Michael W. Brice

One hundred and seventy-six trophy-size (?3.6 kg) largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), entered into a privately-sponsored catch-and-release program at Caddo Lake, Texas/Louisiana, were tagged and monitored to assess angler recapture rates, genetic composition, and their distribution within the lake. All largemouth bass program entries were scanned for tags to determine angler recapture rates over a 4-year period. Blood samples were obtained from initial entries and used to determine genetic composition using random amplified polymorphic DNA testing. Genetic data were used to evaluate...

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...