TPWD 1954 F-3-R-1 #43: Creel Census of Caddo Lake

STATE Texas PROJECT N0. F—3-R-lz Job B-2 PERIOD march 3: l95h - March 2a 1955 Job Completion Report by Charles E. Gray Assistant Project Leader TITLE Creel Census of Caddo Lake. OBJECTIVES To estimate the total catch by species and to obtain data regarding the growth rate and relative abundance of each species in the catch. METHODS Caddo Lake lies approximately one-half in Louisiana and one-half in Texas. A marge portion of the Texas half of the Lake is covered by heavy cypress growth cut by winding boat roads, bayous and small pockets of cpen water. The original plan outlined for the job was to contact boats over the entire Texas half of the Lake to determine the ratio of fishermen using private boats to those using boats rented at public fishing camps. It was found that the heavy cypress growth curtails visibility to the point where this plan was impracticable. Instead of the original plan a system of road blocks was established to deters mine the total number of fishermen using the lake on each census day. Three census stations were established at public camps where fishermen were contacted and catches exm amined at the end of their fishing day. Data collected from these fishermen include number and length of fish by species, types of-bait used, and the types of fishing employed, i. e., trolling, still fishing, casting, etc. Read blocks and census stations were operated simultaneously every fifth day. The data collected from fishermen at the three public camps on each census day was expanded by ratio and proportion to the total number of fish- ermen on the lake on that day as shown by the road blocks. These figures, representing the 73 census days during the period, were again expanded by ratio and proportion to repm resent the 365 day period of the census. There are five access roads leading to that portion of Caddo Lake lying in Texas. In order to economize on personnel, all of the road blocks were not operated on any one census day. The road blocks were operated by groups so that each one was in opera ation once every three census days. For example, road blocks A and B were operated on the first census day, C on the second census day, D and E on the third and then A and B again n the fourth. (See attached map for locations of road blocks and census stations). Road .lock figures were averaged by day of the week to obtain a figure that could be used for each day of the week. This was done because it was found that fishing pressure varies markedly on different days of the week. For example, the figures for the Wednesdays on which road block A was operated were averaged and that figure was used to fill in all of 2. the days on which road block A was not operated. EXPLANATION OF TABLES blocks. This figure, which represents the 73 census days of the period, was then expanded by ratio and proportion to represent the number caught during the 365 day period-of the census. For example: No. black bass taken by Total No. fishing in Total No. of le fishermen contacted on lake on March 3 black bass caught yE£3Eei————u—w——wm—u—__m_33___n_________mm :s on March 3 a No. fishermen contacted at public camps on March 3 Then to expand this: Total N0. black T0133]. N09 bla-Ck- baSS' bass caught can ht on census da s x 365 da s (da s of census eriod)gea during period 73 icensusdaysg '”3 Or to express this in one formula: No. black bass counted Total No. fishermen on im on each census day x lake each census day x 365 days of period ' No. fishermen contacted at camps Total no. black on each census da ‘ bass caught during 73 Zcensus days} period , This calculation was repeated for each species. The species numbers were then summed to obtain the total harvest figure. The average lengths of the species were weighed to remove errors due to variation in size of fish throughout the period. For example: ‘Average length of black bass No. bass caught on ' Average length of Sum on each census day x each census day- :2 black bass during Total number of black bass caught on.census days 365 day period The average length of each species was applied to length-weight curves construcw ted from data on Caddo Lake fish collected during