Michael A. Eggleton

We explored whether increased river flows negatively affected growth of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) in the lower Ouachita River, Arkansas. To test this hypothesis, largemouth bass (n = 460) were collected during 2008-2010 from the Felsenthal Reservoir region of the river. Largemouth bass were aged and annual growth increments were calculated using standard back-calculation techniques. Growth of largemouth bass was relatively rapid in the Ouachita River, with von Bertalanffy growth model parameters determined as L_∞ = 513 mm, K = 0.324, and t_ο = -0.314;...

The objectives of this study were to quantify ageing precision for largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and spotted bass (M. punctulatus), and to evaluate the effect of ageing errors on the estimation of common fisheries metrics. Sagittal otoliths were extracted from 2164 largemouth bass and 738 spotted bass collected from throughout the Arkansas River, Arkansas. Largemouth bass collections occurred during 2004, 2005, and 2010; spotted bass collections were limited to 2004 and 2005. Annuli were counted by two independent readers from digital images of each whole otolith. For individuals...

Despite its importance to anglers, the Arkansas River spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus) fishery has not been intensively studied or managed. Thus, spotted bass populations in the lower nine navigation pools of the Arkansas River were assessed during 2004-2005 using nighttime boatmounted electrofishing. Across years and pools, size structure measures were within acceptable ranges for black basses (mean PSDQ = 38, range 21-56; mean PSDP = 10, range 0-19). Theoretical maximum sizes generated from growth models were not large for spotted bass (mean L∞ = 395 mm TL, range 351-429 mm...

Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) on the Arkansas River have been regulated by a 381-mm minimum-length limit (MLL) regulation since 1 January 1998; however, little evaluation of this regulation has been conducted. During 2004-2005 and 2010, largemouth bass populations were sampled from throughout all navigation pools in the Arkansas River. All bass were aged using sagittal otoliths, and population metrics were calculated to conduct simulation modeling using the Fisheries Analyses and Simulation Tools (FAST) software. Composite model parameters were developed using data from all 3...

The Arkansas River largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) fishery has not been intensively managed or studied, especially downstream of Lake Dardanelle. Recent issues that have potentially affected the fishery necessitated a comprehensive assessment of populations throughout the entire Arkansas portion of the river. During 2004-2005, largemouth bass populations were assessed in all 11 Arkansas navigation pools of the river using boat-mounted, nighttime electrofishing. Populations were young with 94% of the individuals consisting of ages 1-4. Across years and pools, size structure...

Compared to reservoirs and small impoundments, sport fisheries management infrequently has been attempted in large-river systems. In river systems of the southeastern United States, black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) and white crappie (P. annularis) represent popular sport fisheries in floodplain lakes and other off-channel habitats. Using floodplain lakes in the lower White River, Arkansas as a study area, crappie population data from 16 representative lakes were used to define basic stock structure statistics and evaluate whether minimum-length limits could potentially improve...

Historically, limited information has been available for largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) fisheries in the Arkansas River downstream of Lake Dardanelle. The objectives of this research were to characterize angler effort, catch, and harvest in the lower Arkansas River for both recreational and competitive tournament anglers and to assess potential impacts of competitive tournaments on Arkansas River largemouth bass fisheries. In October 2007, a 12-month tag-reward study and bus-route creel survey were initiated to generate catch, harvest, and effort statistics for the largemouth...

Fish communities were sampled from macrotopographical features found in created wetlands of different ages (termed young, old, and reference) designed by the Wetland Reserve Program in three counties in east-central Arkansas. Wetlands were sampled from March-June 2003 using mini modified-fyke nets and experimental gill nets in pool and ditch habitats. A total of 8,952 fishes representing 49 species was collected. Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated no significant differences in fish diversity or evenness between different-aged wetlands in pool habitats; a significant...