TPWD 1973 F-2-R-20 #1525: Job Progress Report: Fishery Management Recommendations, Region 2-B Fisheries Studies, Texas, Project F-2-R-20

JOB PROGRESS REPORT {__. As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Project No. F-2-R-20 FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS REGION 2-B Job No. B-26, Fishery Management Recommendations Project Leader: Darrell W. Butler Asst. Project Leader: James L. Lasswell Clayton T. Garrison Executive Director Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Austin, Texas David L. Pritchard Robert J. Kemp, Director D-J Coordinator Fish and Wildlife Division April 25, 1973 Summary Preliminary meetings and public hearings to discuss fishing regulations were conducted in the Possum Kingdom and Edwards Plateau Regulatory Areas. Existing fishing regulations were considered to be adequate and no changes were recommended. Lakes Belton, Buchanan, Canyon, Inks, Lyndon B. Johnson, Stillhouse Hollow, and Travis were surveyed during 1972. Recommendations concerning management of the above lakes were made as follows: 1. Canyon Lake should be stocked with walleye pike and/or smallmouth bass to provide additional sport fish species and to aid in the control of the large rough fish population. 2. Since Lake Travis is to be stocked with striped bass in the near future, a quarterly netting program should be instituted to determine the effects of the stocking. 3. Quarterly netting surveys should be continued on Lake Lyndon B. Johnson to evaluate the effects of the renovation in April of 1971. The effects of the steam generation plant now under construction on this lake should also be investigated. 4. There was no need for vegetative control measures in any of the lakes surveyed during 1972. 5. This job should be continued to provide valid fishery management recommendations for waters in Region 2-B through population data sampling. JOB PROGRESS REPORT State of Texas Project No. F-2-R-2O Name: Region 2-B Fisheries Studies Job No. B-26 . Title: Fishery Management Recommendations Contract Period: February 1, 1972 to January 31, 1973 P. S. OBJECTIVE: To sitUate fishery management practices in the public waters of Region 2-B. SEGMENT OBJECTIVES: 1. To propose fish harvest regulations for the waters of Region 2-B. 2. To recommend renovation or population control for waters which do not provide adequate sports fishing.' 3. To recommend supplemental stocking of hatchery reared fish in newly impounded reservoirs, renovated reservoirs, waters which have sustained major fish kills and waters which have negligible natural reproduction. 4. To determine vegetation control needs. 5. To determine public access needs. PROCEDURES: 1. Meetings were held between game management officers, biologists, and supervisory personnel to discuss existing hunting and fishing laws and to propose changes needed in the hunting and fishing regulations for the counties in the Edwards Plateau, Possum Kingdom, and Trinity-Brazos Regulatory areas. The proclamation resulting from the above meetings was presented to the public at hearings in each county under Regulatory Authority and to the Commissioners of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for their approval or disapproval. 2. Lakes Belton, Buchanan, Canyon, Inks, Lyndon B. Johnson, Stillhouse Hollow, and Travis were netted during this segment using standard experimental gill nets, 150 feet in length and 8 feet in depth. The mesh size ranged from 1 inch to 3% inches. The mesh size increased in % inch increments with every 25 feet of net. A 20-foot common sense minnow seine with a depth of 4 feet and a mesh size of 3/8 inch was used in seining collections. Water quality determinations were made during each netting survey.’ 3. Observations were made during each survey to determine if aquatic vegetation was present in such quantities that access or fishability of fishing areas might be hampered. 