Spatial ecology, habitat use, and angling vulnerability of muskellunge in Shabbona Lake: Implications for management of a recreational fishery

To capture a fish successfully, the angler and fish must overlap in time and space. Additionally, the fish must be receptive to the lure, leading to subsequent capture. Recreational angling can impart negative impacts on fish populations due to the removal of fish with specific traits. Therefore, it is crucial to identify behavioral and physiological predictors to capture. The muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) is a large and long-lived freshwater fish colloquially termed the ‘fish of 10,000 casts’ due to its evasiveness. Therefore, it is an excellent fish for investigating angling-related questions for recreational fisheries. Objectives of my work included defining the physiological and behavioral traits which predict capture in muskellunge and identifying how food availability may change angling vulnerability of muskellunge. We also conducted a one-year telemetry study to identify key habitats and further understand how muskellunge interact within a typical reservoir environment to define the spatial use of muskellunge further. Results indicated captured muskellunge are larger and exhibit less exploratory and aggressive behaviors and shows angling can remove angling-vulnerable phenotypes of muskellunge populations. Furthermore, low food availability has been shown to increase capture over time, wherein fish that received no food were more than 2x likely to be captured—however, behavioral changes related to food availability were not observed in the laboratory trials. Lastly, muskellunge within a small reservoir exhibited consistent movement rates over time, occupying areas throughout the lake. Small female fish exhibited greater residency than small male fish in habitats over various temporal scales. My research indicates muskellunge populations, especially in small reservoirs, may be shaped through angling over time and suggests a need for important management considerations for this important sportfish.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Natural Res & Env Sciences

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2023

Author dc:creator

• Bieber, John F

Contributors dc:contributor

• Suski, Cory
• Dreslik, Michael
• Louison, Michael

• Behavior
• Angling

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2023 John Bieber

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/121557

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F121557