Attraction of Native Fish to Catfish Culture Cages in Reservoirs

Experimental gill nets were fished at sites with and without cages in which catfish were fed pelletoo feed in lakes Hartwell and Keowee, South Carolina, during 1972, 1973, and 1974. Native fishes were indentified, counted, and weighed. Of34 species captured in the two lakes the most numerous were threadfin and gizzard shad, carp, bullhead species, white bass. bluegill, and largemouth bass. Total numbers of fish caught in each lake were greater at cage sites than at control sites after stocking cages. and total weight of fish caught in Lake Keowee was greater at cage sites than at control sites after stocking the cages and for the overall experiment, but not before stocking.