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ABSTRACT
The use of acrylic tubes is a common nonlethal method for sampling stomach contents of fishes; however, the effectiveness of the method for sampling food habits of walleyes (Stizostedion vitreum) has not been assessed. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficiency of acrylic tubes for sampling stomach contents of walleyes sampled from Glen Elder Reservoir, Kansas (1999–2000). We found that percent recovery by number and weight was generally above 50% for most prey taxa and was similar between small (< 380 mm) and large (≥ 380 mm) walleyes. These relatively poor recovery rates were not related to prey type, length of prey, or walleye length. We suggest that researchers test the efficiency of tubing in their study system or use a more efficient method, such as stomach flushing, to nonlethally sample walleye stomach contents.
