DALE KERNAHAN, CHRISTOPHER O’BARA, AND SCOTT LOFTIS, Tennessee Technological University, Center for the Management, Utilization, and Protection of Water Resources, Cookeville, Tennessee, USA

Age-0 crappie were collected from Norris and Douglas reservoirs, Tennessee during routine cove rotenone sampling in August 1996. Sagittal otoliths were removed and daily ring counts made to estimate hatching dates and growth rates. Hatching dates and growth rates were compared between species as well as reservoirs to determine if temporal and spatial differences existed. White crappie Pomoxis annularis were only collected from Douglas Reservoir in adequate numbers for analysis. Hatching initiated on 27 April and continued until 18 May with a peak hatching in early May. Growth rates ranged from 0.56 to 1.06 mm/d with a mean of 0.77. Black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus were collected in adequate number from both systems for analysis. Hatching initiated in Norris Reservoir on 29 April and continued until 13 May, and on 2 May and continued until 16 May in Douglas Reservoir. Age-0 black crappie in Douglas Reservoir displayed a significantly greater growth rate than their Norris Reservoir counterparts (0.78 mm/d versus 71 mm/d).