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IMMDUCTION <br />f <br /> <br />This report is submitted as a progress report for fishery investi- <br />gations; conducted on Lake Powell by the Utah Division of.Wildlif_e Resources <br />from January 1 through December 31, 1977. The project was funded, in part, <br />by Federal Aid to Fish and Wildlife Restoration, Project Number F-28-R. Fish- <br />ery investigations on Lake Powell began in July 1963, shortly after impound- <br />ment, and have continued to the present. Much of the initial work included <br />physical and chemical descriptions of the reservoir and life history work <br />on game species as sport fisheries developed. Current work has included evalu- <br />ations of established fisheries, population studies of threadfin shad (Dorosoma <br />petenense), and creation of a striped bass (Morone saxatilis) fishery. A <br />regular creel census program was conducted to measure the magnitude and nature <br />of sport fishing, pressure, and success. Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) <br />and black crappie (Pcmoxis nigromaculatus) remained the dominant species <br />creeled. Annual netting surveys were conducted to assess annual trends in <br />game fish population dynamics. Bass numbers remained high, along with plentiful <br />numbers of_uralleye (Stizostedion vitreum). A study of threadfin shad was <br />begun to better understand the nature of this important forage species that <br />has become the dominant food item for most of the reservoir's game species. <br />Experime-ntal striped bass culture was conducted to develop techniques for <br />raising fry to fingerling size, suitable for stocking in Lake Powell. For <br />the fourth consecutive year, fingerlings raised from cultural experimenfts <br />were stocked in the reservoir. Striped bass interaction with its environment <br />and contribution to the creel has been studied since initial introduction in <br />1974.