Techniques for Radiotracking and Biotelemetry of Coolwater Sport Fish in Norfork Reservoir, Arkansas
Abstract
Sonic and radio transmitters were implanted in 19 fish in Norfork Reservoir (12 walleye and seven striped bass) to determine the better transmitter type for two coolwater fish species in riverine and deep basin habitats. Radio transmit ters were equipped with either internal or external antennas and both radio and sonic transmitters had thermistors. Sonic transmitters proved superior to radio transmitters forlocating tagged fish after stratification. Fish implanted with radk transmitters were not found after July while fish implanted with sonic transmitters were located 87% of the time. Walleyt remained in the spring-fed riverine portion ofthe reservoir where water temperatures never exceeded 22 C and dissolvec oxygen concentrations were greater than nine mg/L; an area not conducive to listen for sonic transmitters because o high extraneous noise from current velocity and boat traffic. Striped bass were confined to the large basin of the dam during critical minimal conditions in the summer; an area not favorable to listen for radio transmitters because of watei depths striped bass tended to occupy and thermal stratification. Heavy angler harvest ofimplanted fishes resulted in an exploitation study initiated by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Missouri Department ofConservation in 1995.
Recommended Citation
Flores, Kenda S.
(1996)
"Techniques for Radiotracking and Biotelemetry of Coolwater Sport Fish in Norfork Reservoir, Arkansas,"
Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science: Vol. 50, Article 11.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol50/iss1/11
