9647

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9647
• Author: Wydoski, R. S.
• Title: Fish Population Manipulation.
• USFW Year: 1990.
• USFW - Doc Type: Denver.
• Copyright Material: NO

Undesirable fish are most often utilized by youngsters in various parts of the
country because they may be the only species that are readily available. For
example, in the mid-west carp fishing is available to youngsters.
In the valleys of the Appalachian Mountains, the creek chub provides sport for
many youngsters. In the northeast, snagging suckers in the spring can be
quite a treat. Try landing a sucker that has been snagged in the dorsal fin
with a fly rod while crossing the current of an eastern stream at the height
of spring runoff. Its a challenge and a lot of fun. In the Pacific
Northwest, many tributary streams to Lake Washington in the population center
of Seattle, youngsters catch peamouth (a minnow about a foot long) during
spawning runs. Bow-and-arrow hunting for carp is gaining in popularity in
many parts of the country during their spawning runs into shallow weedy areas
of marshes, lakes, and rivers.
Strict regulations are sometimes necessary to prohibit the introduction of
rough fish that are used for bait, especially in newly created waters such as
reservoirs. The creek chub and white sucker have become established in the
Colorado River system and may compete with endemic species. The goldfish has
been introduced into other bodies of water. Scholz (1983) described the use
of electrofishing in conjunction with the spring spawning behavior to control
goldfish. Most western states such as Utah currently prohibit the use of live
bait to prevent the risk of introducing problem fish.
In some inland waters, commercial fisheries may exist. Vigorous, intensive
fishing, however, often depletes the commercial fishery, making it
unprofitable. Such waters often fall under the management of the state
conservation agency. Effective control can only be achieved at great expense
to the State and with no permanence guaranteed. Such waters can be most
economically managed by commercial fisheries (Priegel, 1971). Many studies
have shown that rough fish removal by commercial fishermen is beneficial or,
at least, not harmful to sport fishing (Burns 1966).
Once the aquatic habitat is altered by man, fish managers will have to make
the best of any existing fishery. While the warm water discharge from thermal
electric plants may change the natural species composition, it may produce
angling in some other form (Moore and Frisbie, 1972; Moore, et.al., 1973). It
has been demonstrated that the warm water discharges from such plants can
increase crop production in irrigated areas. Such uses can be offered as
alternatives in Environmental Impact Statements rather than discharge into a
coldwater stream. Warm effluents may also be used to benefit the rearing of
certain shellfish in the Northwest where cold waters require years to grow
shellfish of acceptable size. Other applications of warmwater effluent may be
possible. In addition, fish managers may have to search for ways of providing
the most recreation from other aquatic environments that have been altered in
many different ways. For example, fish lost in irrigation ditches in the
Intermountain and Western states could provide recreation in the form of
angling for youngsters in urban areas (Kennedy and Unhanand, 1974).
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