Stephen M. Smith

Food Habits of Striped Bass and Their Influence on Crappie in Weiss Lake, Alabama

A contingency of local anglers and guides from Weiss Lake, Alabama, has voiced concern that the natural reproduction of striped bass (Morone saxatilis) has negatively impacted the popular crappie (Pomoxis spp.) fishery. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impacts of naturally reproducing striped bass on the crappie population in Weiss Lake. Specifically, we examined striped bass food habits and compared crappie population characteristics before (1990-1992) and after (1993-1999) the establishment of the naturally reproducing bass population. Shad (Dorosoma spp.) accounted for 93...