TPWD 1955 F-5-R-2 #139: Creel Census of Lake Nasworthy

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Job Completion Report by Iewrence 50 Campbell ‘111E Creel Census 0f Lake Neswerthyo GFJEFTIVEb Te ee timete the total eeteh.by species endt e obtain dete regarding the greteh t1re ebundenee 01 each species in the ee.teh0 310m @etebe:r 1953 threugh Februetry 195% an act eel eeunt of all creele wee etm tempteflo Be-eeee 0:1 the difficulty involved in eeeteeting eeeb fishermen e.nd beeeuse eeeete1 1evee11edt1ee reveeled that e complete count wee net being reeerdefl in ep1te cf 1‘1 eenee ey werkeee; 1t we.e eeneluded that e.n eet1mete eeelfi be obtained that weuld be e “11e1ee1‘v We11eble fer preetieal purpeeee by making eer1.ed1e e eunte 01 all pereens 1 iiego Tee metal “ember ef pereene fieh1.ng free the lake shore was usually determeeed ef"ee1*1ee treee en eutemobile end ereoee fishin from beets were eeented b e beet eeew 3 1mg t eeetire length of the lake at the same time the shore eeunt wee being tekeeg 1 tel eeiete were taken eeeh earning end two counts were taken eeeh aftereeenc ,Meee eeeeae eeee tekee ene beer epert end the average number 01 fishermen en the lake free merem 1egf1fie wee e.eded te the etere.ge number e1 fishermen fer the eftereeee te predeee the '11:.eeed +e*e1 number e1 1111ermen fer the day The sum 01 t1e diflviqee d.eeer1bed wee eee1 t: ee11tete the tetel number e1 fi1e bermee beeeuee eetuel etee11 1ed1ee1ee tbet e1em teeliy ee firee’eee epeet mere thee half e day fiehieg en the leke witheut eeteeg1eg te eeeeg te_tbe :1ty e1 See Aegeleg er te their hemeeo The time tbet eeunte were tekem wee teteeeieee by the tetel number of b.0ere ef daylight fer the ver1.oee eeeeeee ef the *eert ' :ly deeer1bed es mid mereleg end m1dmefiereeeno N1eet eeu ate were me~e three months at wetek ewe the number 01 night feebeeeee were edéed tel 31, ,u. . o The ete1ege member ef fiehermeeg heure fiehedg eee *1e1t eve rre ge c.1ee fee tee eetee 1ey peried wee multiplied by the number e1 deye 1e t-e .e meetb to pr “flare 1e:ee were reg-"1- {3’2 eeeb'eeetelj futeLO Creel days were selected e.t rendemo Creel eee me e1 at eeiz elned e.t feur ei.tee en the lake during creel deyey end eeme lee e1 eeeh fley'e 11e11eg teee1te were eeeerdedo Frem this sample e1 fishing the tetel eeteey heuee fieheege eieud emelayefy enfl beit need in eetebing the verieue epeeiee wee determine do ' Ag Meteed of Determining Time 01 Mern1ng Counts“ member e1 Hele eSunriee te Noon minus 30 mine e e0 Time fer Firet Genet ‘2 plus 30 mino e b0 Time fer Rafi Genet 2. Eu Method of Determining Time of Afternoon Countsa number of Hours Noon to Sunset minus 30 min. a a9 Time for First Count 2 plus 30 min. b. Time for 2nd Count to Method of Determining Daily Totals L {no plus be) (a. plus be) _ plus plus toto night count 2 2 Total Fishermen for Day Total Fishermen X lo AVgo catch from sample creels Total catch Total Fishermen X 20 Argo hours fished from sample creels Total hours fished Do Method of Determining Monthly Totals Monthly Total fidrgo of Seven Day Sample) X (Number of Days in Month) E0 Annual Totals are the product of all Monthly Totals FENDiid Lake Nasworthy is located approximately 6.5 miles southwest of the city of San Angelo in Tom Green County, Tomaso The reservoir has about 1,300 surface acres and a volume of about ityoho acre feet at emergency spillwaya The dam creating the lake is located approximately onemfourth mile below the confluence of the South and Middle Concho TEES-3 0 increasing water demands resulting from rapid growth of the city have resulted n extreme fluctuation of this lake, and during much of the census period the lake was rem in volume to an extent that prevented many persons from attempting to fisho During June? and July of l95h the tremendous increase in the number of fishermen using the ‘ 3 {B Q! Angelo Reservoiro These campers moved to the smaller lake because of adverse weather cone ditions and/or because of it's more accessible, convenvenient, and pleasant camping faciiitieso .Aithough virtually all persons contacted were very willing to be interviewedy and attempted to comoperate in every way with personnel doing this work; difficulty was encountered in obtaining accurate information on many aspects of the catcht The size of fish released, the species or type of fish the person was attempting to catch: and the iengtn of time actually fished were especially difficult to determine in many instanceso There are other unaccountedmfor factors influencing the included data; such as the skilly determination? and knowledge of the lake by fishermen. The data on night fishing is inm sufficient? and many persons maintain trotlines in the lake throughout the yearc It was difficult to know when these lines were actually being used and when they were simply occupying desirable space in the lakea During the census period of twelve months, 116 days were actually spent taking creels on the lakeo