9333 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

FEASIBnxr,y OF DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING A SPORT FISHERY IN THE SALT RIVER PROJECT CANALS missing data. Six June-stocked channel catfish were collected from lateral traps during the 42-day monitoring period. Lateral trap CPUE could not be estimated due to irregular SRP water delivery schedules. Channel Catfish (July Stocking). The highest number of July-stocked channel catfish sampled were caught within the first 3 weeks after stocking (Fig. 19). A total of 26 July-stocked fish (5.2%) were collected between July 1993 and July 1994. After the second channel catfish stocking, we sampled both stocking groups concurrently. Public anglers reported harvesting 20 July-stocked fish, but we were unable to calculate CPUE. Four fish were sampled by our angling efforts (CPUE = 0.1 fish/hr). One July-stocked channel catfish was collected from monthly electrofishing surveys, and another was intercepted by the lateral traps. Repeated-effort electrofishing and gill netting yielded no July-stocked channel catfish. Rainbow Trout. Recapture frequency of stocked rainbow trout was highest within the first 6 weeks after stocking (Fig. 20). Between November 1993 and July 1994, 347 (15.8%) stocked rainbow trout were caught. A total of 212 rainbow trout were sampled by electrofishing; 90 fish from repeated-effort collections (CPUE = 12.1 fish/hr). Public anglers reported harvesting 132 rainbow trout. During the 44-day monitoring period we collected 3 fish from the lateral traps. No stocked rainbow trout were collected using gill nets or during our angling efforts. Stocked Fish Growth and Condition. Stocked channel catfish and rainbow trout had no substantial growth or improvement in well-being (K and Wr) from the day of stocking through July 1994. Recaptured channel catfish decreased in mean TL and weight, as well as physiological condition (Table 10). However, mean TL and weight of recaptured rainbow trout increased slightly, but K and Wr declined between November 1993 and June 1994 (Table 11). Stocked Fish Movement. Most stocked fish remained within the same area they were stocked (channel catfish combined = 99.4% and rainbow trout = 95.5%). Stocked fish were never observed to move upstream, but a number of them gradually moved downstream over time. We recaptured 100 rainbow trout (4.5%) and 13 channel catfish (0.6%) downstream of the Site 3 stocking location. Movement occurred more slowly as the distance and number of physical barriers (water control structures) increased. Figure 19. Recapture frequency of July-stocked channel catfish across weeks after stock for all sampling methods (July 1993 - July 1994). Within the first 2 weeks after stocking, 85 of those rainbow trout had moved 2.4 km downstream to the first water control structure; the lower boundary of Alternate Site 3. After 4 weeks, 8 channel catfish were found at the same location. Stocked rainbow trout were first collected 5.6 km downstream at Site 2, after 7 weeks. Channel catfish were found at Site 2 after 12 weeks. Both species were collected from Site 1, 14.5 km downstream, after 17 weeks. No stocked 34 ARIZONA GAME & FISH DEPARTMENT, TECH. REP. 18 B. R. WRIGHT AND J A. SORENSEN 1995 Figure 20. Recapture frequency of November-stocked rainbow trout across weeks after stocking for all sampling methods (November 1993 - July 1994).