Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference 2016

AUTHORS: Zachary A Mitchell*, Eastern Illinois University; Cassi J. Moody-Carpenter, Eastern Illinois University; Les D. Frankland, Illinois Department of Natural Resources; Eric K. Bollinger, Eastern Illinois University; Robert E. Colombo

ABSTRACT: Catfish (Ictaluridae) are both commercially and recreationally important in North America. Catfish account for the majority of harvest by weight within many Midwestern states including Illinois and Indiana. The Wabash River supports a substantial commercial and recreational fishery for three species of catfish: channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus, flathead catfish Pylodictis olivaris, and blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus. It is imperative to understand the dynamics of these riverine fish under various levels of fishing exploitation in order to maintain sustainable levels of harvest of these species. This study characterizes the population demographics of three exploited species of catfish, discusses the temporal harvest trends, and the effects of commercial harvest within the Wabash River. Catfish were collected throughout the lower 322-km of the Wabash River from 2010 through 2015. A multiple-gear approach was used to sample for catfish in order to accurately describe the demographics of the populations. A total of 3,728 catfish were collected comprising of 1,678 channel catfish, 1,798 flathead catfish, and 252 blue catfish. Overall, electrofishing caught more fish at a smaller size (n = 2846; mean ±SE; 381.7 ± 4.5) whereas hoop nets (n = 806; 502.4 ±3.3) and trot lines (n= 76; 577.6 ±5.1) caught fewer and larger fish (P< 0.001). Lengths (mean±SE) for blue catfish (538.4 ±4.2) were significantly larger (P< 0.001) when compared to flathead catfish (381.7 ±4.5) and channel catfish (370.3 ±4.2). Additionally, length frequency distributions differed across the three different species and gear types (P< 0.05). Condition as measured by relative weight varied between species and gear types (P< 0.05). Of the 746 catfish aged (ages 0-13), blue catfish (6.1±0.54) and channel catfish (5.8±0.12) were significantly older (P< 0.01) than flathead catfish (3.2±0.08). This study will provide updated base-line catfish population information and provide insight for future regulation implementation for the Wabash River.

AUTHORS: Erin Peterson*, South Dakota State University Department of Natural Resource Management; Stephen Jones, South Dakota State University Department of Natural Resource Management; Nels H. Troelstrup, Jr., South Dakota State University Department of Natural Resource Management; Katie N. Bertrand, South Dakota State University Department of Natural Resource Management; Brian Graeb, South Dakota State University Department of Natural Resource Management

ABSTRACT: The channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus is the most widespread sportfish in western South Dakota. Catfish condition is therefore important to managers and anglers. Channel catfish were collected from 11 sites on three western South Dakota rivers during the summer of 2015 as part of a large-scale diet study. Sites represented lower, middle, and upper reaches of each river. Overall condition (relative weight, Wr) was recorded from each fish over 280 mm total length (TL) collected in the Grande, Moreau, and White River basins. Mean condition was compared between basins and longitudinally within basins. We observed a significant interaction effect of basin and position using a two-way ANOVA (p=0.0005). Orthogonal contrasts revealed no significant differences in mean Wr between the three basins. There were also no significant longitudinal differences within the Grande River. However, within the Moreau River the mean Wr of the middle sites (mean Wr = 94.8) was higher than that of the lower and upper sites (mean Wr = 81.1 and 82.0, respectively). The lower site on the White River had a mean Wr of 71.8, which was significantly lower than the mean Wr of the middle and upper sites (mean Wr = 93.7 and 89.4, respectively). Based on these results, longitudinal position of sites has a greater effect on catfish condition than basin, though the effect is different in each basin. Additional sites will be sampled on these three rivers in 2016, as well as sites on the Cheyenne and Bad Rivers in the same region. The invertebrate community is also being quantified at each site where catfish were collected, and that community data will be compared to the invertebrate gut contents of the catfish to determine if the invertebrate prey base is related to catfish condition. These patterns can also be compared within and between basins.

AUTHORS: V. Alex Sotola*, Eastern Illinois University; Aaron Schrey, Armstrong State University; Eric Bollinger, Eastern Illinois University; Les Frankland, Illinois Department of Natural Resources; Gregory W. Whitledge, Southern Illinois University; Robert E. Colombo, Eastern Illinois University

ABSTRACT: For sportfishes in large rivers, little information is currently available regarding their genetic population structure which can be vital to continuing the sustainable exploitation of these fisheries. In Illinois, channel and blue catfish are two of the most important commercial and recreational fisheries in large rivers; therefore, understanding and assessing their genetic population structure and diversity should be of utmost importance for managers. We screened ten microsatellite loci to assess the genetic population structure and diversity of channel catfish from four sites on the Wabash River and four sites on the Ohio River. We also screened blue catfish from two sites on the Wabash River and four sites on the Ohio River. We characterized the genetic population structure and diversity for both species. Of note, there is a lock and dam between two of the Ohio River sites. Significant differentiation (p = 0.008) was found between the northern and southern sites on the Wabash Rivers for channel catfish. We will use the pattern of genetic differentiation and diversity to infer population structure with a specific focus on assessing the difference between a free flowing system and an impounded system on gene flow. Additionally, we will compare estimates of genetic diversity among sites and rivers. The presence of genetic differentiation may provide vital information for managing these commercially and recreationally exploited species.

