During summer, 1976, limnological and fish population data were obtained from 56 flood prevention lakes of the Trinity River watershed. Fish samples obtained by gillnetting, electrofishing, and seining indicated that the principal fishes were largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), black bullheads (Ictalurus melas), white crappie (Pomoxis annularis), green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus), channel catfish (lctalarus punctatus), golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas), and redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus). Analysis of fish data was performed by simple and multiple correlation techniques in relation to physical, limnological, and biological variables. Variation in fish biomass, as indicated by gill net catch, was explained by a combination of biological and physical characteristics, whereas species composition was a more important factor in largemouth bass models. Channel catfish characteristics, in contrast, wer.e highly affected by physical and limnological variables. Although models explaining variation in white crappie characteristics were generally imprecise, sunfish models were typically highly significant due to strong influence of physical and limnological factors. These results emphasize the need for management objectives directed toward a single species or group of species in flood prevention lakes.
