COMPARING COMMERCIAL HARVEST AND LONG-TERM MONITORING TRENDS OF FISHES IN POOL 
26 OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

Eric J. Gittinger1, Eric N. Ratcliff1, John H. Chick1 and Rob J. Maher2
1 Great Rivers Field Station, Illinois Natural History Survey, 8450 Montclair 
Ave, Brighton, IL 62012
2 Illinois Department of Natural Resources, 8450 Montclair Ave, Brighton, IL 
62012

The Great Rivers Field Station has been monitoring fish populations in Pool 26 
of the Mississippi River for the Long Term Resources Monitoring Program (LTRMP) 
since 1989.  Pool 26 is a unique part of the Upper Mississippi River System, 
housing the last in a series of 26 dams starting in Minnesota and ending in 
Alton, IL.  Pool 26 is just upstream from the confluence of the Missouri River, 
where river dynamics change dramatically, and within Pool 26 is the confluence 
of the Illinois River.  The Mississippi River provides income for 170-200 
Illinois commercial fishers worth over $1 million annually.  The Mississippi 
River has accounted for over 65% of the total earnings in the state of Illinois 
in recent years, with Pool 26 accounting for 15-25% of the total catch for the 
Mississippi River.  We compared LTRMP data to commercial fisheries data for the 
most frequently harvested fishes in Pool 26 of the Mississippi River to detect 
year class strength and overall population trends.  Both sets of data display 
similar trends in fish populations with no clear sign of over harvest, however, 
buffalo (Ictiobus) populations should be carefully watched over the next few 
years because the commercial harvest has continued to increase whereas CPUE from 
LTRM sampling has declined in recent years.

Keywords: Mississippi River, Pool 26, Commercial fisheries, LTRMP, population 
trends