AUTHORS: Jeremy Pritt*, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife; Richard Zweifel, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife; Justin Walters, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, Matt Hangsleben; Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife

ABSTRACT: Catfish angling has increased in popularity and large river systems offer opportunities for catching trophy-sized blue and flathead catfish. However, large rivers are often multi-jurisdictional and fragmented by dams that may be barriers to fish migration, complicating management of catfish. We used acoustic telemetry and angler reports of Carlin-tagged fish to determine the spatial extent of movement of blue and flathead catfish and quantify among-pool movements (i.e., passage through dams) in the Ohio portion of the Ohio River. Beginning in fall 2014, we implanted 40 blue catfish and 21 flathead catfish, captured in the Meldahl Pool, with acoustic transmitters and external Carlin tags. We tagged an additional 24 blue catfish and 19 flathead catfish with Carlin tags only. We used a fixed receiver array and angler reports to monitor fish movement. During fall 2014 to summer of 2015, we observed two blue catfish moving downstream past the Meldahl Dam, with one of these individuals returning to make an upstream passage through the Meldahl Dam. In addition, one flathead catfish was observed to make an upstream passage through the Greenup Dam. Blue and flathead catfish regularly made long-distance movements (>25 km) in relatively short time periods (

AUTHORS: Hanna G. Kruckman, Eastern Illinois University*; Les Frankland, Illinois Department of Natural Resources; Scott J. Meiners, Eastern Illinois University; Robert E. Colombo, Eastern Illinois University

ABSTRACT: Channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus are one of the most sought after commercial and sport fish species throughout the Mississippi River Basin. Understanding seasonal habitat preference and movement behavior is essential to properly manage channel catfish in lotic systems. Since September 2014, we tagged 25 channel catfish with acoustic transmitters within a 16-km reach of the lower Wabash River. To locate fish we conducted seasonal 24-hour active tracking supplemented with site specific tracking. Habitat parameters were recorded at each fish location to assess usage. Of the 25 tagged fish, three individuals have been harvested and 13 individuals (54%) have been located at least once for a total of 340 observations. All channel catfish were found within a 2-km reach of the 16-km study site with the majority of fish locations occurring along rip rap banks, clay banks, and sand bars. Other habitats occupied included log jams, tributary mouths, backwater areas, and the main channel. Across all four seasons, distance moved per hour ranged from 0 – 396 m and the minimum area occupied ranged from 442 – 41,000 m2. The mean distance moved per hour was significantly higher during both fall and winter compared to spring. Whereas channel catfish were most active during the day in the fall, individuals were most active at night during the winter. No differences were observed between diurnal and nocturnal movements for spring and summer. Assessing seasonal movement patterns and habitat usage will help managers determine at which scale these fish should be managed to maintain a sustainable, healthy, and economically productive fishery.

AUTHORS: Stephen Siddons*, University of Nebraska - Lincoln; Mark Pegg, University of Nebraska - Lincoln; Martin Hamel, University of Nebraska - Lincoln; Geoff Klein, Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship, Fisheries Branch; Derek Kroeker, Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship, Fisheries Branch

ABSTRACT: The channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus fishery in the Red River of the North is a well-known trophy catfish destination with fish that are larger and longer lived than populations in other parts of North America. This fishery is managed by two states and one Canadian province under varying regulations. While past studies have documented basin wide and interjurisdictional movements for channel catfish in the Red River, the extent of movement that occurs between Canada and the United States is unknown. We conducted a large-scale mark-recapture project on channel catfish in the lower Red River of the North from 2012-2015 to document movement patterns of channel catfish greater than 200 mm. Movement was quantified with multistate models in Program MARK in an effort to determine overall movement patterns within the watershed, movement to and from the United States, and movement through a dam on the lower Red River in Manitoba. Collectively, channel catfish commonly passed upstream through the dam on the lower Red River, moved upstream into the United States, and larger individuals (>650 mm) were most likely to make long-distance movements. We also documented channel catfish moving into and out of Lake Winnipeg, at the terminus of the Red River. Documenting and quantifying movement rates between different sections of the Red River will help properly manage this economically valuable channel catfish population.