Effect Of Striped Bass Predation On An Oklahoma Trout Fishery

A creel survey was conducted on the lower Illinois River, Oklahoma, during 1977. Striped bass (Marone saxatilis) were also collected for food habit information and their relative abundance was noted. Striped bass predation on rainbow trout (Sa/rna gairdnen) occurred only at the downstream sampling site and only for the I-week period following trout stocking. Trout made up 40% of the food items of these striped bass within I week after trout stocking. The trout fishery of the lower Illinois River has declined in overall intensity since J965, particularly in the downstream reaches. However, the warm-water fishery, particularly for striped bass, has increased dramatically.