4. Fishing pressures and the resulting need for additional public access sites were evaluated during each netting survey. FINDINGS: The data for Region 2-B is presented in a slightly different form for the year 1972. Graphs are used to present much of the netting data for 1972. Graphs are useful because they can be drawn to show pertinent information at a glance and data comparisons are generally easier to see than when they are presented in tabular form. The netting data is presented as catch per unit of effort (100 feet of net) since this form appears to be more useful than presenting it in percentages (refer to Figures 1 and 2). Table 1 is a checklist of all fish species collected in Region 2-B during 1972. Canyon Lake Canyon Lake is a large (surface area=8,240 acres), deep (mean depth=47 feet) lake loacted entirely within Comal County. The lake was formed in 1964 by the impoundw ment of waters of the Guadalupe River. The lake is controlled by the Army Corps of Engineers and is used primarily for conservation, flood control, and irrigation. Canyon Lake was netted quarterly during 1972. A total of 1,331 fish weighing 9,957.07 pounds were taken during four gill netting surveys from a total of 60 over— night, bottom gill net sets. Rough fish comprised 65.63 per cent of the catch by number and 61.47 per cent by weight, with gray redhorse suckers accounting for the greatest biomass. Game fish made up 20.23 per cent of the catch by number and 36.66 per cent by weight, with channel catfish and yellow catfish accounting for the greatest number and weight (Table 2). Figure 1 shows a comparison of the number and weight of the rough, game, and sunfish taken during each quarterly netting survey. The ratio of rough fish to to sunfish and the average size of these groups for each sampling period The total weight and number of each group can be figured Note the great difference in the number and weight of each group taken in each netting survey. One or two yearly netting surveys on a lake are not adequate. It is felt that quarterly or possibly bi-monthly netting surveys are necessary to make estimates of the size and ratio of fish species taken with gill nets. game fish can be seen at a glance. Figure 2 shows the per cent composition of each group during each sample period but does not show their size or abundance. For gill netting data to be of value it should show changes in fish production. By using gill netting data, one should be able to show the expected peak of fish production during a lakes third or fourth year of impoundment and then the decline in that lakes fish production until a more or less stable level is reached. A graph (Figure 3) was drawn from netting data taken quarterly from Canyon Lake for a period dating from 1965 (first year after the lake was impounded) through 1972. The average catch per 100 feet of net in weight and numbers of rough fish, game fish, and sunfish is shown for each year. The shape of the graph indicates that quarterly netting surveys are useful, since it does follow the expected curve. -Table 1- Common and Scientific Names of Fishes Collected in Region 2-B During 1972 Common Names Spotted gar Longnose gar Gizzard shad Rainbow trout Mexican tetra Carp Golden shiner Weed shiner Blacktail shiner Red shiner Smallmouth buffalo River carpsucker Gray redhorse sucker Spotted sucker Channel catfish Blue catfish Black bullhead catfish Yellow bullhead catfish Flathead catfish Tidewater silverside White bass Spotted black bass Largemouth black bass Green sunfish Warmouth sunfish Bluegill sunfish Redear sunfish Longear sunfish Redbreast sunfish Spotted sunfish White Crappie Black crappie Freshwater drum Rio Grande perch Mozambique tilapia Scientific Names Lepisosteus oculatus Lepisosteus osseus Dorosoma cepedianum Salmo gairdneri Astyanax mexicanus Cyprinus carpio Notemigonus chrysoleucas Notropis texanus Notropis venustus Notropis lutrensis Ictiobus bubalus Carpiodes carpio Moxostoma congestum Minytrema melanops Ictalurus punctatus Ictalurus furcatus Ictalurus melas Ictalurus natalis Pylodictis olivaris Menidia beryllina Morone chrysops Micropterus punctulatus Micropterus salmoides Lepomis_cyanellus lg. ulosus Lepomis macrochirus Lepomis microlophus Lepomis megalotis Lepomis auritus Lepomis punctatus Pomoxis annularis Pomoxis nigromaculatus Aplodinotus grunniens Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum Tilapia mossambica -Table 2- Results of Canyon Lake Gill Netting for 1972 60 Nets Set Per Cent Per Cent of Weight of Average S ecies Number Number Pounds Wei ht Wei ht Longnose gar 26 1.95 61.49 3.14 2.37 Gizzard shad 441 33.13 202.15 10.33 0.46 Golden shiner 18 1.35 5.01 