Vital Statistics and Migratory Patterns of a Potamodromous Stock of Smallmouth Bass, Micropterus dolomieui

Abstract

Between 1968 and 1971, upriver movement of bass from Lake Simcoe was highly correlated with water temperature and discharge (r = 0.704, P <.001). Vital statistics and growth were similar to lacustrine and riverine stocks at similar latitude. Total annual mortality averaged 0.56 with 65% attributable to angler exploitation, principally in the river. Some 34% (after mortality) river spawners returned upriver in subsequent years. Repeat spawners (65% female) comprised an average 19% of the spawning runs. Most adults moved downriver in late June and July when water temperatures approached 25 °C. Adults remaining in the spawning area experienced water temperatures to 29 °C before emigrating during freshets in July and August. Lake migrants intermingled on shoal areas with lacustrine and possibly other potamodromous stocks each summer.

Movements and Behavior of Smallmouth Bass,Micropterus dolomieui, and Rock Bass,Ambloplites rupestris, in Southcentral Lake Ontario and Two Tributaries

“…However, the importance of tributaries, as spawning habitat for populations of these centrarchids occupying large lakes or rivers has rarely been addressed (Cuerrier 1943, Webster 1954, Montgomery and Fickeisen 1978. Only one study has described the migratory movements of a stream-spawning lacustrine smallmouth bass stock (Robbins and MacCrimmon 1977) and our study provides the first published report of similar behavior by a lacustrine rock bass stock that we know of.…”

“…Consistent with previous field studies (Hile and Juday 1941, Westman and Westman 1949, Hallam 1959, smallmouth Downloaded by [University of Calgary] at 14:07 05 February 2015 bass and rock bass occupied temperatures between 20-22 C when available. Although temperatures in parts of tributaries often exceeded 25 C in summer, bass rarely were observed at, and apparently avoided, these temperatures (Robbins and MacCrimmon 1977), despite demonstrating preferred temperatures from 26-31 C in the laboratory (Ferguson 1958, Peek 1965, Barans and Tubb 1973, Cherry et al 1975, Coutant '1 977, Reynolds and Casterlin 1978.…”

“…Robbins and MacCrimmon (1977) found that stream-spawning smallmouth bass intermingled with lake-spawning, and possibly with other stream-spawning, smallmouth bass stocks on lake shoals during summer months, but suggested these groups were likely to be distinct genetically. Return of tagged fish to previously occupied sections of home tributaries in our studies, from release sites up to 10 km away, suggests that Lake Ontario may contain genetically distinct stocks of bass.…”

“…Other studies have documented the spawning migrations of smallmouth bass into streams from Lake Simcoe, Ontario, (Robbins and MacCrimmon 1977) and within the Columbia River system in southeastern Washington (Montgomery and Fickeisen 1978), as well as the migrations of lake-spawning smallmouth bass (Kelso 1973) and rock bass (MacLean and Teleki 1977) in Long Point Bay, Lake Erie. Robbins and MacCrimmon (1977) found that stream-spawning smallmouth bass intermingled with lake-spawning, and possibly with other stream-spawning, smallmouth bass stocks on lake shoals during summer months, but suggested these groups were likely to be distinct genetically.…”

First evidence of potadromy and partial migration in black basses: shoal bass Micropterus cataractae (Actinopterygii, Centrarchidae) in the Upper Flint River, USA

“…However, migration in any form is not commonly practiced by centrarchids. A number of authors have documented potamodromous stocks of lentic-dwelling smallmouth bass (Robbins & MacCrimmon, 1977;Gerber & Haynes, 1988;Barthel et al, 2008). Two studies documented transport of smallmouth bass larvae or juveniles down tributary streams into estuaries or larger rivers (Schmidt & Stillman, 1998;Humston et al, 2010).…”