1999 Warmwater Fisheries Survey of McCabe Pond

McCabe Pond was surveyed by Washington Department of Wildlife Warmwater Enhancement Program personnel May 24-25, 1999. Survey methods consisted of boat electrofishing, fyke netting, and slat trapping. Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus) were sampled at the highest proportion by weight and number. Yellow perch (Perca flavescens), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were sampled at lower numbers. Population indicies for largemouth bass indicated variable year-class strength and/or extensive harvest of stock length fish. Pumpkinseed sunfish showed indications of a crowded population. The relatively few rainbow trout, yellow perch, and channel catfish allowed only limited interpretation of population indicies for these species. Management options include continuing with the current management strategy of stocking rainbow trout and channel catfish, stocking additional stock length largemouth bass, and considering a slot limit for largemouth bass. Additionally, suggestions are provided to improve future survey efforts by including gill nets, monitoring angler harvest, and sampling aquatic vegetation in the spring and fall.