J. Warren Schlechte

We used biotelemetry to monitor monthly adult white crappie locations and core-use-area sizes at Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) and Waco reservoirs in Texas over two 6-month periods (December 2000-May 2001 and November 2001-April 2002) and tested whether deploying trap nets at sites near known fish locations and at similar sites predicted to contain fish would result in increased trap-net catch per effort compared to randomly selected sites. No evidence suggested crappie preferred different depths depending upon the time of year in LBJ or Waco reservoirs. We observed fish further from shore in...

We assessed the economic contribution of black bass tournament angling to the total economic value of the black bass (Micropterus spp.) fishery from 1 March 2001 to 28 February 2002 at O. H. Ivie Reservoir, Texas, a popular black bass tournament reservoir in rural west Texas. Creel surveys and mail-out questionnaires were used to estimate number of black bass tournaments, black bass tournament and non-tournament angling effort, and direct angling expenditures. An estimated 147 black bass tournaments were held on the reservoir during the study period. Despite the high number of tournaments...

We compared relative abundance, size distribution, growth, and harvest of bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) before and after implementation of a 178-mm minimum length limit at 144-ha Purtis Creek State Park Lake (PCSPL), Texas. Relative abundance [catch/hour of electrofishing (CPUE)] was significantly lower in post-regulation years (1993-1995, 243/hour) than in pre-regulation years (1990-1992, 520/hour). However, this decline was likely more attributed to recruitment patterns than to regulation effects. There was no significant difference (P = 0.18) between pre- and post-regulation bluegill...

Growth, survival, and catchability of non-native coppernose bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus purpurescens) were compared to that of common bluegill (L. macrochirus) from East (Neches River system) and West (Rio Grande system) Texas populations. The 3 types of bluegills were stocked together (each identifiable by coded-wire tags) into 4 0.25- ha hatchery ponds. Bluegill types were evaluated with and without an established fish community present at age 1 and 2. Coppernose bluegill were larger (i.e., length and weight) than East or West Texas bluegills, regardles of fish community presence....

We estimated the accuracy of field identification of white bass (Morone chrysops) and palmetto bass (M. chrysops X M. saxatilis) by Texas fisheries workers and evaluated the reliability of meristic and morphometric characteristics commonly used to differentiate between these 2 fishes. Electrophoretic and isoelectric focusing analyses of diagnostic proteins were used to verify the fisheries workers' identification of fish (1,087) sampled from 16 reservoirs thoughout Texas. Overall, accuracy of field identification was high and fisheries workers correctly identified all sampled white bass;...

Some anglers have questioned Texas’ statewide one-a-day alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula) regulation. Simulations suggested other regulations might be preferred; however, angler support for other regulations was unknown. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) administered an online survey in summer 2018 to measure attitudes and preferences of Texas alligator gar anglers. Respondents who fished for alligator gar (n = 3980) were primarily Texas resident anglers; 68% fished for gar using a rod-and-reel, but 23% used bow-and-arrow. Most anglers supported using...