TPWD 1964 F-4-R-11 #896: A Study of Crappie in Lake Whitney: Job Completion Report, Federal Aid Project No. F-4-R—ll

JOB COMPLETION REPORT As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Project No. F-4-R—ll FISHERIES INVESTIGATEON AND SURVEYS OF THE WATERS 0F REGION 2-A Job No. E-4: A Study of Crappie in Lake Whitney Project Leader: Dwane Q. Smith J. Weldon Watson Executive Director Parks and Wildlife Department Austin, Texas Marion Toole Eugene A. walker D-J Coordinator Assistant Director for Wildlife August 30, 1965 ABSTRACT The study of White crappie, Pomoxis annularis, in Lake Whitney has been continued in order to tag a sufficient number of crappie to determine their pattern of movement and travel. The crappie were taken with the use of gill nets, wire traps and hook- and-line. Each fish was given a cursory examination, weighed,‘measured, tagged and released at point of capture. All data were recorded on field forms and then transferred to a perma— nent record in the Fort Worth Fisheries Headquarters. Return-tag data were recorded on a card form and was transferred to the permanent file. A total of 1,468 crappie was tagged during this segment. Only 13 or 0.08 per cent were recaptured. The longest distance of travel was one and one—fourth mile. Three crappie traveled one mile each and all others travel- ed less than one mile each or showed no travel. The longest period of freedom was 165 days and the next longest period of freedom was 108 days. From these data it appears that tagged crappie do not move far from the point of tagging. Since this job has been in progress for 8 years, it is felt that suffi- cient data have been collected. Therefore, this job will be terminated, and a publication in the Inland Fisheries Series will be prepared on its findings. JOB COMPLETION REPORT State of Texas Project No. F—A—R—ll Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the waters of Region 2-A Job No. E—4 Title; A Study of Crappie in Lake Whitney Period Covered; November I, 1963 - October 31, 1964 Objectives; To determine the populations of crappie in Lake Whitney and the reasons for the recent small harvest. To study the pattern and extent of travel of tagged or marked crappie and the ecological factors influencing their distribution. To develop satisfactory methods of sampling crappie fry. Procedure; Tagging and recovery of crappie was continued along the same general lines as had been followed during prior segments. The traps used were constructed of one—inch mesh galvanized poultry wire, stretched on a frame of No. 10 welded wire reinforcement netting. Traps were five feet long and 23-inches in diameter, with a funnel shaped throat in one end and a release door in the other. Traps were set at various depths which corresponded with the depth at which crappie were being taken by hook-and—line fishing. The hookeand—line method proved very successful during the previous segment and was utilized as a supplement to trapping. This method proved to be more effective than the traps, and if crappie were not abundant near the trapping area, a move to a Spot where they could be taken was quickly made. Various models of small wire traps were used in an effort to locate crappie fry. Gill net collections were taken from Lake Whitney in order to offer compar- able data on the fish population. Fish were collected with experimental type gill nets which are 150 feet long, 6 feet deep with mest size ranging from I to 3% inches. I The same method of tagging crappie was continued. A strap type monel—metal jaw tags were placed on the left premaxillary of all crappie tagged. Data re— corded for each tagged specimen were: total length in millimeters, tag number, date and place of capture and release. Findings: The results of gill netting collections show the predominance of gizzard shad (Table No. 2). Gizzard shad constituted 35.45 per cent of the total number. Smallmouth buffalo and freshwater drum showed an increase in both per cent by number and per cent by weight compared with the 1962-63 results (Table No. 3). White crappie showed a considerable decrease both in per cent by number and per cent by weight (Tables 2 and 3). Netting results from the 1962-63 segment showed the crappie to constitute 9.63 per cent by number but only 3.96 per cent during 1963-64 segment. Also, a decrease is noted in the per cent by weight; from 4.17 per cent in 1962—63 to 0.57 per cent during this segment. The apparent decrease in the per cent by number and per cent by weight of crappie does not necessarily indicate a definite reduction of the species, but it does indicate an increase in the number of smallmouth buffalo and freshwater drum, which was attributed to the use of the new type of gill nets used during this segment. All told, 1,468 crappie were tagged during this segment; only 13, or 0.08 per cent, were recaptured. An attempt was made to tag 5,000 crappie during this segment. Due to the very low lake level trapping was greatly hindered; therefore, a majority of the crappie were taken by hookeand-line. This condition is also reflected in the small number of recaptures (Table No. l). The longest distance of travel by a tagged crappie was one and one- fourth mile. This crappie was tagged and released into the Mesquite Creek area and was recaptured at Hill's barge two days after release. Three crappie traveled one mile each and all others traveled less than one mile each, or showed no travel. Crappie Tagged Number 124 remained at large for 165 days, the longest period of freedom. Crappie Tagged Number 11525 was at large for 108 days, the next longest period of freedom. It is apparent that the tagged crappie do not move far from the place where they were tagged and released. Soon after the initiation of this segment of work, Project Leader Leonard D. Lamb went to the hOSpital with a malignant tumor; therefore, he was unable to execute, to the fullest extent, all objectives and procedures outlined in the Job Description. Recommendation: It is recommended that the crappie study on Lake Whitney be terminated. All data will be tabulated and published in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Inland Fisheries Series. Prepared by: Dwane Q. Smith Approved by:éE: 25Z7A14¢7¢/ ¢e¢fiéé:. Project Leader Date: August 30, 1965 John E. 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Lake Whitney Water Level Elevations, November 1963 - October 1964 Lake Elevations 513.82 513.68 513.43 513.30 513.25 513.16 512.92 512.83 512.68 512.50 512.22 512.35 512.35 513.50 513.76 513.94 513.85 513.88 514.52 515.12 515.75 515.69 515.83 515.68 517.74 517.88 517.67 517.41 516.97 516.41 515.88 515.36 515.02 514.83 514.17 513.75 513.27 512.79 512.67 512.98 512.93 512.87 512.57 511.80 511.91 511.95 514.63 515.47 515.30 515.11 514.91 515.10