We sampled ichthyoplankton, zooplankton, and juvenile fish during May, August, and November 1988 from 15 excavated floodplain ponds along the Mississippi River. In May, densities of larval shadDorosomaspp. ranged from 1.1 to 87.8/m3and densities of larval sunfishLepomisspp. ranged from 0.3 to 19.3/m3among ponds. Ponds with long (>1,800 m), sinuous shorelines, high volumes (>55,000 m3), and variable depth had high ichthyoplankton densities (>50/m3); smaller, low-volume ponds frequently had low ichthyoplankton densities (<10/m3). Ponds that sustained high densities of larval sunfish during May had high numbers of young-ofthe-year sunfish in August and November, which suggests that ponds with high ichthyoplankton densities ultimately contributed more fish to river populations. Pond morphometry probably did not affect food availability, because zooplankton densities were not correlated with ichthyoplankton densities and larval threadfin shadD. petenensegrew faster in ponds with high shad densities. Morphometry may have regulated access of spawning adults to ponds or affected larval fish growth and survival in ponds. Future excavations should adhere to guidelines used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to ensure that ponds function as viable fish nursery areas.