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Date
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Fish and Wildlife Resources
Ch. 27 Reading Guide: Freshwater Fishery Management
Pgs 348-361 in Ch.27 of Managing Our Natural Resources
Student objectives
 Describe the zones of a lake or pond.
 Discuss management procedures of freshwater fisheries.
I.
The Lake Habitat
a. Zones are based on depth
b. Characteristics of littoral zone: Shallow zone that contains rooted vegetation. Some fish and much plankton
are found here. Zone of photosynthesis.
c. Characteristics of limnetic zone: The twilight zone where rooted vegetation is not present but photosynthesis
can occur to the bottom of this zone. This is where most of the fish are found and much plankton.
d. Characteristics of profundal zone: The bottom zone of a lake where sunlight does not penetrate and so no
photosynthesis can occur. Many bacteria are found in this zone.
II. Farm Ponds
a. Supply habitat for fish.
b. Supply water for: livestock, irrigation, fish production, recreation, wildlife, fire protection
c.
d.
e.
f.
Source of Recreation
Attracts and supports wildlife
Ponds can serve multiple uses at the same time.
Management of the Farm Pond
 Excavated pond: A pond that is made by digging a pit into the ground.
 Embankment pond: A pond made by damming or embanking a watercourse.
 What items must be considered when selecting a site for an artificial pond? Watershed care, dam and
spillway, pond basin, and pond banks
 Watershed : land that drains into a pond
 Pond basin: the area to be flooded. A pond basin should contain a cover crop before flooding.
g. Pond Development
 If the pond is to supply food, stock with channel catfish. If the purpose is for sport fishing, stock
with smallmouth bass or redear sunfish.
III. Common Freshwater Game Fish
a. Common freshwater fish: large- and smallmouth bass, northern pike, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish
b. Largemouth bass has a large mouth, is preferred for its fighting abilities. Well adapted to ponds and spawns
in shallow water. Diet includes aquatic insects, fish, frogs, and crayfish. Nest at 60 to 65° F.
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c. Bluegill: Commonly used with largemouth bass. Other names for bluegill are sunfish, perch, pond perch,
bream, and brim. Usually weigh less than 1 pound. Feed on aquatic insects, small fish, small crayfish, and
snails. Nest at 70 to 75°F.
d. Channel catfish: the favorite fish in the farm pond. Feed on fish, aquatic plants, frogs, insect larvae. Catfish
eggs and young may be eaten by bass and bluegill if the pond is clear.
IV. Fisheries Management
a. Management procedures include: vegetation control, fish sampling, population removal and adjustment,
fertilization techniques, fish regulations, water quality control.
b. How can too much vegetative growth in the pond be harmful? Dissolved oxygen in the pond may be too low
for healthy fish. Vegetation can compete with phytoplankton for resources and thus lessen the food supply
for fish like bluegill.
c. What is one common land-use practice that contributes to creating this vegetative problem? Manure spread
on frozen land.
d. What is the purpose of fish sampling? To monitor the fish species present and fish growth.
 Describe the methods of fish sampling.
1. Nets: Entangle fish like herring, trout, carp, catfish.
2. Spot poisoning: Poison is applied to an inland body of water. Poisoned fish are then
collected, counted, and weighed.
3. Boat shocking: Electrical currents are applied to the water. Stunned fish are counted,
and then revive after a few minutes. This selects for only species that float to the
water’s surface when stunned—for example, catfish and bullheads are not surveyed
this way because they go to the bottom of a pond when stunned.
4. Angling: Fish are caught with hook and line. This method is often used with bass.
e. Fish species like crappie can overpopulate small ponds. An adjustment of the fish population must then be
done. This can be accomplished by draining the pond or poisoning the entire pond. For reservoirs a “wolftype” weir is used to keep desirable fish and destroy undesirable species.
f.
Ponds are sometimes fertilized to increase fish production. This is most often done in the southern U.S. The
main nutrients used are nitrogen, phosphorous, lime, and potassium. Fertilizing ponds can be dangerous
because: Fertilizer use can result in excessive vegetation growth which can result in eutrophication and
winterkill.
g. Fishing regulations are expressed in the size of the fish taken.
h. Good water quality for fish includes the following factors: pH, temperature, oxygen, muddiness, and
presence of parasites.
i.
The most desirable pH and temperature of water are: 6.5 to 9.0, 65°F+
j.
How does muddy water affect fish? Fish growing in muddy water will be stunted.
k. How can you tell if water is too muddy for fish? The water is too muddy if you can’t see your fingers after
sticking your arm in the water up to your shoulder.
l.
80% of seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported.
m. Aguaculture: the production of aquatic organisms in controlled or selected environments for commercial,
recreational or public purpose.
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n. Channel catfish makes up the majority of U.S. aquaculture production.
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