Movement Patterns of Adult Black Crappie, Pomoxis nigromaculatus, in Brant Lake, South Dakota

ABSTRACT Movement of adult black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) in Brant Lake, South Dakota was studied with ultrasonic telemetry from April through August 1991. Movement ranged from 0 to 584 m/h and was significantly different among months (P=0.0001, F=9.34, df=4) and diel periods (P=0.0013, F=5.45, df=3). Activity was greatest during April and July. Diel movement increased from evening to morning, and the least amount of movement occurred during the day; this pattern was similar for all months. In general, crappie were found in shallow waters during evening and night in the spring of the year and during day and evening in the summer. Of the seven physicochemical variables measured (i.e., water temperature, Secchi disk transparency, sky cover, wind direction, wind speed, barometric pressure, and precipitation), only barometric pressure was positively correlated with fish movement (P=0.016, F=6.435, df=12, r=0.75).

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