Comparative Age and Growth of Channel Catfish From Some Eastern Iowa Rivers

During 1963 and 1964, catfish populations were sampled in various rivers in eastern Iowa, and 1,391 spines were collected and analyzed for age. Growth rates varied considerably, with fish from the Wapsipinicon River at Anamosa being the slowest growing, followed by fish from the Wapsipinicon River at Independence, the Cedar River at Gilbertville and Cedar Rapids, and the Iowa River at Marshalltown. Faster growth was exhibited by fish from two renovated areas -the Iowa River in the Iowa Falls-Steamboat Rock area and Fontana Mill Lake-, from the lower 8 miles of the Skunk River, and from various pools in the Mississippi River. It is suggested that the removal of a portion of the catfish population in selected areas, perhaps in conjunction with a rough fish removal program, would stimulate catfish growth