Kurt E. Kuklinski

Hybrid striped bass (Morone saxatilis x Morone chrysops) are commonly introduced in southeastern U.S. reservoirs to create a sport fishery and as a means of utilizing abundant shad (Dorosoma spp.) populations. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) has historically stocked the common-cross hybrid (M. saxatilis female x M. chrysops male; hereafter, common HSB) rather than the reciprocal-cross hybrid (M. saxatilis male x M. chrysops female; hereafter, reciprocal HSB). Due to concerns over downstream emigration of stocked fish from reservoirs, common HSB have mostly been...

Increasing interest in “trophy” catfish angling in Oklahoma has prompted Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) staff to collect basic biological data aimed at managing these fisheries. In light of recent studies indicating slow growth rates of reservoir blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) populations, management of trophy fisheries becomes challenging. In an effort to better understand catfish angler and harvest statistics, ODWC Law Enforcement Division personnel interviewed catfish anglers statewide to determine angling method, average angler party size and species, numbers,...

Larval threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense) collected in August trawl samples from Hugo Reservoir raised questions about the spawning potential of the parental fish population. Adult threadfin shad were collected weekly from 24 March to 25 August 1999 to determine their reproductive state. Gonadal somatic index (GSI) values for medium and large size classes increased until mid-May, and then steadily decreased. However, in spite of decreasing GSI values, mature ova (greater than 0.53 mm in diameter) were present in ovaries through mid July. It is likely that threadfin shad were capable of...