|
|
|
|
|
Spring River Basin - Fish Fish can be found swimming in deep pools or in shallow riffle areas in rivers where they eat insects, crawfish, and smaller fish. Some fish eat materials off of the bottom of the river. Eighty-six species of fish have been collected in the Spring River Basin. The most diverse fish communities are found in the Spring River, the North Fork of the Spring River, Center Creek, and Shoal Creek. Common sportfish in the Spring River Basin include smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, spotted bass, white crappie, rock bass, channel catfish, and rainbow trout. Capps Creek in Newton County is managed as a coldwater fishery, and future consideration will be given to improving Hickory Creek near Neosho as a coldwater fishery. This means that fish that live in cold water habitats, like trout, will soon be found in these areas. The coldwater fishery at Capps Creek is stocked with rainbow and brown trout, while coldwater fisheries in Hickory Creek and the upper Spring River are self-sustaining populations of rainbow trout that were introduced to the stream but are not regularly stocked. Six species of fish within the Spring River Basin currently have a conservation status. The aquatic communities of the Spring River Basin are quite diverse because the basin includes both the Ozark-Neosho and the Prairie-Neosho communities. Fish species that are regionally unique to the Ozark-Neosho division include: the redspot chub, bluntface shiner, cardinal shiner, southwestern mimic shiner, western slim minnow, Neosho madtom, font-family: Arkansas darter, Neosho orangethroat darter, redfin darter, and channel darter. Fish found in the Prairie-Neosho division of the Spring River Basin are fish that are commonly found in prairie streams. Fish unique to the Prairie-Neosho Division include the spotted sucker and the brindled madtom. Many species of fish are found in both the Ozark-Neosho and Prairie-Neosho divisions of the Spring River Basin . Fish have been collected in the Spring River Basin since the 1930’s. Since that time, eighty-six species have been collected and identified in the watershed. See the tables below for a list of fish species found in the Spring River Basin. Data shown in these charts was collected by Missouri Department of Conservation staff and Dr. Dan Beckman, Southwest Missouri State University (dwb760f@smsu.edu). Fish species found in the Spring River Basin-MDC data (1991-1992) and Beckman data (1995)
Fish species of the Spring River Basin collected by Beckman (1995)
Source: http://www.conservation.mo.gov/fish/watershed/spring/biotic/370bct24.htm Fish Stocking Largemouth bass, bluegill, grass carp, flathead catfish, and channel catfish are commonly stocked at small ponds and reservoirs throughout the river basin. Fish stocking in the Spring River Basin began as early as 1879, when brook trout were stocked in the Spring River. In 1886, rainbow trout were first stocked in Capps Creek. Throughout the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, trout were stocked in Shoal, Center, Turkey, and Hickory creeks. Common carp have also been introduced into streams throughout the Spring River Basin . A coldwater fishery at Capps Creek is stocked with rainbow and brown trout. The Neosho National Fish Hatchery also raises fish to be stocked in area waters. |
|
Elk River | James River | Sac River | Spring River | North Fork Salt River |
|
Missouri Watershed Information Network (MoWIN) |
Page last updated August 26, 2008 |