0.26 0.28 Carp 51 ' 3.83 342.45 17.50 6.71 River carpsucker 15 1.13 89.20 4.56 5.95 Gray redhorse sucker 315 23.67 485.40 24.80 1.54 Yellow bullhead catfish 5 0.38 1.44 0.07 0.29 Channel catfish* 121 9.09 316.86 16.19 2.62 Flathead catfish* 55 4.13 303.02 15.48 5.51 Warmouth sunfish 38 2.85 7.58 0.39 0.20 Green sunfish 30 2.25 4.82 0.26 0.16 Redbreast sunfish 3 0.23 v 0.88 0.04 0.29 Bluegill sunfish 56 4.21 7.01 0.36 0.13 Longear sunfish 6 0.45 1.45 0.07 0.24 Redear sunfish 54 4.06 19.21 0.98 0.36 Largemouth black bass* 40 3.00 62.10 3.17 1.55 White crappie* 45 3.38 39.97 2.04 0.89 Black crappie* l 0.08 1.75 0.09 1.75 Rio Grande perch 10 0.75 2.84 0.15 0.28 Mozambique tilapia 1 0.08 2.44 2.44 2.44 Total 1331 100.00 1957.07 100.00 * Desi nates Game Fish S ecies - "Table 3- Results of Lake L. B. J. Gill Netting for 1972 75 Nets Set Per Cent Per Cent of Weight of Average Species Number Number (Pounds! Weight Weight Longnose gar 199 9.49 298.13 14.89 1.50 Gizzard shad 338 16.12 149.95 7.49 0.44 Golden shiner l ' 0.05 0.31 0.02 0.31 Carp 224 10.68 381.21 19.04 1.42 River carpsucker 507 24.18 461.36 23.04 0.91 Smallmouth buffalo 109 5.20 96.30 4.81 0.88 Gray redhorse 19 0.91 8.83 0.44 0.46 Yellow bullhead 3 0.14 0.69 0.03 0.23 Black bullhead 25 1.19 6.08 0.30 0.24 Channel catfish* 54 2.58 83.81 4.19 1.55 Blue catfish* 2 0.10 - 4.75 0.24 2.38 Flathead catfish* 16 0.76 63.45 3.17 3.97 White bass* 230 10.97 238.21 11.89 1.04 Warmouth sunfish 21 1.00 11.60 0.58 0.55 Green sunfish 33 . 1.57 6.26 0.31 0.20 Redbreast sunfish 5 0.24 0.82 0.04 0.16 Bluegill sunfish 83 3.96 13.58 0.68 0.16 Longear sunfish 24 1.13 3.39 0.17 0.14 Redear sunfish 1 0.05 0.25 0.01 0.25 Largemouth black bass* 85 4.05 85.52 4.27 1.01 Spotted bass* 1 0.05 0.31 0.01 0.31 White crappie* 102 4.86 38.66 1.93 0.38 Black crappie* l 0.05 0.50 0.02 0.50 Rio Grande perch 1 0.05 0.19 0.01 0.19 Freshwater drum 13 0.62 48.37 2.42 3.72 Total 2097 100.00 2002.44 100.00 8 Designates Game Fish Species 25 I Numbers :5 221'! Pounds of Rough Fish 2 20 y m Pounds of Game Fish '5 / Pounds of Sunfish *2: 1. g a u. 5 = 2 1° 5‘ 5 555555 E :5 5 as 5 5. i I 5252:: € via: '55“ a o 5 s s 2 Feb 'May Figure 1.--Comparison of the rough fish, game fish, and sunfish caught per 100 feet of gill net during each of 4 gill netting surveys on Canyon Lake in 1972. 90 ' I 96 by Numbers 22 %Rough by Weight m %Gome by Weight on O _ ‘5 96 Sunfish by Weight 70 5 5 g 5 60; g a .. 5 5 5 5 S 50 I; v '5 5 5 u __ 5.5- 5 v ...... 5 I a 5; m .... use 55 a 40 ,- 5 555-555 5 5555555 5 5 1: 5 5 _ 5.52555 5 5555555 5 5 3°55 an 55?: 55 2° 5 5...". . 5 5.5.5 5 525 gen: E? In”? vii I l.:::::: E5 55 I 51:: 5 5;: 10 " 5::"1' :: ::.' I '33: _ I 5:: .5. 535 EE 5 5:. 5 {5'5 ,4}: ii" in: 51% Feb May July fish, and sunfish (weight and number) caught during each of 4 gill netting surveys on Canyon Lake in 1972. ' Similar graphs drawn using data from only one or two netting surveys a year did not show this. This further indicates the need for numerous yearly netting surveys on each lake. Plans have been made to stock Canyon Lake with walleye and/or smallmouth bass, if the fish can be obtained for stocking. Quarterly netting should be continued on this lake. Lake L. B. J. Lake L. B. J. is a large (surface area=6,375 acres), relatively shallow (mean depth=22 feet) lake loacted in Burnet and Llano Counties. The lake was formed in 1951 by the impoundment of the waters of the Colorado River. It is controlled by the Lower Colorado River Authority and its waters are to be used for hydroelectric power. Lake L. B. J. was netted five times during 1972. A total of 2,097 fish weighing 2,002.44 pounds were taken from a total of 75 overnight, bottom gill net sets (15 gill net sets per netting survey). Rough fish comprised 68.63 per cent of the catch by number and 72.49 per cent by weight, with river carpsuckers accounting for the greatest number and biomass. Game fish comprised 23.42 per cent by number and 36.66 per cent by weight, with white bass accounting for the greatest number and biomass (Table 3). Figure 4 shows the catch per 100 feet of net of rough fish, game fish and sunfish taken during each netting survey. Note the small size of the game fish. Most of these are hatchery stocked fish and are only 1.5 to 2 years old. The rough fish are also