Lila Warren holds a microtagged muskellunge fish

Lila Warren at the USGS Tennessee Cooperative Fishery Research Unit holds a muskellunge fish.  To prevent the disappearance of muskellunge from the Cumberland Plateau, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) began stocking muskellunge into the upper Caney Fork River system above Great Falls Dam in 1976. Muskellunge were stocked sporadically over several decades and during recent spring electrofishing surveys, adult muskellunge were captured that displayed signs of spawning activity (flowing eggs or milt; lesions on their flanks; torn fins). However, it was not known whether natural reproduction was occurring or whether recruitment of naturally-produced fish was sufficient to maintain the fishery.