Fish Populations of Backwater Lakes in Louisiana

Abstract

Abstract Fish populations in seven backwater lakes were sampled by rotenone poisoning. On the average, 397 pounds of fish per acre comprising 103 pounds of game fish and 169 pounds of commercial fish were recovered from the lakes. Recoveries from individual lakes ranged from 142 to 651 pounds of fish per acre. Non-predaceous fish made up 56 percent of the total population. Bluegill sunfish, warmouth sunfish, gizzard shad, fresh-water drum, largemouth bass, black crappie and spotted gar were the principal fishes in the lakes. An average of 78 pounds of available game fish (harvestable-size game fish) per acre was recovered from the lakes. Fairly large concentrations of fish occurred in relatively small areas in some of the backwater lakes. A total of 974 pounds of fish, of which 475 pounds were game fish, was recovered from a single 1 acre sampling area. On the average, there were 1.9 pounds of non-predaceous fish per pound of predaceous fish. There were considerably less available forage fish (by weight) ...