Evaluating Effects of Live‐Imaging Sonar on Angler Catch of Crappies in a Kansas Impoundment

Abstract

Crappie (Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus and White Crappie P. annularis) fisheries are popular across the United States. Recently, Kansas anglers have expressed concern that using live‐imaging sonar (LIS) during winter months may increase catch, resulting in deleterious effects on crappie populations. Specifically, there was concern that (1) increased angler catch would result in population declines and (2) anglers would selectively capture the largest crappies in the population, thus reducing population size structure. We addressed these concerns with a controlled experiment at Cedar Bluff Reservoir, Kansas, over a 2‐week period in winter 2021. Anglers were permitted to fish for 1 d using LIS and another day not using LIS to evaluate differences in crappie catch. There was no difference in mean catch or length structure of crappies using LIS and not using LIS. These results suggest that LIS may not increase crappie catch, or length of captured crappie, in open‐water winter fisheries. Our findings, while limited in extent, provide an objective, quantitative glimpse at potential impacts of emerging technology on angler success. These results provide a starting point for assessment of LIS‐induced impacts on recreational fisheries.