Two new largemouth bass studies are about to be published in the N.A. Journal of Fisheries Management. One concerning stocking of fingerlings into existing fisheries (only highest level of stocking density showed significant contributions to relative abundance) and the other showing no negative effects of spraying endothall to nesting and fidelity.
- Stocking of Advanced-Fingerling Largemouth Bass to Supplement Year-Classes in Lake Talquin, Florida - "Public pressure to stock largemouth bass into existing populations necessitates that fisheries managers have criteria for identifying the bodies of water that will benefit from stocking and the factors that are most important for long-term survival and recruitment in each system. Our results suggest that prior to stocking largemouth bass into waters with existing populations, managers should investigate variability in natural year-class density, hatchery fish stocking size that is appropriate for the size composition of potential fish prey, abundance of suitable fish prey, timing of stocking so that an abundant food supply is available for the fish, and potential hatchery production limitations. Future investigations of interactions between hatchery and wild fish could further reveal the potential for supplementing largemouth bass fisheries by stocking and the potential carrying capacity constraints."
- Impacts of Endothall Applications on Largemouth Bass Spawning Behavior and Reproductive Success - "The results of our controlled study clearly showed that direct applications of endothall were not deleterious to largemouth bass nesting activity and fidelity and had no effect on the size and production of young largemouth bass. These results confirmed some of our earlier observations made at larger field sites in a reservoir (Lake Seminole, Georgia) where there was less experimental control (Maceina and Slipke 2004a; 2004b; Sammons and Maceina 2005). Managers should be able to use the results of our study to answer concerns of anglers and reduce conflicts over necessary efforts to control excessive SAV."
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