N. J. Brown-Peterson

Habitat, Accessibility, and Watershed Variables as They Relate to Largemouth Bass and Bluegiii in Mississippi's National Forest Impoundments

Small watershed impoundments provide the principal recreational fishing opportunities within national forests in Mississippi. Relative abundance and stock structure of bluegiii (Lepomis macrochirus) and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) were assessed by electrofishing 18 national forest impoundments during spring 1990, autumn 1990, and spring 1991. There were no significant yearto- year or seasonal differences in catch per unit effort (CPUE) or proportional stock density (PSD) for either species. Mean CPUE for stock-size largemouth bass (total length ≥ 200 mm) ranged from 8.2 to 9.7...