TPWD 1965 F-4-R-12 #1014: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 2-A: Fisheries Reconnaissance, Job No. B-29

JOB COMPLETION REPORT As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Project No. F-4—R—12 FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS AND SURVEYS OF THE WATERS OF REGION 2~A Job No. B-29: Fisheries Reconnaissance Project Leader: Dwane Q. Smith J. Weldon watson Executive Director Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Austin, Texas Marion Toole Eugene A. Walker D-J Coordinator Director for Wildlife Services February 1, 1966 Abstract Lakes Kemp, Possum Kingdom, Graham, Palo Pinto, Wichita, Daniels and Iowa Park were surveyed. The results from Kemp, Possum Kingdom, and Graham were compared to previous data to determine any gross changes in the fish populations. Only slight changes were indicated. The per cent by number of rough fish remain very high for all three lakes. Palo Pinto is a new lake. A netting survey was conducted in order to in- ventory the native fish population, to recommend a stocking program and to obtain basic information for future reference. Lakes Wichita, Daniels and Iowa Park are old municipal lakes which were surveyed in order to determine existing fish populations. Fish populations were adequate except for Lake Wichita which yielded very few fish. Lake Wichita contains a very heavy growth of aquatic vegetation which can not be eliminated at the present time because of cost. Stocking of largemouth bass and channel catfish was recommended. Job Completion Report State of Texas H Project No. F-4*R;12 Name: Fisheries Investi ations and Surve s of the Waters of Regign 2~A. __fl JOb N00 B" 29 m Title: _Fisherigs Reconnaissance. ——_..—...-_—_-__.._.__.____r.—._. hm ——_|——-—-4——-—n H—u—_ _—.—-——-—-.—..————-———-—_—_ Period Covered; November 1, 1964 _ October 31, 1965 Objective; To conduct limited investigations to obtain current information concerning gross changes in fishing conditions and factors influencing fish populations. Procedures: During this segment of work seven lakes were surveyed. Lakes Kemp, Graham and Possum Kingdom were surveyed during the previous segment of work and rem visited during this segment. Lake Palo Pinto is a new lake, created as a water supply. It was stocked by the State hatchery system. Lakes Wichita, Daniel and Iowa Park are old lakes which were surveyed in order to determine needed fisheries management procedures. Standard gill nets (150 feet long, 6 feet deep with graduated mesh from one inch square to 3% inches square, changing every 25 feet) were set at random locations for each collection. A reference list of fishes taken in gill nets during this segment is given in Table l. The technical designations for all Species are included with the reference list. Only the common names are used otherwise. For the purpose of this report the following are designated as game fish Species; largemouth bass, white crappie, white bass, channel catfish, bluegill and longear sunfish. Several lakes scheduled for reconnaissance were not surveyed due to a shortage of personnel and the press of other duties. Findings; Lake Kemp Surveys conducted in 1963~64 at Lake Kemp showed the fish population to be composed predominantly of rough fish. The 1964~65 survey indicates the situation to be unchanged. Rough fish comprised 70.89 per cent by number of gill net samples; game fish, 29.11 per cent. Carpsuckers were the most numerous species with 34.96 per cent by number, followed by the carp with 24.27 per cent. Largemouth bass, absent from previous nettings, comprised 5.82 per cent by number during this segment of work. White crappie reflected some increases in ”K” range and "K” average (Tables 2 and 3). -2- Table 1. Fisheries Reconnaissance November 1, 1964 — October 31, 1965 Reference List of Fishes LEPISOSTEIDAE — (Gars) Lepisosteus oculatus - (Spotted gar) Lepisosteus osseus - (longnose gar) CLUPEIDAE - (Herrings) Dorosoma cepedianum - (gizzard shad) CATOSTOMIDAE _ (Suckers and buffalofishes) Ictiobus bubalus - (smallmouth buffalo) Carpiodes carpio — (river carpsucker) Moxostoma congestum - (gray redhorse) CYPRINIDAE — (Shiners and minnows) Cyprinus carpig - (carp) Notemigonus crysoleucas - (golden Shiner) AMEIURIDAE — (Freshwater catfish) Ictalurus punctatus - (channel catfish) Ictalurus mglas - (black bullhead) Ictalurus natalis — (yellow bullhead) Pylodictis olivaris - (flathead catfish) SERRANIDAE — (Sea basses) Roccus chrysop - (white bass) CENTRARCHIDAE - (Black basses and sunfishes) Micropterus punctulatus - (Spotted bass) Micropterus salmoides - (largemouth bass) Lepomig microlophus - (redear sunfish) Lepomis macrochirus — (bluegill) Lepomis megalotis — (longear sunfish) Pgmoxis annularis - (white crappie) Pomoxis nigromaculatus - (black crappie) SCIAENIDAE - (Drum and croakers) Aplodinotus grunniens — (freshwater drum) mum New mm oqn mom.m mmm sew men men mew mew mNm .mam pawns: mam mmN mam mha HmN mqm mmm wwN omd mmm 05¢ 55 summed C>< wH.mH N©.H Om.H do.hN mm.wN mm.da mm.a Nn.o pawns: MO ©¢.mmH ©©.H qw.m mm.o oo.m¢ sn.mm mm.N mn.n mmmmmm .man swoon .mmn-m-¢-mv O0.00H hm.