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<br />41 <br /> <br />study period. In comparison, researchers in the Yampa River see all size and age classes of pike, <br /> <br />including young-of-year. <br />Researchers examined the stomach contents of all northern pike collected from 2002 to <br /> <br />2005. The overwhelming majority of stomachs were empty; only 13 of 144 pike stomachs <br /> <br />contained fish remains. Of these, four pike had consumed native fish: three recently stocked <br /> <br />razorback suckers and one bluehead sucker (Catostomus discobolus: total length (TL) 250mm). <br /> <br /> <br />Lengths of pike that had consumed native fish ranged from 597 mm to 834 mm. <br /> <br /> <br />Based on decreasing catch rates and limited reproduction in the study area we were able <br /> <br /> <br />to effectively reduce numbers of northern pike in the middle Green River. Available northern <br /> <br /> <br />pike habitat within the study area appears to be limited and is easily sampled. We recommend a <br /> <br /> <br />continuation of specific efforts to remove northern pike in the early spring. This coupled with <br /> <br /> <br />opportunistic removal of northern pike throughout the year during other Program projects should <br /> <br /> <br />effectively reduce their threat to the recovery of endangered fish in the middle Green River. <br /> <br />t <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />41 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />8 <br /> <br />. <br />