Effects of stocking northern pike in Murphy Flowage
Source:
Snow, Howard E.. Nehls, Susan, Editor
Effects of stocking northern pike in Murphy Flowage
(Technical bulletin. (Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources), No. 79)
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 1974
20 pgs.
Monitoring of fish populations in Murphy Flowage, a 180-acre flowage in northwestern Wisconsin, between 1955 and 1960 indicated the development of an overabundant, slow-growing population of bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus). In 1960 and 1961, attempts to improve bluegill growth by mechanical thinning failed apparently because only the larger bluegills were removed. Since the flowage already had a good northern pike population (Esox lucius), it was suggested that increasing this predator population might result in controlling of bluegill numbers and hence, improving growth. To test this hypothesis, the flowage was stocked in late December, 1963, with 8,534 northern pike fingerlings ranging in size from 10.4 to 22.8 inches in total length. On an area basis, this stocking was equal to 47 fish/acre or 40.3 lbs/acre which met the intent of approximately doubling the northern pike population in the flowage. Complete angling records were obtained by a compulsory permit system throughout the entire study from 30 April 1955 through 31 May 1970.
URL to cite for this work: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/EcoNatRes.DNRBull79
Contents
[Front cover] Effects of stocking northern pike in Murphy Flowage
Contents, p. [1]
Introduction, p. 2
The study areas, p. 2
Methods, pp. 3-4
Population size, p. 4
Growth, pp. 4-6
Harvest, p. 7
Movements, pp. 7-10
Observed mortality, pp. 11-13
Exploitation and mortality, pp. 13-14
Evaluation of stocking , pp. 14-17
Summary and management implications, pp. 17-18
Appendix, p. 18
Literature cited, pp. 19-20
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