This includes both the five month period when an actual count was attempted and the following seven months when the described method of estimate was adaptedo For that reason the percentage of the total time when creels were actually taken, 31978 ‘centy may be misleadingo The following tables are intended to present most of the data obtained in such a manner as to reveal the more important aspects of the fishing effort and the resulting catch.by sportsmeno Tabla l The data contained in this chart are the monthly and annual total estimatesg is number of persons who fished, the total effort expanded, and the results in fish per man hour for the year are included. As shown, about six thousand fishermen had an average catch of slightly over one fish each during the twelve month period, and an average person fished about three and onemhalf hours to catch that fisho Because of inexperience by the personnel doing this work and because the method of estimation used during the first five monthis work was found to be inadequate in estimating the number of persons fishing at night, the total estimates are known to be too conservative for the entire census periodo However, the catch per unit effort is believed to be reasonably reliable for the year; and since night fishing was not a major factor, except in the summer months, it is hoped that the total number of fishermen and their total catch is not too far below the actual usageo TMfleE The number and numerical percent for each of the various species caught each month is presented hereo Because it was necessary to accept the statement of sportsmen concerning the identity of virtually all fish released, all sunfishes and warmouth.bass are grouped under a single headingo As shown in the chart, sunfishes and white crappie made up over 60% of the total catch, and carp were third in numbers, These latter fish appear to be select with a group of local fishermen who make little attempt to fish for other speciesa Table 3 The relative size of the various species of fish in the catch is shownu The iciuded estimates are based on fish that were actually measured in taking creel rem cults during the various months of the yeara The number of individuals making up this sample exceeds twenty percent of the total estimated catch in all species except some fishes, white crappie and carp. Although sunfishes averaged over h inches in length; a significant percent of the fish measured were in the three inch category, and less than seven percent were large enough to be regarded as desirable pan fish. One of the diffim culties in obtaining data on the sunfish catch was in measuring these fish before they ' were releasedo About twenty percent of the white crappie taken were too small to be ”Keepers“ and in spite of the high percentage of these fish taken from the lake, few creels were deemed ”good catches” by the sportsmen making the catcho Largemouth bass were less numerous than most species taken, but the average size of these fish was greater than other species except carp and channel catfisho Table 4 This data permits a general comparison of the catch by species, showing the numerical percentage of each species as compared to it’s percentage of the total weight of the catcha It is believed probable that this comparison of species by weight more accurately represents the extent to which each species of the catch was utilized as food, and may be more expressive in accounting for the amount of pleasure each Species afforded the publico Carp contributed 36 percent of the total weight of the catch and white bass contributed 13 percent of that totalo However catches of these species were usually desired and utilized as food by only a few individuals who actually sought these fish, and probably most of the pleasure derived from catches of carp, and to a lesser extent white bass, was confined to the sporting aspects of the catcha Largemouth bass id channel catfish were about 35 percent of the total weight of the catch and were the species most desired by sportsmena The monthly and the total catch per unit effort for each species is shown in his data, Apparently sunfishes may be caught with relatively little effort during elm mosta any month; however, fishing results for white crappie and largemouth bass appear ha.e declined during the summer and early fall months. The best months for largemouth s we2re Gctober, November a.nd January; for white bass OctOber, November, December a.nd ua :ry; for white cra.ppie November, December and April; and for southern channel catfish .y and January Carp were ta.ken in abundance from April through November, Insufficient is sues was obtained to permit generalities for other species included in the ca.tch As shown in this table still fishing was the most popular and the most reliable of all methods employed in taking all species of fish except white bass, The highest yields per unit effort were obtained by fly fishing for sunfishes; however, the