Overwinter habitat use of shovelnose sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus in the Kansas River was determined by radiotelemetry from November 1996 to March 1997 at water temperatures of 2–9°C. Eighty percent of the shovelnose sturgeon locations were in water depths of 1.0–2.0 m, where current velocities were 0.01–1.11 m/s at the surface and 0.02–0.79 m/s at the bottom. Depths and surface current velocities at fish locations were positively related to discharge (r = 0.47, P = 0.0001; r = 0.60, P = 0.0001, respectively); bottom current velocities were not significantly correlated (r = 0.08, P = 0.31) with discharge. Water depths, surface current velocities, and bottom current velocities were not significantly related to water temperature (P > 0.05). Ninety‐two percent of the shovelnose sturgeon locations were over sand substrate. Inside‐bend macrohabitats were used in proportion to their abundance (P > 0.05), whereas channel crossovers were used in greater proportion than their availability (P ≤ 0.05); outside‐bend habitats were avoided (P ≤ 0.05). During high discharge (>150 m3/s), shovelnose sturgeon appeared to move near shore or downstream of instream cover. Most shovelnose sturgeon moved less than 2 km during the study period, but one fish moved more than 8 km. Movement (km/d) and directional movement (i.e., upstream or downstream) were not related to discharge or water temperature (P > 0.05). These data indicate that shovelnose sturgeon use channel‐crossover macrohabitats and areas with bottom velocities of 0.02–0.79 m/s, independent of discharge. In addition, it appears that shovelnose sturgeon do not congregate in deep areas at water temperatures less than 9°C.
A telephone survey was conducted regarding tournaments for largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides in Kansas reservoirs. A total of 297 Kansas licensed anglers were contacted and asked to be interviewed; these anglers were also respondents to the 1995 Kansas Licensed Angler Use and Preference Survey. Anglers were grouped into three categories: largemouth bass anglers in a sporting club (club), largemouth bass anglers not in a sporting club (nonclub), and nonlargemouth bass anglers not in a sporting club (general). Response rates for angler categories were 77% for club, 88% for nonclub, and 89% for general. More club anglers participated in fishing tournaments in Kansas than nonclub or general anglers. The majority of anglers in all angler categories either agreed or strongly agreed that fishing tournaments should be held on Kansas reservoirs. The majority of anglers in all angler categories disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement “Fishing tournaments for largemouth bass in Kansas that require live release should not have to follow the 18‐inch length limit.” Similarly, respondents in all angler categories disagreed that largemouth bass fishing tournaments should be exempt from current creel limits. These data provide important information for managing largemouth bass fishing tournaments on Kansas reservoirs.
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