the period. The average weights obtained in this manner were multiplied by the total number of each species to get the total weights of each species. A summation of the species weights gave a total weight of fish harvested. Table 2 shows the relative abundance of the 16 species treated in this census. largemouth black bass were the most abundant with a total of 96,370 being caught making up 27.18 percent of the total number and h2.53 percent of the total weight. This may be ex» ained by the fact that while fishing for most of the other species is seasonal many local fishermen fish for largemouth bass throughout the year, 3. Table 3 records the fish per manmhour for each species. Only those catches which contained one species were used in this calculation. In catches of more than one species, it is impossible to accurately determine the time spent in catching each spew sies. There were so few pure catches of sunfish (bluegill, redear, warmouth, etc.) that these were grouped together and calculated as sunfish per manuhour of fishing. No pure catches of channel catfish were examined. Table b shows the fishing success for each method of fishing. Only those catches were one method of fishing was employed were used in this calculation. This prom cedure was necessary because it was impossible to obtain an accurate estimate of how long each method was employed when more than one method was used. Table 5 records the fish per manwhour of fishing for each type of bait used. Only those catches where one method of fishing was employed were used in this calculation. Tables 6 through 13 show the periods of best fishing for each species, based upon actual creel checks. The number of fishermen actually contacted was divided into the number of each species that was caught. This was calculated by month and plotted on graphs to show the average number of each species per creel. These graphs are intended to merely show the trend in fishing success each month, or periods when they were ”biting" best. SUMMARY Due to heavy cypress growth on Caddo Lake, the original plan of contacting fishing boats over the entire lake was abandoned. Instead, a system of road blocks and census stations was established and calculations made by ratios. Road blocks and census stations were operated every fifth day which amounted to 73 census days for the ‘period. Breaking this down to days of the week, creel census fell on Sundays, Tuesdays, ‘hursdays and Fridays ten times and on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays eleven times. During this period, a calculated 70,575 fishermen fished in Caddo Lake. These fishermen caught a total of 354,503 fish weighing a total of 12h,638 pounds. Each fishw erman caught an average of 5.02 fish per fishing day and an average of 1.76 pounds of fish per fishing day. Road block figures show that ls,ll5 fishermen visited the lake on the 73 cans sus'days.”'Census stations on the lake'counted'and—measured the catcheS‘of 3,29h‘of'23 percent of those fishermen. The 3,29h fishermen contacted fished a total of 17,320 hours and caught 23,376 fish which is 1.31: fish per manmhour of fishing. Largemouth bass were taken in the greatest numbers, a total of 96,370 being taken during the period. These bass had an average weight of .55 pounds and a total weight of 53,003 pounds. The next three species in order of abundance were bluegill sunm fish,79,555, redear sunfish,66,566 and warmouth sunfish 33,873. When fishermen were contacted at public camps, their fish were measured to the nearest inch. This was done in order to expedite measurement and to minimize delay to the fishermen. This measurement was accurate enough for all purposes except age group deter» mination. It was found upon examination of the data that one inch measurements would not show age groups clearly enough to be valid. ' The road on which road block A is located was undergoing repairs from the first part of November to thelatter part of January 1955, and was impassble in bad weather dur- 1g that period. Even in good weather fishermen would forgo trips to the lake for fear they would be caught by the rain and would be unable to get out. The fact that this road leads to several popular public