Comparison of Diets of Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieui) Collected by Sport Fishing and by Electrofishing

Length frequencies and diets of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui) captured from two small ponds by sport fishing and by electrofishing were compared to determine if fishermen's catches were similar to those acquired by electrofishing. The sport-caught fish (N=79) had a mean total length of 32.5 cm (range = 15.6 to 52.0 cm); the electrofished smallmouth bass (N=134) had a mean length of 26.2 cm (range = 8.0 to 47.1 cm). There was no significant difference in total lengths of smallmouth bass from the two ponds. Sport-caught fish were significantly larger than electrofished fish (p < .001). Of 213 smallmouth bass, 93 had empty stomachs, 113 had only one prey type, either crayfish (Orconectes virilis) or fish (Lepomis sp.). There was a highly significant difference in prey items of smallmouth bass captured by sport fishing and by electrofishing (p < .001). Crayfish was the most frequent prey item in angler-caught smallmouth bass while fish (Lepomis sp.) was a more frequent prey item among electrofished smallmouth bass.