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-19- <br />Wyoming biologists set experimental gill nets during April, August <br />and November in each of three reservoir areas to assess changes in fish <br />populations and success of planted stocks. Four nets were set for a <br />total of approximately 76 hr in each area during each period sampled. <br />Rainbow trout caught in all areas increased to 0.38 fish/net hr in 1977. <br />This represents a 31% increase over numbers netted in 1976. Most of the <br />increase was related to increased numbers of 1977 planted rainbow finger- <br />ling being netted in November. Rainbow trout continue to be most abun- <br />dant in the canyon area (0.65 fish/net hr) (Table 8). <br />Species which appeared to have increased between 1976 and 1977 were <br />white sucker, flannelmouth sucker (Catostomus latipinnis) and lake trout. <br />Species which were caught in decreasing numbers were Utah chub, European <br />carp (Cyprinus ca io) and mountain sucker (Catostomus platyrhynchus). <br />Other species have remained relatively constant between years (Table 8). <br />Other species known to be present in the lake but not netted are small- <br />mouth bass, redside shiner (Richardsonius balteatus), kokanee salmon and <br />mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdi). <br />Utah chub appears to have peaked in numbers in Flaming Gorge and may <br />now be declining. There was a 35% decrease in chubs netted between 1976 <br />and 1977. White suckers, however, were netted at a 56% higher rate during <br />the same period and appear to be continuing their expansion. Mountain <br />sucker may be disappearing from the lake since none of this species has <br />been netted since 1975. <br />Additional gill netting was completed in mid-August of 1977 to look <br />for largemouth bass which had been planted in previous years. Four nets <br />were set at three different locations on three different nights. Nets <br />were set in Spring Creek Bay (near 1976 bass stocking site), in Linwood