Assessment of Larval Crappie (Pomoxis spp.) Abundance and Lengths in Day and Night Push Net Collections from Coves

ABSTRACT

Larval crappies (Pomoxis spp.) were sampled with surface pushnets once per week from spawning coves during the spring of 2005 and 2006 to compare the abundance and size distribution in day and night collections from a Nebraska irrigation reservoir. Night collections netted 316% more larval crappie than day samples in similar locations. Timing of peak larval abundance varied slightly between years, and patterns of abundance varied between day and night samples in 2005. Night pushnet sampling was also more successful at capturing larger larval crappie. The results suggest that accurate determination of year-class strength requires multiple night sampling throughout the spawning season.