TPWD 1963 F-4-R-10 #886: Resurvey of Possum Kingdom Lake: Job Completion Report, Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region II-A, Texas, Project No. F-4-R-10, Job No. B-30

JOB COMPLETION REPORT As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Project No. F=4=Rw10 Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the waters of Region II=A Job No. 8—30: Resurvey of Possum Kingdom Lake Co—Project Leader: Dwane Smith Jn Weldon Natson Executive Director Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Austin9 Texas Marion Toole Eugene A. walker D-J Coordinator Assistant Director fior Wildlife February 10, 1964 ABSTRACT Monthly gill net collections taken between NOvember 1, 1962 and October 31, 1963 collected 18 species of fish. Data collected during this segment of work is com— parable to that taken in 1961—1962 (Job B-30). Netting done in 1961-1962 showed a population of 54.42 per cent rough fish and 45958 per cent game fish. The results of netting during this segment show 47040 per cent rough fish and 52.60 per cent game fish with gizzard shad being the most numerous species both in the 1961—1962 and 1962—1963 netting. JOB COMPLETION REPORT State of Texas Project Noo F—4-R—10 Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 114A Job Noa B-30 Title: Resurvey of Possum Kingdom Lake Period Covered: November_1,_l962_to October_3l,‘196§____l__ Objectives: Techniques Used: Gill net collections9 using nets lOO feet-long by eight feet deep with one and one-half inch square meshg were made at monthly intervals utilizing previously estab— lished net stations where possibleo All fish species taken in the.nets were identifiedg weighed, measured and examined for evidence of sexual maturity and.food.habits¢ I Seine sampling was abandoned on the lake proper due to the fluxuation in water levels which made the former seine stations unusableo Seining was restricted to the river channel immediately above the lakeo History: Possum Kingdom Lake was the first major impoundment on the BraZOS Rivera This multipurpose reservoir was completed in 1941 to be used for flood control, hydro- electric power, irrigation and municipal useso At spillway lever, 109991 acres of land are inundated to an average depth of 36369 feeto-m--- A closed season was imposed on this lake during the-first year after impoundmepte The bass fry, that were stocked immediately after closure of the dam, grew rapidly in this lake which filled to spillway level in a few weekso Fishing was excellent after the season was opened particularly for largemouth bassa This condition continued for approximately ten yearsa Following three years of netting an attempt was made to control gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) with rotenone applied by the use of airplanes, This application was made in August 1958 and was unsuccessful as shown by post-treatment nettingo Bad weather hampered the reconnaissance netting during the time allocated to survey Possum Kingdom Lake in 1961-19629 The reports of poor fishing together with the lack of data during the 1960-1961 reconnaissance prompted the recommendation that a resurvey be made on this lakeo Gill net collections (Table Nov 3) are comparable with those made during 1961—1962 (Table No. 4) Job B—309 Net collections during this segment of work produced eighteen species of fish. Results: Spotted and longnose gar show no appreciable change (Table N00 1) when compared with previous collectionso Gizzard shad show an increase in per cent of number, per cent of weight, number per 100 feet of net and pounds per 100 feet of net as compared to net collections from 1961-1962 (Table Noe 4)o No change in the carp pepulation was noted and only a slight change in that of buffalo but the carpsucker indicate a small decrease in both per cent of.number and per cent of weighte Channel and flathead catfish show no substantial change in either numbers or weight compared with data from the previous yearo White bass display an increase in the per cent of number from 3°97 in 1961-1962 to 5.05 in 1962-19639 White bass also display an increase in the per cent of weight with 4970 in 1961-1962 and 5006 in 1962u19639 Largemouth bass exhibit an increase in the per cent of number and the per cent of weighto Fishermen have reported satisfactory catches of yearling largemouth basso Warmouth and green sunfish were not taken in gill nets during 1961—1962 and are represented during the l962wl963 segment with only one individual.each.. Redear and bluegill, the most numerous of the sunfishes in Possum Kingdom demonstrate a slight drop in per cent of numbero The longear sunfish, (Lepomis megalotis) was added to the species list for the.1ake during this segmenta I . White crappie show a drop in per cent of number with 6.05 in 1958—1959,.5.48_in 1961-1962 and 1.57 per cent in 1962:1963o White crappie exhibit an increase.in average length with 193 millimeters in 1961-1962 and 198 millimeters in 1962—1963 but indicate a drop in the average "k” factor, Seining was restricted to the river channel immediately above the lake. A single seine sample which was taken on the sand flats of the Brazos.River, usingia twenty foot seine, produced 60 sharpnose shiners (Notropis oxyrhynchus), 136 Brazos River shiners (Notropis braggsengis), 3 redhorse shiners (Notropis lutrensis) and a number of channel catfish fry. JOB COMPLETION REPORT State of_ Texas Project No, F-4—R—10 Name: Fisheries Investigations-and Surveys of the Waters of Region 119A Job No," 3-30 Title: Resurvey of Possum Kingdom Lake Period Covered: November l,wl962‘to_October_3l_v__”n Objectives: To conduct investigations to obtain current information concerning the fish population and factors influencing that pOpulationa Techniques Used: Gill net collections, using