Fisheries monitoring in the LTRMP on Pool 13, Upper Mississippi River (UMR)

Bowler, M. C., and S. A. Gritters. 1997. Fisheries monitoring in the LTRMP on Pool 13,
Upper Mississippi River (UMR). Pages 118 147 in Fisheries Management Investigations
1997 Annual Report. Reprinted by U.S. Geological Survey, Environmental Management
Technical Center, Onalaska, Wisconsin, November 1998. LTRMP 98-R014. 29 pp.
(NTIS PB99-113995)


ABSTRACT

Fisheries monitoring as part of the Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP)
has been conducted on Pool 13 of the Upper Mississippi River since 1989.  In this span,
over 344,000 fish of 74 species were collected and/or verified in Pool 13.  Fisheries
monitoring in 1997 was the fifth consecutive year of stratified random sampling.  A total
of 479 fisheries samples were collected in 1997 resulting in a catch of 50,030 fish
representing 67 species.  Emerald shiner ranked first in total abundance from 1989 1997
with bluegill and freshwater drum ranking second and third, respectively.  White bass,
black crappie, and carp were the next most abundant non-prey species collected. 
Population trends were analyzed on selected species from the 1990 1997 monitoring data. 
The highest mean catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) for carp, drum, sauger, and walleye
occurred in 1994.  Channel catfish sampling with hoop nets has been modified during the
study period and conclusive trends are not discernible, although a peak in mean CPUE for
channel catfish was observed in 1995.  Centrarchid catch rates in 1997 were variable
compared to the six-year mean, and catch rates for largemouth bass in 1997 reached a six-
year peak.  Centrarchids exhibited nearly identical short-term trends (mean CPUE and
proportional stock density) for years 1990 1997.  A total of 88 species have been
collected during LTRMP sampling and other miscellaneous collections in Pool 13 during
the nine-year period.  Seven species are listed as endangered, threatened, or of special
concern by Iowa.


KEYWORDS

Fish communities, fisheries, LTRMP, Pool 13, Upper Mississippi River, Monitoring