skill, determination, and other unaccountedwfor aptitudes of the fishermen involved is believed to be superior to that of the average fisherman° Trolling for white bass was relatively successful; however, this method of fishing did not appear to be popular during the can» sue period; and the above named aptitudes may well have been contributing factors in the results obtained with this method, Trotline fishing yielded the smallest number of fish per unit effort; however, the actual numbers of fish taken by this method was greater than tense for casting and trolling The relatively low fish per unit effort for trotlines is regarded .as resulting from a lack of dilligence in baiting and maintaini.ng lines, as well as D?””ltle ineffectiveness of that method After several months experience at this wort it was arbitrarily concluded that trotline data should be based on eight man hours fishing for each trotline set for a party setting more than one line, and at sixteen man hours fishing where only one line was employed1 tab is g’ LMinnows and worms were the most successful baits used; however, a greater total number of largemouth ba.ss and white base were taken on lures than on natural baits, Dough bait captur red more ca rp A greater variety of baits were successful in capturing channel catfish thana any other species, Although no factual records were obtained during days .i ”E; census was Fonduoted a number of these fish were reported to have been taken by section and tro llin ng Table o Tb.is data resents the tota.l and monthl fishin effort com arin- successful y . fie h1g effor+ to unsuccessful effort Since as discussed under Table 5, the winter months s.pp% a.r to produce a higher yield per unit effort than summer months; the high perw courage of persons ”shunked" in December and February may be a result of fishermen quite ting tenants of a.dverse weather conditi.ons rather than a lack of the quality of T 1=e fiche cg According to the evidence obtained, approximately one out of every four fishiing attempts by an average fisherman resulted in a complete failure to catch fisho SUMMARY 11 From October 1953 through February 19% , an actual count of all creels was attempted and found to be virtually impossible. For the remaining seven months of the year, March l95t through September lQfit, a method of estimate was employed to obtain the required data and is believed to be more reliable and efficient than the data obtained when an attempt was made to contact all fishermen, 10. 5. Because of inexperience in doing this type work, insufficient evidence was obtained for accurately estimating night fishing, and many aptitudes of inn dividual fishermen, such as their skill, determination, and familarity with the lake are not adequately illustrated. No attempt is made to account for the influence of weather and accessibility on the fisherman effort or the fishing results. About six thousand fishermen had an average catch of slightly over one fish each during the twelve month period, and an average person fished about three and onewhalf hours to catch that fish. Sunfishes and white crappie made up over 60% of the total catch numerically and carp were third in numbers. Carp are select with a group of fishermen who make little attempt to catch other species. Less than seven percent of the sunfish catch was large enough to be regarded as desirable pan fish, and there were few desirable catches of white crappie. 'Largemouth bass, channel catfish, and carp had the largest average sizes. Largemcuth bass and channel catfish were thirtymfive percent of the estimated total weight of the catch, and it is believed this figure more accurately illustrates the pleasure that these species afforded the public. The best months for largemouth bass were October, November and January; for white bass, October, November and December; for white crappie, November, December and April; and for channel catfish, July and January. Carp were taken in a greater abundance from April through November. Still fishing was the most popular and the most reliable of all methods. Fly fishing for sunfishes had the highest yield per unit effort, and trolm ling for white bass was relatively successful. Trotlings yielded the smallest number of fish per unit effort; however, the actual number of fish taken by this method was greater than those for casting and trolling. Minnows and worms were the most successful baits used. A greater number cf largemouth.bass and white base were taken on lures than on natural baits. A greater variety of baits were successful in taking channel catfish than any other species. According to the data obtained from the census, approximately one out cf every four fishing attempts by an average fisherman resulted in a complete failure to catch fish. Hdee H. EcndfiHw QueeH oesmsm wees woe HsWe amassedfiw wees Oeaeeee mew ewecsmw.me©aaedae Hmm: One. 204. Use. mes. 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