C. F. Rabeni

Gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) were introduced into an 83-ha public fishing lake in central Missouri in an attempt to improve populations of high density, slow growing largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), white crappie (Pomoxis annularis), and bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus). A 380-mm length limit on largemouth bass was introduced at the same time. Growth rates of both bass and crappie increased. The annual catch of largemouth bass increased from 80 per hectare to 212 per hectare after gizzard shad were introduced, and that of white crappie from < 5 kg per hectare to 27 kg per...

We compared electrofishing and underwater observations as different methods for estimating population characteristics of centrarchids in a medium-sized warmwater stream in Missouri. We evaluated how well each method determined length-frequency distribution of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui), rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris), and longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis). Underwater observation was the more accurate technique, producing length-frequencies more typical of a catch curve. When compared to underwater observations, electrofishing sampled the largest size class of fish...