it is possible that the lowering of the water level in 1972 reduced the spawning 

 success in 1976. 



The average size of sauger taken in 1976 increased from 1975 levels of 324 

 mm and 464 g to 404 mm and 659 g. 



Tagging . Since 1973, 244 walleye and 302 

 reservoir (table 32). Total angler returns of 

 5.3 percent (13 of 244), while sauger returns 

 Almost 80 percent of the sauger were tagged in 

 should increase. Several returns have been re 

 of the tag absent, and only the anchor remaini 

 of this type of tag loss is high, the reported 

 than it should be since many tags would not be 

 be discarded by the angler. However, the low 

 well within tolerance limits of the fisn popul 



sauger have been tagged in the 

 walleyes since then have been 



have been 2.0 percent (6 of 302). 

 1976, so the number returned 



ported with the numbered portion 



ng in the fish. If the incidence 

 rate of return would be less 

 noticed and others would simply 



rate of return suggests a harvest 



ations. 



TABLE 32. Summary of walleye and sauger tagging and returns. Tongue River 

 Reservoir, 1973-76. (Number in parentheses is the percentage of total tagging) 



Year Tagged No. Tagged 1973 



1974 



1975 



1976 



Total 



WALLEYE 



Crappie 



Both black (Pomoxis nigromaaulatus) and white (Pomoxis annularis) crappie 

 are found in the Tongue River Reservoir. Stocking records, dating to 1950, do 

 not show introductions of crappies into the reservoir. Both species were pre- 

 sent when the fish population was chemically removed in 1957. This panfish is 

 the most abundant sport fish in the Tongue River Reservoir and is a popular 

 target of anglers. 



Catch Rates and Distribution . White crappie were the dominant fish in 

 trap-net catches in 1974, 1975, and 1976 (tables 23 and 24), making up 48.6, 

 65.5, and 78.3 percent of the total catch, respectively. Black crappie were 

 taken in the catch, but were less significant, contributing 18.2, 8.9, and 



100 



