Fisheries Research Report No.1886, 1980

Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Fisheries Research Report No.1886, 1980
Reproductive Potential of Largemouth Bass in Ponds and Food Habits of Fingerlings

Percy W. Laarman and James W. Merna

Abstract.-In ponds at the Saline Fisheries Research Station, the relationship between egg potential of largemouth bass and number of fingerlings produced was negative. The least squares regression for number of mature eggs (Y) on total length of females in centimeters (X) was Y = -39, 123 + 2,191 X with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0. 85. A bimodal length-frequency distribution of young-of-year bass was evident and appeared to be food related. Bass less than 10 cm long ate primarily zooplankton, but larger fingerlings shifted to crayfish and fish. Density of fingerlings did not affect overall abundance of zooplankton in the ponds.