nets lOO feet-long by eight.feet deep with one and one—half inch square mesh, were made at monthly intervals utilizing previously estab- lished net stations where possible, All fish species taken in the.nets were identifiedfi weighed, measured and examined for evidence of sexual maturity and.food habits, Seine sampling was abandoned on the lake proper due to the.fluxuation in water levels which made the former seine stations unusable, Seining was restricted to the river channel immediately above the lake, History: Possum Kingdom Lake was the first major impoundment on the Brazos River, This multipurpose reservoir was completed in 1941 to be used for flood control, hydro~ electric power, irrigation and municipal uses, At spillway lever, 10,991 acres of land are .inundated to an average depth of 36,69 feeta-w- - A closed season was imposed on this lake during the first year after impoundmept, The bass fry, that were stocked immediately after closure of the dam, grew rapidly in this lake which filled to spillway level in a few weeks, Fishing was excellent after the season was opened particularly for largemouth basso This condition continued for approximately ten years, Following three years of netting an attempt was made to control gizzard shad (Dorosoma_cepedianum) with rotenone applied by the use of airplanes, This application was made in August 1958 and was unsuccessful as shown by post~treatment netting, Bad weather hampered the reconnaissance netting during the time allocated to survey Possum Kingdom Lake in 1961-1962. The reports of poor fishing together with the lack of data during the 1960—1961 reconnaissance prompted the recommendation that a resurvey be made on this lake. Gill net collections (Table No. 3) are comparable with those made.during 1961-1962 (Table No. 4) Job B—30. Net collections during this segment of work produced eighteen species of fish. Results: Spotted and longnose gar show no appreciable change (Table No. 1) when compared with previous collections. Gizzard shad show an increase in per cent of number, per cent of weight, number per 100 feet of net and pounds per 100 feet of net as compared to net collections from 1961-1962 (Table No. 4). No change in the carp population was noted and only a slight change in that of buffalo but the carpsucker indicate a small decrease in both per cent of number and per cent of weight. Channel and flathead catfish show no substantial change in either numbers or weight compared with data from the previous year. White bass display an increase in the per cent of number from 3.97 in 1961—1962 to 5.05 in 1962-1963. White bass also display an increase in the per cent.of weight with 4.70 in 1961-1962 and 5.06 in 1962wl963. Largemouth bass exhibit an increase in the per cent of number and the per cent of weight. Fishermen have reported satisfactory catches of yearling largemouth bass. Warmouth and green sunfish were not taken in gill nets during 1961-1962 and are represented during the l962wl963 segment with only one individual.each. -Redear and bluegill, the most numerous.of the sunfishes in Possum Kingdom demonstrate a slight drop in per cent of number. The longear sunfish, (Lepomis.megalotis) was added to the species list for the lake during this segment. . White crappie show a drop in per cent of number with 6.05 in 1958—1959, 5.48 in 1961—1962 and 1.57 per cent in 1962ml963. White crappie exhibit an increase in.average length with 193 millimeters in 1961-1962 and 198 millimeters in 1962—1963 but indicate a drop in the average "k” factor. Seining was restricted to the river channel immediately above the lake. A single seine sample which was taken on the sand flats of the Brazostiver, usingia twenty foot seine, produced 60 sharpnose shiners (Netropis oxyrhynchus), 136 Brazos River shiners (Notropis braggsenpis), 3 redhorse shiners (Notropis lutrensis) and a number of channel catfish fry. I _ fl Prepared by Dwane Smith Approved by ,= .352L7“Z¢*%¢/““ 5L5} Co-Leader Coordinator Inland Fisheries Date February 10, 1964 JOHN E. TILTON Regional Supervisor Table No. l. Comparisonvof gill net date, Possum Kingdom Lake, 1961-1962 and 1962—1963. 1961—1962 1962-1963 Species Number Per Cent of Number Per Cent of ‘ Number Number Spotted gar 6 0.56 30 1.96 Longnose gar 56 5.29 58 3.81 Gizzard shad ' 397 37.49 698 45.82 Smallmouth buffalo 3 0.28 8 0.53 River carpsucker 28 2.65 21 1.38 European carp 3 0.28 4 0.26 Channel catfish 59 5.57 90 5.91 Flathead catfish 3 0.28 1 0.07 White bass 42 3.97 77 5.05 Largemouth bass 32 3.02 75 4.93 Warmouth 00 0.00 l 0.07 Green sunfish 00 0.00 1 0.97 Redear sunfish 99 9.35 98 6.43 Bluegill sunfiph 263 24.83 322 - 21.14 Longear sunfish 00 00.00 2 0.14 White crappie 58 5.48 24 1.57 Black crappie 1 0.10 .3 0.20 Freshwater drum 9 0.85 10 0.66 Total - 1059 100.00 1523 ' 100.00 -5- Table No. 2. Comparison of gill net data, Possum Kingdom Lake, 1961—1962 and 1962—1963. W Species lWeight Per Cent of Weight Per Cent of (Lbs.) Weight (Lbs.) Weight _____________*_____y__________________________fl______m_______________________________ Spotted gar 18.34 2.63 42.61 3.95 Longnose gar 152.09 21.81 207.42 19.23 Gizzard shad 184.03 '26.39 354.43 32.86 Smallmouth buffalo 25.15 3.61 51.16 4.74 River carpsucker 1 44.59 6.39 347:45 4.40 European carp 4.36 0.63 17.37 1.62 Channel catfiSh 82.63 11.85 108.51 10.06 Flathead catfish 4.47 - 0.64 1.00 0.09 White bass 32.78 4.70 54.59 5.06 Largemouth bass 31.19 4.47 71.59 6.64 Warmouth 00.00 00.00 0.37 0.03 Green sunfish 00.00 00.00 0.27 0.03 Redear sunfish 25.69 3.69 26.25 2.43 Bluegill sunfish 61.14 8.77 79.34 7.36 Longear sunfish 00.00 00.00 0.41 0.04 White crappie 25.66 3.68 10.31 0.95 Black crappie 0.31 0.04 1.57 0.15 Freshwater drum 4.83 0.70 3.85 0.36 Total 697.26 100.00 1,078.50 100.00