TPWD 1964 F-3-R-11 #928: Fisheries Reconnaissance: Segment Completion Report, Region 5-8, Texas, 1964-1965

SEGMENT COMPLETION REPORT As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Project No. F—S-R-ll Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 5—8 Job No. 3—18 (Sega 4) Title: Fisheries Reconnaissance_ Project Leader: John N. Dorchester Jo Weldon Watson Executive Director Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Austin, Texas Marian Toole Eugene A. Walker DwJ Geordinator Assistant Director for Wildlife . September 22, 1964: ABSTRACT During this segment reconnaissance surveys were conducted on seven reservoirs in Region SmB. Data for these lakes are reported separately in the following order: Tyler State Park Lake, Dan ”B” Reservoir, Lake 0' the Pines, Lake Murvaul, Lake Striker, Caddo Lake and Lake Tyler. In addition, 15 small lakes in the Sam Rayburn Basin (formerly McGee Bend) were check netted in order to determine if it would be feasible to set up a management program on these lakes prior to impoundment by Sam Rayburn Reservoir. It was not. Netting and seining collections were made on each lake with the exception of Tyler State Park Lake and Lake Striker. The current data were compared to past collections. Water analysis included pH, methyl-orange alkalinity, chlorides, turbidity and surface temperature. Two lakes, Dam ”B” Reservoir and Caddo Lake, suffered decreases in per cent of game fish numbers while Lake Murvaul showed a good increase. The other lakes remained fairly stable. All lakes were below normal water level with Lake Striker being down some 9 feet below normal. Submerged aquatic vegetation is a standard problem in all of the lakes with Lake Tyler also having a lotus problem. Recommendations are made to continue this job. SEGMENT COMPLETION REPORT State of Texas Project No. Fa5~Rwll Name: Fisheries Evaluation and Surveys of the Waters of Region 5~B. Job No. B418 (Seg. 4) Title: Fisheries Reconnaissance Period Covered: February 1, 1965 _ January 51, 1964 ___l_iA_____A__L_L_________A_L______A_HH__L________.________L_ OBJECTIVES: To determine gross changes in (a) fish populations, (b) fishing quality and (0) factors influencing fish populations. TECHNIQUES USED: Netting trips were made to five bodies of water that had previously been surveyed. The lakes are as follows: Dam ”B” Reservoir, Lake 0' the Pines, Lake Murvaul, Caddo Lake and Lake Tyler. In addition several small lakes in the Sam Rayburn Lake Basin (formerly McGee Bend) were seined and netted. Visits were also made to Lake Striker and Tyler State Park Lake. Fish were collected with experimental type gill nets, the dimensions of which were 125 feet long, 6 and 8 feet deep with mesh size ranging from 1 to 6 inches. On the major lakes surveyed there were 14 nets set overnight. Also bag seines were used to make seining collections on some of the lakes surveyed. These seines were of two sizes, one was 26 feet long, 6 feet deep with 1/4 inch mesh. The other was 15 feet long, 4 feet deep with 1/8 inch mesh. Observations were made on several items such as water level, status of aquatic vegetation, fishing pressure and public access. Water analysis included pH, methyl—orange alkalinity, chlorides, turbidity (secchi) and water temperature. The findings for each lake are reported separately and as follows: TYLER STATE PARK LAKE Tyler State Park Lake, located in Smith County 10 miles north of Tyler was surveyed in 1959, 1960, 1961 and 1962. The lake was completely renovated in 1961. 