Shari L. Bryant

In October 1997, apparent spatial heterogeneity in the black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) age distribution was observed in B.E. Jordan Reservoir. The number of age groups for black crappie increased from downlake to uplake. The objective of this study was to verify this spatial heterogeneity. Trap nets were used to collect black crappie in 4 sections of the reservoir. Black crappie ages ranged from 1 to 17 years, and fish ≥10 years were found only in the upper 2 sections of the reservoir. Significant (P<0.05) differences in the black crappie age distribution were found between most...

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission initiated a fall crappie (Pomoxis spp.) trap net-based stock assessment program in 1986. Since 1986, declining catch rates have forced increased effort to meet sample size requirements. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of trap net design on crappie capture rates and size selectivity. In March and April 1998, 5 trap nets each of 3 mesh sizes (13, 19, and 25 mm bar measure) were set overnight (24 hours) for 4 consecutive nights on 3 piedmont North Carolina reservoirs. Catch rates of crappie approximately doubled with...