Harold L. Schramm, Jr.

Studies conducted during the last 30 years have identified benefits and adverse impacts and have documented increased frequency of fishing tournaments. This study used information provided by state fisheries management agency administrators to measure the frequency of black bass (Micropterus spp.) tournaments in southeastern states and assessed how reported changes in tournament frequency have impacted fisheries management. The average annual number of black bass tournaments reported by 14 southeastern states for 2009-2011 was 41,939, which was a 124% increase from the average annual...

Largemouth bass virus (LMBV), a recently identified pathogen, affected largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) in the southeastern United States beginning in the 1990s. Concern about the impacts of this little-known pathogen on largemouth bass populations, effects on fisheries management, and the need to provide anglers and the media with consistent and accurate information prompted a private organization (Bass Anglers Sportsman Society) to invite managers and researchers from state and federal agencies and universities to a series of five annual public workshops beginning in 2000. These...

We evaluated voluntarily completed catch cards as an alternative to access point surveys at intensively managed state-owned fishing lakes in Mississippi. Catch cards, with signs encouraging participation and completion, were conspicuously available to anglers. Five percent of anglers voluntarily completed catch cards; response rate increased to 13% when agency personnel verbally requested participation in the catch card program from those anglers they encountered on-site. Anglers who voluntarily obtained and completed cards (respondents) were older, fished more often, and caught more fish...

Lake Tanglewood, Texas, is a eutrophic reservoir with an excessively abundant gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum population comprised of primarily large individuals (>180 mm total length [TL]). Fingerling (40 mm TL) hybrid striped bass (Morone saxatilis x M. chrysops) were stocked at high rates in 1992 (490/ha) and 1993 (245/ha) to restructure the gizzard shad population. Small gizzard shad (<180 mm TL) declined in abundance 1 year after hybrid striped bass were introduced, presumably as a result of hybrid striped bass predation. With reduced recruitment, large gizzard shad abundance...

Buffalo Springs Reservoir is highly eutrophic with a dense population of large gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) and limited production of young gizzard shad. Fingerling (40 mm total length) striped bass (Morone saxatilis) were stocked into Buffalo Springs Reservoir in 1992 and 1993 at a rate of 550/ha to restructure the gizzard shad population. Three to 4 years after these stockings, density of large gizzard shad declined and a strong gizzard shad year class was produced. White crappie (Pomoxis annularis) recruitment paralleled gizzard shad recruitment. White crappie growth declined...

Triploid grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) were stocked at densities of 25 (low), 50 (medium), and 75 (high) fish/vegetated hectare into 9 0.16- to 2.83-ha Texas panhandle ponds to evaluate stocking densities that may reduce, but not eradicate, submersed aquatic macrophytes. Prior to stocking, the ponds had 50%-100% areal coverage of macrophytes. The macrophyte communities included Chara sp., Ceratophyllum demersum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Najas guadalupensis, and Potamogeton spp. The high stocking density eliminated macrophytes in ≤ 13 months. Low stocking densities did not reduce areal...

A landlocked population of blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis) was established in 1982 in Lake Theo, Texas, and persisted for 7 years. Analysis of scales provided inaccurate ages for fish older than age 1. Analysis of otoliths provided valid ages of blueback herring, but protracted formation of annuli on otoliths limited the use of otoliths for back-calculating lengths of these fish. Fish in this landlocked population attained maximum total lengths of 240 mm, lived 2 years, and spawned only once. The disappearance of blueback herring in Lake Theo was attributed to their short life cycle...

Angler surveys were conducted at 18 lakes in municipal parks during JuneDecember 1987. Anglers < 16 years old were the largest proportion of the participants. Of the anglers surveyed, 93% were residents of Lubbock. They averaged 6.9 fishing trips per month and fishing frequency differed among age groups and between summer and fall. Resident anglers travelled an average of 4.7 km to fish; distance travelled differed among age groups and between summer and fall. Anglers preferred to catch catfish (Ictalurus spp., 79% of anglers) and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides, 72%). Fishes...

Differences in growth rates between sexes were compared for Florida largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides floridanus) from 5 north-central Florida lakes using lengths back-calculated for the most recently formed annulus on otoliths. Growing rates of Ages 1-6 fish differed between sexes in all lakes. Males were larger than females before Age 1 in 3 of the 5 populations, but by Age 2 females were larger than males in all lakes. Female fish were larger than male fish of the same age when the females attained total lengths of from 243 to 292 mm. Based on the samples collected, female Florida...

The scale method and length-frequency analysis were not adequate for accurately aging and measuring growth rate of black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) collected in Florida. Black crappie otoliths (sagittae) showed clearly recognizable: bands in whole view, suggesting possible use of otoliths to age black crappie. Otoliths satisfied necessary criteria for validating aging structures: growth was proportional to black crappie growth, annuli formed in the spring, and back-calculated lengths agreed with lengths for age-classes estimated from length-frequency analysis. We consider otoliths...