Richard A. Horton

A network of cooperating taxidermists provided liver samples for phenotypic determination and scale samples for age and growth analysis of trophy largemouth bass (≥3.6 kg). This network provided data not available through standardized sampling methods. Two hundred fifty-one samples were received from 34 lakes over a 6-year period. Ninety-three percent of these bass contained Florida largemouth bass alleles. Florida largemouth bass and Fl hybrids were generally longer and heavier than northern largemouth bass or Fx phenotypes. Florida largemouth bass had significantly faster mean growth...

Walleye (Stizostedion vitreum vitreum) x sauger (S. canadense) hybrids (saugeye) and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) ≥350 mm total length were sampled in 1988 and 1989 to determine food habits and diet overlap. Shad (Dorosoma spp.) were the most important prey of both largemouth bass and saugeye. Both predators were opportunistic, eating a variety of prey items. Although diet overlap was high, competition for food was not apparent and would not be likely to occur unless forage became limited.