“Utility of Fyke Nets and Tandem Hoop Nets for Sampling Iowa Panfish Populations”

The standard fyke net endorsed by the American Fisheries Society (AFS) differs from that previously employed by Iowa biologists. Iowa’s standard fyke net utilized 0.6 m x 1.2 m frames with 0.6 m hoops and 19 mm mesh.  The AFS standard utilizes 0.9 m x 1.8 m frames with 0.76 m hoops and 13 mm mesh.  Recent evaluations in Iowa have suggested that unbaited tandem hoop nets captured significantly more panfish than traditional fyke nets.  The purpose of this evaluation was to measure differences in catch per unit effort (CPUE), mean length, and relative weight (Wr) among these three gears.  Unbaited hoop nets and AFS standard fyke nets captured more bluegills and crappie than Iowa’s traditional fyke nets.  Additionally, hoop nets captured more bluegills and black crappies than AFS standard fykes.  Mean length of captured fish was similar among gears for all species.  Relative weight was greater for bluegills and crappies captured in small fyke nets.  Overall, more bluegills and crappies were captured with the AFS standard fyke net than the Iowa fyke net.  Hoop nets captured similar numbers of all species when compared to the large fyke nets, but in some cases CPUE was greater in hoop nets.