9 5 days before the scheduled reconnaissance survey was to be made the dam broke and the lake was completely drained. the lake in the event the dam was repaired. At the time of this writing a contract has been let for the repair of the dam, plus repairing other struc— tures such as the boat dock, swimming area, lights, etc. Meanwhile, a porn tion of the lake bed has been disked and planted with rye grass. Other plans call for the spreading of limestone and the construction of a concrete boat launching ramp, the latter by the Texas Highway Department. Even though this lake was reaching its peak on fishing, the improve— ments being made while it is dry and the restocking that is planned, should put the lake in better condition than it has been for a number of years. DAM ”B" RESERVOIR Dam "B" Reservoir is located in Jasper and Tyler Counties on the Angelina and Neches Rivers. Surveys have been conducted in 1958d59, l96l~62, and 1963. Table l is a checklist of all Species of fish collected from Dam ”B” in all the surveys. Two additional species were added to the list in 1963. They were the golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) and emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides). Table 2 is a comparison of the percentage of numbers of netted fish for all surveys. The number of game fish reached an all—time low with only 27.41 per cent being taken during 1965. However, according to Table 5 which is the percentages of weights of fishes, the per cent of game fish taken is up slightly over the past 3 years. The change in these figures can be partly attributed to the increase in the numbers and size of blue catfish and flats head catfish collected. Also, the great increase of small gizzard shad and the decrease in numbers but the increase in weight of smallmouth buffalo. Most of the other species of fish have remained fairly stable with both white and black crappie dropping off in numbers and weight. Table 4 is a comparison of average ”K” factors to the regional average. Vegetation, which is a serious problem in the form of water hyacinths as well as buttonbush and black willow, has maintained its status. The sub— merged vegetation problem has been helped somewhat by the fact that the lake level dropped in mid-summer and the water stayed muddy. The lake was approxi— mately 4 to 5 feet below normal. In spite of the low water level this lake has been a favorite spot for family camping. The U. S. Corps of Engineers has opened up many new areas around the lake for access and camping areas. Also the 58th Texas Legislature appropriated funds for the construction of a state park at this lake. _. _ — .— .._...... _ —- — —-. .—.-—-_._ _ — _ _. _ — __ _. .— —— .— —— .....- .— _ .- —-_ —.—- __ _.... — H .— Table l. A check list of Dam ”B” Reservoir Fish Species. Species 1958-59 1961 1962 1965 Alligator gar (Lepisosteus spatula) x Shortnose gar (L. platostomus) x Spotted gar (L. oculatus) x x x x Longnose gar (L. osseus) x x x x Bowfin (Amia calva) x Threadfin shad iDorosoma petenense) x Gizzard shad (2, cepedianum) x x x x Blue sucker (Cycleptus elongatus) x Smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus) x x x x River carpsucker (Carpiodes carpio) x x x x Gray redhorse (Moxostoma congestum) x Blacktail redhorse (M. poecilurum) x Spotted sucker (Minytrema melanops) x x x Lake chubsucker (Erimyzon sucetta) X Carp (Cyprinus carpio) x x _5_ Table l. A check list of Dam ”B” Reservoir Fish Species (Continued) Species - 1958—59 1961 1962 1965 Golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) x Emerald shiner (Notropis athernoides) x Ribbon shiner (N. fumeus) x Weed shiner (N. texanus) x x Chub shiner (N. potteri) x x Pallid shiner (N. amnis) X x Blacktail shiner (N. venustus) x x x Red shiner (N. lutrensis) x x x Sand shiner (N. stramineus) x x Mimic shiner (N. volucellus) x Silvery minnow (Hybognathus nuchalis) x x Bullhead minnow (Pimephales vigilax) x x x Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) x x x x Blue catfish (£3 furcatus) I x x x x Black bullhead (I. melas) x Yellow bullhead (I. natalis) x Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) x x x x Golden topminnow (Fundulus chrysotus) x x x Blackstripe topminnow (E. notatus) X x x Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) x x x x Brook silversides (Labidesthes sicculus) x x x White bass (Roccus chrysops) * x Spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus) x x x Largemouth bass (M3 salmoides) x x x x Warmouth (Chaenobryttus gulosus) x x Spotted sunfish (Lepomis punctatus) x x x Redear sunfish (L. microlophus) x x x x Bluegill sunfish (L. macrochirus) x x x x Longear sunfish (L: megalotis) x White crappie (Pomoxis annularis) x x x x Black crappie (E. nigromaculatus) x x x x River darter (Hadropterus shumardi) x Logperch (Percina caprodes) x Scaly sand darter (Ammocrypta vivax) x Bluntnose darter (Etheostoma chlorosomum) x Slough darter (E. gracile) x Freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens) x x Number of Species 41 16 55 50 * Introduced Table 2. Comparison of percentages of Numbers of Netted fish from Dam ”B” Reservoir. Species 1958—59 1961 1962 1965 Alligator gar* .54 0 0 0 Longnose gar* .12 14.74 5.66 2.88 Shortnose gar* .08 6.51 0 0 Spotted gar* .68 0 5.00 6.75 Bowfin* .68 0 0 0 Gizzard shad* 1 .27 10.55 27.00 40.58 Blue sucker* .08 0 0 0 [\D PWOCNOOOONOSOOCNOOrP-MOOBOPOOJO .11 18.95 14.55 15.58 .96 4.21 6.54 0.96 Smallmouth buffalo* River carpsucker* Gray redhorse* .24 0 0 0 Blacktail redhorse* .56 0 0 0 Spotted sucker* .58 0 0.66 2.40 Lake chubsucker* .08 0 0 0 0arp* .80 0 0 0.48 .20 4.21 11.55 2.40 .72 12.65 5.00 7.22 Channel catfish Blue catfish Black bullhead* .16 0 0 0 Yellow bullhead* .47 0 0 0 Flathead catfish .60 2.11 0.54 0.96 Spotted bass .24 0 0 0.48 Largemouth bass .56 4.21 1.54 2.88 Warmouth .47 0 0 0 Redear sunfish .80 4.21 5.00 1.45 Bluegill sunfish .24 1.05 1.67 1.45 Longear sunfish 0 0 0.55 0 White crappie 10.60 2.11 10.00 7.69 Black crappie 5.40 5.26 4.00 2.88 Freshwater drum* 2.56 9.47 6.00 5.58 Rough fish* 62.57 64.21 64.99 72.59 Game fish 57.65 55.79 55.01 27.41 Total 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 Table 5. Comparison of Percentages of Weights of Netted Fish from Dam "B“ Reservoir. Species 1958-59 1961 1962 1965 Alligator gar* 1.08 0 0 0 Longnose gar* 6.47 29.54 15.75 5.55 Shortnose gar* 0.16 7.61 0 0 Spotted gar* 9.70 0 6.57 11.16 Bowfin* 2.86 0 0 0 Gizzard shad* 6.17 5.59 15.79 12.05 Blue sucker* 0.20 0 0 0 Smallmouth buffalo* 29.25 28.51 27.25 41.71 River carpsucker* 7.58 4.79 10.77 0.87 Gray redhorse* 0.56 0 0 0 Blacktail redhorse* 0.14 0 0 0 Spotted sucker* 4.75 0 0.29 0.76 Lake chubsucker* 0.02 0 0 0 Carp* 2.42 0 0 6.75 Channel catfish 4.29 1.84 7.27 1.58 Blue catfish 5.08 7.48 5.59 8.26 Black bullhead* 0.21 0 0 0 Yellow bullhead* 0.24 0 0 0 Flathead catfish 1.91 5.57 1.86 4.11 Spotted bass 0.14 0 0 0.27 Largemouth bass 