Summer pool food habits of flathead catfish in Norris Reservoir, Tennessee

Of the 172 flathead catfish Pylodictis olivaris collected from Norris Reservoir, Tennessee, from 1 June through 31 October 1996, 106 (61%) contained food items in the stomach. Examination of stomach contents showed that fish were the most important food item by frequency of occurrence; 56 of the 106 stomachs examined contained fish. Crayfish were the second most important food item by number with 54 of the 106 stomachs containing crayfish. For flatheads greater than 44 cm in total length, fish were the only food item consumed. For the flathead smaller than 44 cm in length, crayfish were the most important food item consumed.

Centrarchids were the most frequent fishes consumed (N=39, 36.7%) followed by clupeids (N=13, 12.3%). Of the centrarchids, all were bluegill {Lepomis macrochirus) with the exception of 6 fish, 2 of which were smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) and 4 were largemouth bass M. salmoides. The clupeids were threadfin shad Dorosoma petenense and gizzard shad D. cepedianum. Ictalurids were also found in the stomachs and were represented by a single species, the flathead catfish; only 4 were found in adult flathead stomachs. Aquatic insect larvae including mayflies, stoneflies, and a dragonfly were also consumed but in insignificant amounts.