Diel distribution of age-0 largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, in B. E. Jordan Lake, North Carolina (USA) and its relation to cover

We used prepositioned area electrofishers (PAEs, 10x1.5 m) to assess diel d ifferences in distribution of age-0 largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, in August 1992-1993 in a paired sampling design. PAEs were placed parallel tc, shore in an embayment of an unvegetated reservoir (B. E. Jordan Lake, North Carolina, USA). The catch per unit effort (CPUE=fish/PAE) was signifi cantly higher at night than during the day in both years, indicating that a ge-0 largemouth bass exhibit nocturnal inshore movements. Age-0 largemouth bass captured inshore during day were smaller than those captured at night, indicating that movement patterns may change ontogenetically. Inshore-offs hore movements of age-0 largemouth bass were significantly reduced in the p resence of cover, suggesting that diel movements were influenced by specifi c habitat components. Diel movements likely were related to foraging, resti ng and predator avoidance behavior and could affect population dynamics and introduce bias in assessment programs.