¢m oo.¢m mm.m nofienz mo N Monenz Hence mA<HOH soup nontSmonm maddmno momma onummsom memcnm nmowcoq mmmc Lunoaownmq mmmc onwaz Lmfimumo Hoccmso ammo noxonmdnmo no>fim ofimmmsn sunoEHHmEm perm pnmnmflw new coupomm J onom m moon - soon .monsmmn magnum: came ween LN wanes dN.N ow.a hm.“ ©N.N am.m ow.N 1111‘s!!! mw.Numw.H mm.N-on.H mN.m-m©.N oo.NION.N O©.N:hw.a mo.N-Nn.H mq.a-wm.o oo.N:m¢.H mn.N-mm.H om.m-oo.m Om.Humm.d om.o mmmmm :M: mn.o mn.o NN.N om.N on.n No.0 mo.o uoz .um cod “mm .mp4 .Amaumuqumv 0N.m qw.H HN.O om.o mo.o umz .um OOH Mom .02 moma . coma .muanmon mcfluuoc dEoM oxmq NMNION cmmummH monmm Odd oom.m-wwm.n oom-oau aon-mu Nmm.m-on ems-o¢m mam.¢-mnm omm-mmu mNm . .me owcmm “seem: OJMIOQ mamuoom m¢H-OHH th oomummd oomuoHN mQMIOHH oodnowm mHMIOJN ommcomm omNuoHN one 55 owned summed "mdfiHOH soup noumsamonm oflmdmno mums: Hnnmosnm smfimcnm umomGOA mmwn LudoEownmA mmmn ouwcz memumo Hoccmfio ammo noxUSmdnmu ne>mm Oammmnn SonoEHHMEw UQSm UnmNNHU new vmuuoam mofloomm .apmncflucoov N oHan mm NBA Hm mam Nam mm“ me mag 0mm 0mm NdN mwN mom OHN coo EE Lumcoq .k’fl O0.00H om.q a0.0H mm.wm Nm.m nm.wm i on Hm: MO N @H.¢ OO.H mm.m mm.mo em.s¢ am.sn Hm.mm mmwmmm. .mnm Hence .nfifiamldumv O0.00H HRH Ha Ha ca dd Nd ed ma nonasz Hence "wA<HOH soup nonmafimonm ofldomno ouflcz snowmanm moon ouflnz cmwmomo poosumam amwmuMU Homemao mnmu noxonmdnmo no>Hm ream pnmnmwo me wouuomm mofioomw soon - mean .mumamms mesons: saws oxen .m moose NN.H NH.H MN.H hw.a mm.H mm.auh0.a 00.N:0H.H 0H.¢-0n.m mH.N:nd.H N0.H 0m.auho.a N0.Numm.a mH.thh.H no.H:¢H.H oo.0-¢m.0 wmmmm :M: mm.0 00.0 mm.0 00.0 0¢.0 m0.0 hm.m nmz .um 00H me . mDJ .Aus-m-.-sc 00.0 00.0 hw.0 hm.0 N©.N nw.N 00.0 umz .um 00H nom .oz mnroo 0HmI0m mmauom 000nmh don omoumh oohuowm Hmwuowm OHNImm omm.m-omm mam omcmm “swung moalmda 00N10¢H 00H-00H onwaooa 0mm 000:0wa ONMaoom 0¢Ma00N 0mN-0mH omhuowm ea owoom fluwcod coma I mooa .mufinmmn wcfluuoc damm oxmq umquOH Esme noumscmonm oflodmno ouflsz nonsense mmmn moan: smunosu semausue smflmumo Hoccmso ammo nwxoomdnmo no>fim Umfim Unmwwflw new pouuomm mowoomm .mponoflucoov m oHLmH .37- The lake, during the summer months, sustains a heavy annual fish die—off composed predominantly of carpsucker. The carpsucker is the predominant species in the lake, as already noted. A study has begun to determine the cause for the fish die—off and to analyze the Species composition in some detail (Job D~2, F'4'R' 13). Lake Possum Kingdom Results of netting at Possum Kingdom indicate the fish population to be con— siderably improved over the l963~64 segment. A total of 4,950 feet of net was used to take 462 fish. Rough fish made up 51.50 per cent and game fish 48.50 per cent by number (Tables 4 and 5). Flathead catfish were netted during this segment and comprised 1.73 per cent by number and 9.52 per cent by weight. Channel catfish dropped slightly in numbers but due to the increase in flathead, the overnall catfish population appears adequate. All game fish show an increase in average ”K”. Largemouth bass increased from 1.74 to 2.25 and crappie from 2.10 to 2.55. Lake Possum Kingdom received 500,000 walleye fry on May 10, 1965, to raise the total walleye stocked to over 600,000. A number of walleye have been rem captured, the largest weighing one and onenhalf pounds. Lake Graham Results of netting at Lake Graham indicate only slight population changes have occurred. Gizzard shad, smallmouth buffalo and carp continue to be the predominant Species. Largemouth bass and crappie Show a decrease in per cent by number and per cent of weight. Stunting of crappie is indicated in netting results (Tables 6 and 7). Lake Palo Pinto “h—I—m Lake Palo Pinto, in Palo Pinto County, Texas, is a new lake built on Palo Pinto Creek eight miles south of the town of Palo Pinto. A netting survey was conducted to develop stocking recommendations, determine the native fish pOpu1a~ tion and obtain other basic data about the new lake. Netting results are given in Table 8. Vegetation in this shallow lake will tend to be a major problem at present. The lake was stocked with largemouth bass from the State hatchery 857812801. Lakes Wichita~Danie1s~Iowa Park Lakes Wichita, Daniels and Iowa Park are city lakes which were netted in order to recommend fish stocking procedures. The lakes have not produced good fishing during the past few years. Lake Wichita is very shallow and contains a heavy growth of various types of vegetation. Channel catfish and white bass are the predominant Species in Lake Wichita. Largemouth bass and crappie were not taken during this segment of work. 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