First Evidence of Blue Catfish Natural Reproduction in Canton Reservoir, Oklahoma

Abstract

Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) is the largest member of Ictaluridae and is the second largest fish in Oklahoma. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) has introduced Blue Catfish to many Oklahoma reservoirs due to their popularity among anglers. In 1983, Blue Catfish were stocked into Canton Reservoir in hopes of creating a self-staining population, but to date, no natural recruitment of Blue Catfish has been observed in Canton Reservoir. However, in 2016 seven juvenile Blue Catfish were collected in Canton Reservoir, Oklahoma. Fish were collected during electrofishing and experimental gill-net surveys. All of these fish were estimated to be age - 1 using the lapilli otoliths (one of the three pair of ear stones that comprise the inner ear of fish), suggesting that Blue Catfish successfully spawned in Canton Reservoir in 2015. Blue Catfish spawn in late spring to early summer in Oklahoma. Conditions during spring 2015 consisted of high flow events from the North Canadian River resulting in an increase of pool elevation in Canton Reservoir. Prior to the increase in pool elevation, Canton Reservoir was experiencing low water levels due to an extended drought (2012-2015). During this drought, herbaceous and woody vegetation established in the dry reservoir bottom, however when inundated during spring 2015, it provided habitat which may have been utilized for spawning by adult Blue Catfish and as nursery habitat by juveniles. Understanding environmental conditions that lead to successful spawn and year-class formation of Blue Catfish in Canton Reservoir will aid in future management decisions for this species.