Movement and Angler Harvest of Fishes in the Des Moines River, Boone County, lowa

Fish tagging returns of the Iowa Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit from 1955 to the end of 1963 are summarized. Tag returns give minimum estimates of angler harvest as 4.6%, for channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, and 12.0% for walleyes, Stizostedion vitreum. Very few flathead catfish, Pylodictis olivaris, and smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieui, were reported caught by anglers. Channel catfish showed greatest movement of the species studied with downstream movement predominating. Walleyes moved as far as 18 miles. Smallmouth bass showed very little movement, except for one individual that moved about 40 miles. Data on both angler harvest and movement must be interpreted in the light of biases inherent in the study