J. L. Wilson

A 1992 survey of Tennessee anglers was used to determine who is fishing and how often, the species they fish for, and how anglers perceive the regulatory structure. The results are based on telephone interviews with 450 active licensed anglers. Nearly 81% of the anglers visited a Tennessee reservoir in 1992, while 41% fished warm water streams, 28% farm ponds, and 22% trout streams. Over 60% preferred separate regulations for reservoirs. Active reservoir fishermen were more likely to support individual regulations. The participants were evenly split on whether a proposed regulation which...

Growth of introduced Stizostedion hybrids (S. vitreum x S. canadense) was examined from July 1983 to December 1985. Hybrids averaged 296 and 442 mm TL at ages 1 and 11. Condition factors (K) of hybrids increased with age, while relative weights (W,) were within the acceptable range (95-105) for all but 3 months of the first 2 years following introduction. Both condition indices decreased sharply during the spring and early summer. Reduced abundance of small shad due to winter mortality and altered predator-prey relationships during spring and early summer may seasonally impact condition of...

Of 109,675 striped bass (Morone saxatilis) stocked in June 1979 in Cherokee Reservoir, Tennessee, only 72 were recaptured. They were stocked at a mean total length of 3.5 cm and averaged 21.7 cm after I year of growth. After stocking, striped bass consumed mostly Crustacea, with Chironomidae being the primary food source for the rest of the year. Striped bass switched from invertebrates to fish (primarily Clupeidae) at 20 cm or approximately 1 year after stocking. Condition values (K) ranged from 0.8 to 1.3.

A total of 791 young-of-year white bass (Morone chrysops) from 2 East Tennessee reservoirs were examined to determine food habits and growth. An effort was made to determine when they switched from an insectivorous to a piscivorous diet. White bass in Cherokee Reservoir consumed primarily insects (Chironomidae) during their first year and in Norris Reservoir, primarily zooplankton (Cladocera). When they began consuming fish, young-of-year white bass in Cherokee Reservoir were between 2.5 and 5.0 cm in length while white bass in Norris Reservoir were between 5.0 and 7.5 cm. Numbers of fish...

Of 80,000 hybrid striped bass (Marone chrysops X Marone saxatilis) stocked in June 1980 in Cherokee Reservoir, Tennessee, only 206 were recaptured. They were stocked at a mean total length of 4.5 cm and averaged 21.5 cm after 7 months of growth. After stocking, hybrids consumed mostly Crustacea, with Chironomidae being the primary food source in fish 5.0 to 12.0 cm in length. Fish first appeared in the diet when hybrids were 5.0 cm and became more abundant as the hybrids grew larger. Condition values (K) for hybrids ranged from 0.9 to 1.2.

A study was conducted to determine if any growth rate differences occurred between two subspecies oflargemouth bass during the first 6 months ofgrowth. Two ponds near Lenoir City, Tennessee, were partitioned into equal halves by a nylon fish barrier. Northern strain fingerlings (Micropterus salmoides salmoides) were stocked in one side of each pond and Florida bass (M. s.jloridanus) in the other sides. Micropterus salmoides salmoides showed a significantly faster rate of growth (1.0% level) than M. s. jloridanus. Mean coefficients of condition (K) and specific growth rates (G) were...