Diet variations of black crappie (Pomoxis nigromacu/atus) and white crappie (Pomoxis annu/aris) were investigated at Hayes Center State Lake, a turbid 20-hectare state lake in southwest Nebraska. Zooplankton and insects accounted for most of the diet of all black crappie and of white crappie less than 200 mm long. The daily ration of planktophagic crappie declined to 1.3% as both species approached a length of 200 mm. Black crappie longer than 200 mm did not convert to fish and the daily ration declined to 0.8%. The dietary shift of white crappie to fish significantly increased the average volume of food as the daily ration increased to 1.6 and 2.9% at 200-249 and 250 mm, respectively. Crappie growth and survivorship were affected by the nature of the food. White crappie were 2.4 times more numerous and grew faster with improved survival at Age IV compared to the less dense black crappie population. Mortality rates of black crappie related positively to their size and water temperature during the growing season. Many black crappie longer than 200 mm died during July and August at 26-28 C; 71, 89, and 100% mortality of respective 200-209, 210-219, and 220-229 mm black crappie was estimated during summer. Black crappie (~200 mm) were less adapted to capturing fish in turbid water, resulting in an energy trap during summer. The ability of~200-mm white crappie to prey on fish increased the daily ration above maintenance level during summer.

Rising angler interest in walleye Stizostedion vitreum, a general decline in natural recruitment in some waters, and increasing demands for stocking have produced a need to evaluate stocking strategies. Such evaluations were the subject of the Walleye Stocks and Stocking Symposium summarized herein. Among walleye stocking evaluations reported in the symposium, 32% of fry stockings, 32% of small‐fingerling stockings, and 50% of advanced‐fingerling stockings were considered successful. Further improvement in stocking success requires research into the factors that affect survival. Matching stocking times and places to appropriate food resources appears to be a key element in successful introductions of young walleyes. Walleye stocking should be tailored to each system, not based on a set number and size offish. Genetic and chemical markers facilitate comparisons of fry stocking with fingerling stocking under similar biological and environmental conditions. Anglers surveyed contended that fishing experience is more important than catch rate, an attitude that will help managers shift the public's attention from stocking to maintenance of habitat and water quality.

No abstract