Standard Methods for Sampling North American Freshwater Fishes, second edition

Chapter 2: Warmwater Fish in Small Standing Waters

Mark K. Flammang, Daniel E. Shoup, Paul H. Michaletz, and Kevin L. Pope

doi: https://doi.org/10.47886/9781934874769.ch2

In general, changes and additions to the standard sampling protocols in the second edition of this chapter have been made sparingly. Low-frequency boat electrofishing was added as a standard method to target Flathead Catfish and Blue Catfish. Modified fyke net specifications have been clarified to ensure consistent deployment and to maximize sampling efficiency; a throat type was not specified by Bonar et al. (2009), which led to inconsistencies as net manufacturers applied their own versions of throats. Both horizontal gill netting and modified fyke netting seasons have been moved from the spring to fall to be consistent with sampling recommendations for closely related habitats (see Chapter 3), to better match the timing currently utilized by most agencies applying these gears and, in the case of modified-fyke netting, to maximize the capture of sunfishes. Finally, tandem baited hoop netting was added as a standard method to target Channel Catfish, which are difficult to sample with previous protocols. Readers will also wish to access Appendix A for specific details on the gears used throughout this chapter.

This chapter describes standardized sampling techniques for routine monitoring and population assessment of warmwater sport and prey fishes in small standing water bodies. Although temperature regulates growth, survival, and reproduction of fish, there are few specific criteria that define a warmwater fish community. Dodds (2002) noted that warmwater fish communities tend to be dominated by sunfishes, temperate basses, and catfishes. Perches and pikes are common to coolwater fish communities and often overlap warmwater communities in temperate climates. For this chapter, we focus on fish that prefer warmwater habitat and on common coolwater fish that are often associated with the same systems.