CPUEn was 1 15.60 in 1996. This is similar to catches observed in other years since 

 project F-101-R began in 1989; a low CPUEn of 75.05 occurred in 1992 and a high 

 of 150.02 occurred in 1995 (Lerczak et al. 1994, 1995, and 1996). In 1996, the 

 highest CPUE,.j for all species was 25.80 for gizzard shad, which made up 22.3% of 

 the total fish collected in this reach. Channel catfish ranked second with a CPUEf^ of 

 19.40 (16.8% of the total), the highest catch rate of this species since 1989. The 

 CPUENOf bluegill was 15.40 (13.3% of the total) and of white bass was 13.60 

 (11.8% of the total) From 1991-1995 the bluegill was the highest ranked species on 

 this reach of the river. In 1 990, as in 1 996, the gizzard shad was the highest ranked 

 species. In 1989, the freshwater drum was the highest ranked species; in 1996 this 

 species was ranked ninth and made up only 3.8% of the total fish collected in Alton 

 Reach. 



La Grange (middle river). Ten species accounted for 94.6% of the total 

 catch in La Grange Reach (Tables 6 and 7) Overall, CPUE.^was 314.91 in 1996, 

 which was the highest observed in this reach since 1 989 (Lerczak et al. 1 994, 1 995, 

 and 1996). In 1996, the highest CPUE^jforall species was 126.00 for gizzard shad, 

 which made up 40.0% of the total fish collected in this reach. The catch rate of 

 gizzard shad greatly exceeded other catches on this reach since 1989; the previous 

 high occurred in 1995 when CPUEfj was 88.73 Low CPUE,j of gizzard shad in La 

 Grange Reach during the first 8 segments of project F-1 01 -R was 5.80 in 1 992 

 White bass ranked second with a CPUEfj of 56.18 (17.8 % of the total). The catch 

 rate of white bass in La Grange Reach has increased each year since 1 992 when 



16 