5.85 2.26 1.54 1.79 Warmouth 0.17 0 0 0 Redear sunfish 1.02 0.66 0.42 0.41 Bluegill sunfish 0.71 0.09 0.24 0.11 -Longear sunfish 0 0 0.05 0 White crappie 6.59 1.58 4.09 5.46 Black crappie 5.66 2.15 5.00 1.74 Freshwater drum* 5.21 7.15 5.78 1.64 Rough fish* 74.60 80.59 78.16 76.65 Game fish 25.40 19.41 21.84 25.57 Total 100.00 100.00 100.00 100 00 Water Quality pH M.0. Alkalinity Chlorides Turbidity (secchi) 7.0 55 p.p.m. 70.92 p.p.m. 12—18 inches Table 4 is a comparison of the 1965 average ”K” factors and the regional averages. All of the Dan ”B" game fish are below the regional average with the exception of redear sunfish which is equal to the regional average. _ — — __ _ _ .... .— _. _ c—.. _ —- _. — .—. Ih— __ — — _ _ _. .— — ._. n..- — — — — “a —— _. _. __ — _- ..- .— Table 4. Comparison of Dam "B” Average ”K" Factor to Average ”K" for Region. Species Number Dam "B” Average ”K” Number Regional Average ”K” Channel catfish 5 1.56 578 1.70 Blue catfish 15 1.57 118 1.82 Flathead catfish 2 1.98 85 2.05 Largemouth bass 6 2.25 1,166 2.72 Spotted bass 1 2.09 156 2.55 Redear sunfish 5 5.82 270 5.82 Bluegill sunfish 5 4.18 1,189 4.58 White crappie 16 2.90 957 5.05 Black crappie 6 5.15 925 5.54 — .— — ._ —- —- — — - ~— _.—-..—- _ —-. .— —-. _. _ _..— .—. —- — — .— _ —- — — — ~— —— ..... —- —— _ — _ ._. .— ..... LAKE 0' THE PINES Lake 0' the Pines is located in Marion County west of Jefferson. This lake was surveyed in 1958—59, 1960, 1961,1962 and 1965. Table 5 is a checklist of fish species from all collections. One species, bluntnose darter (Etheostoma chlorosomum), was added during the 1965 survey. Table 6 is a comparison of the per cent of numbers of fish collected by nets. The greatest change was the increase.in gizzard shad and the decrease in black crappie. All other changes are slight, however, there has been an over—all in— crease in sunfish. —- u... .— — _ _. ...——-_. —— .— ..—- .— — -— _. _-..-— ——- .— _. ..... _ .... —- — u. .— .— a—a — — — — .— —. _. _ .— Table 5. A Checklist of Lake 0' the Pines Fish Species. Species 1958459 1960 1961 1962 1965 Shortnose gar (Lepisosteus platostomus) x Spotted gar (L. oculatus) x x x x x Longnose gar (L. osseus) x x Bowfin (Amia.calva) x x x x Threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense) x x x x Gizzard shad (2. cepedianum) x x x x x Grass pickerel (Esox americanus) x x x x Chain pickerel (E. niger) x x x Smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus) x x Blacktail redhorse (Moxostoma poecilurum) x Spotted sucker (Minytrema melanops) x x x x x Lake chubsucker (Erimyzon sucetta) x x x x Carp (Cyprinus carpio) x x Golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) x x x Ribbon shiner (Notropis fumeus) x x Spottail shiner (N, venustus) x x x x x Redhorse shiner (N, lutrensis) x x x x x -7“ Table 5. A Checklist of Lake 0' the Pines Fish Species (Continued) Species l958~59 1960 1961 1962 1965 Sand shiner (N. stramineus) X Mimic shiner (N. volucellus) Silvery minnow (Hybognathus nuchalis) Bullhead minnow (Pimephales vigilax) Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) Blue catfish (L. furcatus) Black bullhead (I.melas) Yellow bullhead TE. natalis) Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) Golden topminnow (Fundulus chrysotus) Starhead topminnow (F. notti) Blackstripe topminnow (F. notatus) Common mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) Pirate perch (Aphredoderus sayanus) Brook silversides (Labidesthes sicculus) White bass (Roccus chrysops) Spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus) Largemouth bass (N. salmoides) Warmouth (Chaenobryttus gulosus) Green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) Spotted sunfish (L. punctatus) Redear sunfish (L. microlophus) Bluegill sunfish—(L. macrochirus) Redbreast sunfish TL. auritus) Longear sunfish (L. megalotis) White crappie (Pomoxis annularis) Black crappie (P. nigromaculatus) Flier (Centrarchus macropterus) Blackside darter (Hadropterus maculatus) Log perch (Percina caprodes) Bluntnose darter (Etheostoma chlorosomum) x NNNNNNMMNN a M a s a x M M N s a a a a a s a M N NMNMM >4 MHNMM NM NM NM MNNMMMNMMMNMMMNNMNM NMNNMMNN N M Freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens) x Number of species 47 59 22 24 29 _. _. _ _. n—n _. u— _. n. _. ._=. _ — .— —n _ _- _-. _. —. _. ._.. _ n..- _. -—- _. —q —.— _— —. .— .— -.-— _... .— _. _. _. Table 6. Comparison of Percentages of Number of Netted Fish from Lake 0' the Pines. Species 1958~59 1960 1961 1962 1965 Shortnose gar‘3e 0.08 0 0 0 0 Spotted gar* 18.25 15.44 2.79 6.51 9.15 Longnose gar* 0.42 0.25 0 0 0 Bowfin* 1.04 0.80 0 _ 0.59 0.48 Threadfin shad* 0 0 0.56 0 0 Gizzard shad* 7.00 26.19 44.14 50.78 48.08 Grass pickerel* 0.45 0.12 0 0.59 0 Chain pickerel* 0.40 0 0 0 0 Smallmouth buffaloi 10.78 0.58 0 0 0 Blacktail redhorse* 0.56 0 0 0 0 Spotted sucker* 2.05 10.20 8.94 5.55 1.44 Lake chubsucker* 0.56 0.12 0.56 6.51 0 Carp* 1.04 0.46 0 0 0 .8“ Table 6. Comparison of Percentages of Number of Netted Fish from Lake 0' the Pines. (Continued). Species l958~59 1960 1961 1962 1965 Golden shiner* 0.06 0 0 2.96 0 Channel catfish 4.98 0.58 2.25 0 0 Blue catfish . 2.78 0.25 0 0 0.48 Black bullhead* 17.41 10.66 8.94 6.51 5.85 Yellow bullheadt 5.67 5.71 1.12 5.55 1.44 Flathead catfish 1.24 0.25 0 0 0 White bass 2.15 4.52 4.47 0.59 1.44 Spotted bass 2.82 0.12 0 0 0.96 Largemouth bass 6.46 5.21 7.26 5.55 4.55 Warmouth 4.49 2.67 1.12 1.77 0.48 Green sunfish 0.05 0 0 0 0 Spotted sunfish 0.59 0.80 0 0.59 1.44 Redear sunfish 0.54 1.51 2.79 2.96 4.81 Bluegill sunfish 5.75 7.88 4.47 5.91 9.15 Redbreast sunfish 0.11 0.58- 0 0 0 Longear sunfish 0.25 0 0 0 0 White crappie 2.82 4.98 5.55 1.18 1.95 Black crappie 5.22 4.06 7.26 20.12 10.58 Flier 0 0.12 0 0 0 Freshwater drum* 0.06 0 0 0 0 Rough fish * 65.79 66.51 67.05 65.55 64.42 Game fish 56.21 55.49 52.95 56.67 55.58 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 _ _ .— .— __ — __ ..... __ _ ._n .... _. r... _. H __ _.. _. .— .—. — — —- .— .— _—- —. _. .— _. _ ._— ...—_.. .— ... .- _ Table 7 compares the percentages of weights of fishes. Again the greatest increase is in gizzard shad and largemouth bass with a decrease in black crappie. Total percentages of numbers and weights of game fish and rough fish changed only slightly. .- — —- _ ._.. _- .— _. _— _. .— ._. _. _. _ .- —. _. .— _- — u —. .— _ .— ._. .— _. .— _. .— _ —- _- _. .- .— _. F. _. Table 7 Comparison of percentages of weights of all netted fish from Lake 0' the Pines. Species 1958—59 1960 1961 1962 1965 Shortnose gar* 0.27 0 0 0 0 Spotted gar* 14.50 25.28 4.17 11.22 14.95 Longnose gar* 0.77 1.16 0 0 0 Bowfin* 5.47 5.98 0 1.41 1.55 Threadfin shad* 0 0 0.05 0 0 Gizzard shad* 5.50 19.54 55.05 24.05 40.57 Grass pickerel* 0.22 0.05 0 0.42 0 Chain pickerel* 0.17 0 0 0 0 Smallmouth buffalo* 50.12 5.51 0 0 0 Blacktail redhorse* 0.25 0 0 0 0 Spotted sucker* 1.50 16.18 20.91 18.48 4t55 Lake chubsucker* 0.14 0.05 0.50 2.68 0 Carp* 1.54 0 0 ' 0 1.98