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<br />habitat use, movement, and habitat needs related to spawning. Starting in 1989, stomach content <br />analysis for ingestion of fish prey was included in the processing of gamefish specimens <br />collected downstream of Craig. The post-runoff period was defmed as two parts: a baseflow <br />period from July to October in each year; and a winter period of ice-on condition in the river <br />from November to February each year. The pre-runoff period was defmed as starting in March <br />each year. The break in the hydrograph separating pre-runoff from runoff periods was defmed <br />as the point of inflection in the ascending limb of the hydrograph leading to peak flow. This <br />occurred at the start of May in 1988 and 1991, and the runoff period in these years was <br />considered to be May and June. Runoff started at mid-April and ran through June in 1989, and <br />started on May 20 and ran through June in 1990. (See Figure 2) Hydrologic data, including <br />daily flow in cubic feet per second (cfs) and water temperatures were acquired from U.S. <br />Geological Survey (USGS) Water Resources data for Colorado to compare between year <br />differences and correlate with fish population trends (Ugland et al. 1989-1992). <br /> <br />Due to varying flow level from May-November, sampling techniques had to be varied <br />to accommodate habitat conditions. During pre-runoff and runoff flows, sampling was <br />conducted using a flat-bottomed john boat powered by an outboard jet unit for radiotracking and <br />sampling gear transport. Another similar john boat outfitted with electrofishing capability was <br />also used when flows were sufficient to enable this heavier craft to negotiate the short, rocky <br />gradients and potentially shallow riffles present in the study area. <br /> <br />A "block and shock" technique was developed in conjunction with CSU Larval Fish Lab <br />personnel. The gist of the technique was to place either trammel or gill nets in low-flow river <br />habitats that appeared suitable for the target fish species, and subsequently create a disturbance <br />in these habitats to initiate fish movement, thereby increasing the capture potential of the passive <br />nets. The technique appeared particularly effective in the spring when rising river flows created <br />side channel and tributary backwaters that could be completely blocked from the main channel <br />with nets. If the river current permitted, oars were used to move the boat and minimize <br />premature disturbance of the fish when setting the net across the mouth of the backwater. <br />Northern pike, channel catfish, and Colorado squawfish appeared quite susceptible to this <br />technique compared to our sampling experience with these species from continuous shoreline <br />electrofishing employed during the Interagency Standardized Monitoring Program (ISMP) annual <br />endangered fish sampling efforts. Nets used in this process included 30.5 m trammel nets, 1.8 <br />or 2.4 m deep with 150 nun mesh outside walls and 25 nun mesh inner wall; or a 38 m <br />monofilament gillnet, 1.8 m deep with five experimental mesh panels ranging from 13 to 44 mm <br />mesh size. The electrofishing equipment included a Coffelt VVP-15, 5000 watt generator, and <br />25 cm diameter stainless steel sphere anodes suspended from shielded dropper cables made of <br />9.5 nun steel cable. Output power during block and shock efforts was set initially at 200-400 <br />volts and 2-10 amps at the head end of the backwater. During the approach to the blocked <br />mouth of the backwater, power was decreased to minimize electrofishing injuries to fish already <br />captured in the blocking net. Commonly during this process, voltage was below 100 v and <br />amperage was less than 0.5 amps at the time the boat neared the blocking net. <br /> <br />5 <br />