Date of this Version Channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus is an
important sport fish, particularly in the Great Plains. In
Nebraska, a majority of anglers target channel catfish, and
fishing activities are a vital part of the state’s economy.
Lentic water bodies provide the primary fishing opportunity for
catfish anglers in Nebraska. Despite the popularity and economic
importance of channel catfish, little is known of its population
dynamics or habitat requirements, and existing studies often
profile river populations. Current standards for sampling
channel catfish in lentic systems often yield inadequate catch
to assess populations. The objective of this study was to
utilize a recently developed sampling method, tandem-set hoop
nets, to collect channel catfish in sufficient quantities to
describe the effects of stocking and habitat variability on
populations in lentic ecosystems. Three lentic ecosystems common
to the Great Plains were considered: sand pits, flood-control
reservoirs, and irrigation/power-gener