Supplemental Stocking of Crappie in Lake Chicot, AR

	Texas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society

From the 2000 Joint Meeting of the Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas Chapters of the American Fisheries Society held in Bossier City, Louisiana.

Supplemental Stocking of Crappie in Lake Chicot, AR

Racey, C. L., Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, AR 71611

The populations of black (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) and white (P. annularis) crappie in Lake Chicot, AR appear to have remained stable in recent years. However, the perception of the fishing public and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) is a distinct decline in the crappie population. The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and AGFC have initiated a fingerling stocking program in Lake Chicot. Approximately 133,600 white crappie from the Joe Hogan State Fish Hatchery in Lonoke, AR and 6300 white crappie from ponds in Lake Village, AR were released in November and December of 1998. Another stocking of white crappie fingerlings is planned for late fall of 1999. All crappie will be marked with oxytetracycline prior to release. Trap nets will be used to sample the population at periodic intervals. Although fingerlings are not completely recruited to this gear type, the catch per net night is a reasonable means of assessing changes in relative abundance, short-term survival and overall contribution of stocked crappie to the population.

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