relatively small except during the March netting survey. The fish caught at this time (primarily river carpsucker and carp) averaged approximately 1.75 pounds and had fully developed gonads. From this graph, it is again easy to see the need for numerous netting surveys each year. Quarterly netting surveys will be continued on Lake L. B. J. in order to evaluate the long term effect of renovation. A steam generator plant is presently being constructed on Lake L. B. J. and will soon be in operation. Its effects upon the fish population of the lake will also be studied. Lake Stillhouse Hollow Lake Stillhouse Hollow is a large (surface area=6,430) lake located entirely within Bell County. Its mean depth is 37 feet. It was formed in 1968 by the impoundment of the waters of the Lampasas River. The lake is controlled by the Army Crops of Engineers and its primary purpose is water conservation. Lake Stillhouse Hollow was netted quarterly during 1972. A total of 804 fish weighing 1,108.19 pounds were taken.during four gill netting surveys from a total of 55 bottom gill net sets. Rough fish comprised 49.75 per cent of the catch by number and 49.60 per cent by weight, with river carpsuckers contributing the greatest biomass. Game fish made up 32.47 per cent of the catch by number and 47.88 per cent by weight, with largemouth black bass accounting for the greatest biomass (Table 4). Figure 5 shows the catch per 100 feet of net of rough fish, game fish, and sunfish. During each survey the weight of game fish was almost equal to that of the rough fish although there were generally greater numbers of rough fish. With the numerous small rough fish which were caught during 1972, it would appear that they are beginning to dominate the fish population in the lake. However, this is not the case. Figure 6 shows the catch in number and weight of rough, game, and sunfish per 100 feet of net for the years 1968 (first year of impoundment), 1970 1971, and 1972. There has been a steady decline in the numbers and weight of , rough fish taken each year while the game fish have increased slightly. This is unusual and can not readily be explained. Did one species of rough fish account for this decrease or was there a decrease in each species? Which species accounted for the increase in game fish? Figure 7 shows the number and weight of the five major rough fish species taken in each 100 feet of net during the years listed above. There is an overall decline in the number of each species taken from 1968 through 1972. There was also a decrease in the weight of rough fish taken, with the exception of the smallmouth buffalo. Figure 8 shows the same type of data as Figure 7 for the five major game species. Although the total number of game fish caught per 100 feet of net remained approXimately the same, there was a large increase in the weight of fish caught in each 100 feet of net. The number of black bass decreased from 1968 to 1972, however their size more than doubled. There were no white bass taken in 1968, but they have become increasingly more numerous until they are quite common in net surveys. Lake Travis Lake Travis is the second largest lake in Region 2-B with a surface area of 18,930 acres. It is a very deep lake with a mean depth of 62 feet and a maximum depth of 192 feet. The lake was formed in 1940 by the impoundment of waters of the Colorado River. It is controlled by the Lower Colorado River Authority and the lake is used for flood control, recreation, irrigation, power generation, and for municipal and industrial water supplies. Lake Travis was netted three times during 1972. A total of 529 fish weighing ‘l,229.30 pounds were taken from a total of 40 overnight, bottom gill net sets. Rough fish comprised 60.87 per cent of the catch by number and 60.13 per cent by weight, with gizzard shad accounting for the greatest number and smallmouth buffalo providing the greatest biomass. Game fish comprised 31.57 per cent of the catch by number and 38.98 per cent by weight, with white bass accounting for the greatest number and flathead catfish the greates weight (Table 5). e been made to stock Lake Travis with striped bass in the near future. Plans hav ituted on Lake Travis to evaluate A program of quarterly netting should be inst the striped bass introduction.