fishing camps on the lake no doubt caused the fishing pressure figures to be lower than normal. Table l. Weights and Numbers of Fish Caught in Caddo Lake, Harrison County, Texas, March 3, 1958 through March 2, 1955 Species-: : No. Caught Average Length Average Weight Total weight ; (inches) (pounds) (pounds) L. M. Black Bass 96,370.h3 53,003.73 Spotted Bass 2,618.60 1,911.57 White Crappie 1 6,206.75 2,296.u9 Black Crappie 18,380.15 10,109.08 warmouth 33,873.80 7,h52.23 Redear SunfiSh 66,566.50 11,981.97 Bluegill Sunfish 79,555.20 15,911.0u Spotted Sunfish 7,058.10 352.90 Longear Sunfish 2hl.25 36.18 White Bass 6,012.30 2,525.16 Yellow Bass 16,85h.85 u,0h5.16 Channel Catfish 5h#.60 _119,81 Bullhead Catfish 807.10 5h8.82 Flathead Catfish 123.19 1h2.90 Freshwater Drum _ 1,382.25 1,h65.18 Chain Pickerel 17,938.85 12,736.58 - Totals _ 358.503-92 _ - 12h,638.81 % I .___.______. Table 2. Species L. M. Black Bass Spotted Bass White Crappie Black Crappie wermouth Redear Sunfish Bluegill Sunfish Spotted Sunfish Longear Sunfish White Bass Yellow Bass S. Channel Catfish Bullhead Catfish Freshwater Drum I l Flathead Catfish ‘ Chain Pickerel Totals No. Caught 96.37o.u3 2,618.60 6,206.75 18,380.15 33.873-80 66,566.50 79,555.20 7,058.10 2t1.25 6,012.30 16,85h.85 5hh.60 807.10 123.19 1,382.25 17,938-85 358-503-92 Weight (Pounds ) 53,003.73 1,911.57 2,296.u9 10,109.08 7,u52.23 11,981.97 15,911.0u 352.90 36.18 2,525.16 u,0u5.16 119.81 5h8.82 1t2.90 .1,h65.18 12,736.58 12h,638.81 Percent of Total No. 27.18 .7t 1-75 5.18 9.56 18.78 22.th 1.99 .07 1.70 b.75 .23 .03 .39 5.06 100.00 Percent of Total by Number and Weight, 16 Species, Caddo Lake, Harrison County, Texas, March 3, 195M through March 2, 1955. Percent of Total weight 82 53 l 53 1. 8b 8.11 5 98 9 61 12. 76 .28 .03 2.03 3.25 .10 .AM .11 1.18 10.22 100.00 m1 Table 3. Fish Per Man-Hour for Each Species, Caddo Lake, Harrison County, Texas, March 3, 195k through March 2, 1955 f-mmmmmnmmmwnwmwmhmnnmmnnn inhuman an- ..... _._mnmmnm_MWMmflmmp m. .nmhfi ' Species Numbeeraught . Number Hours E Fish Per % is. .Mnmmmmmum shaman” . FlShed =__ Man-Hour g g L. M. Black Bass 1,323 1,979 ' .66 i 2 Spotted Bass 5 23 .21 _ i Sunfish ( 10,96u % 3,336 _ 3.28 g , Pike I 5h E 199 .27 f : Crappie (Black & White) E 90 ( 106 .8h : E White Bass 5 ' #3 E 109 .39 E 3 Yellow Bass 3 13 E 65 .20 f Drum E 2 i 20 I .10 Bullhead g l 5 .20 ; Flathead f 1 3 .33 i ; Gar : 1 9 .11 i -_'-.u-:xu;u'~u.w;.m.7m_ when"; .':.—_ -:. -'_ - > _. -' 4a .m ”was No pure catches of channel catfish were examined. Table h. Fish Per Man-Hour for Each Method of Fishing, Caddo Lake, Harrison County, Texas, March 3, 1954 through March 2, 1955 1 Method . . No. Caught Casting h,h06 Still Fishing 15,692 Fly Fishing 191 Trolling 6O No..Hours Fished 7,0uu 7,61u 1&6 Fish Per Man-Hour .62 2.06 1.30 1.11 Table 5. Fish Per maanour for Each Type of Bait Used, Caddo Lake, Harrison County, Texas, March 3, 195h through March 2, 1955 Bait Used No. Caught Plugs I 3:726 Worms 13,351L Artificial flies 191 Minnows 1,250 Crayfish 166 No. Hours Fished 6,287 5.050-5 1A6 1,179.5 67 .. m-wummm—m “mumm- Fish Per Man—Hour .59 2.6M 1.30 1.05 2.h7 Jo Ase rags i J.) 93 I n Em” .eo; Table 6. Perio.e of Best Fishing for Largemouth Bass in Caddo Lake As indicated by Actual Creel Cheeks, March 3, 1954 threagh Marsh 2, 1955 Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July .Aug. Sept. Oct. Nev. Table 7. Periods of Best Fishing for Spotted Bass in Cadde Lake as Indieated by Actual Creel Cheeks, March 3, 195a through Marsh 2, 1955 Feb. Mar.- Apr. May dune Jaly' Aug. Sept. Get. New. Dee. Table 8. Periods of Best Fishing for White Crappie in Caddo Lake as Indieated By Actual Creel Checks, March 3, 195k through March 2, 1955 *-ite Crappie Per Creel Average No. sf Indicated by.Actual Creel Checks, March 3, 195M through March 2, 1955 1 E—J o \D Cree; a Per Crappi *‘b H .k Bias of No. 0.50 Aves 0.00 <9 1r Creel Average Number of Bream 9 Jan. Table 10. Feb. Periods of Best Fishing for Bream (Redear, Bluegill, Warmouth, Longear, and Spotted Sunfish) Fishing in Caddo Lake as Indicated By Actual Creel Checks, March 3, 19511 through March 2, 1955. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. [\3