishery on Russell.
Contact: Wade Bales – 803-734-3932
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University of
Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB)
Contact: Liz Heitman (870) 575-8116, Lheitman@uaex.edu
- Students at UAPB are engaged in two largemouth bass
projects on the Arkansas River. Elizabeth Heitman is evaluating
supplemental stockings of largemouth bass fingerlings into pools of the
river. Her first objective was to determine the contribution of 50 mm
mean TL bass stocked into pools 5 and 9 (50,000 fish each) by the
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in 2002. These fish were marked with
OTC and their contributions to the 2002 year class were determined in
fall 2002 and spring 2003. Stocked largemouth bass contributed about 10
and 13% to the 2002 year class in spring of 2003. She also found that
the mean lengths of stocked and wild fish were not significantly
different, but there was a difference in mean lengths of all 2002
year-class largemouth bass between pools.
- Elizabeth is also comparing the contribution of 50-mm
versus 100-mm fingerlings into backwater areas of Pool 4. In this study,
50-mm fingerlings were stocked into 5 backwater areas or coves at a rate
of about 300/ha, and 100-mm fingerlings were stocked into 5 other areas
at a rate of about 60/ha. Like the first objective, all of the stocked
fish were OTC marked. All of the field work has been completed, and the
contributions in the fall of 2003 and spring of 2004 will be determined.
Results to date indicate that contributions of 100-mm fingerlings in the
fall for 2 of the coves were around 15%. When completed, comparisons of
the contributions of the two sizes of largemouth will be made. For more
information on this project contact Elizabeth Heitman:
lheitman@uaex.edu
- Ben Batten is just initiating a study of largemouth
bass population characteristics in pools of the Arkansas River. He will
be quantifying growth, mortality, abundance, size structure, and
condition for largemouth bass populations in 6 pools of the river. For
more information contact Ben Batton:
bbatten@uaex.edu.
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