TPWD 1967 F-3-R-14 #1125: FINAL REPORT: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 3-B, Job No. B-24 Fish Population Control Recommendations

FINAL REPORT As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Project No. F—3—R-14 Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 3—B Job No. B—24 Fish Population Control Recommendations Project Leader Joe E. Toole J. R. Singleton Executive Director Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Austin, Texas Marion Toole Eugene A. Walker D—J Coordinator Director, Wildlife Services April 17, 1967 ABSTRACT During this job, surveys were made on 6 lakes and portions of 4 rivers in Region 3—B. Included were the following lakes and rivers: Caddo, Lake 0' the Pines, Murvaul, Striker, Palestine, and Dam ”B” Reservoir and the Sabine, Neches, Trinity, and Angelina Rivers. The criteria for consideration of pOpulation control would be a rough fish pepula— tion exceeding 80 per cent by weight or number of the total fish collections for given waters. 0f the 6 lakes surveyed, only Lake Striker met these criteria. Lake Striker had 80.07 per cent of rough fish by weight. Carp and gizzard shad made up 58.39 per cent of the total weight. It is recommended that selective netting of carp and gizzard shad be made on Lake Striker. The Sabine, Neches, and Angelina Rivers meet the criteria for rough fish population control, but such management is not recommended. Stream management by chemical control is not economically feasible and control by commercial fishing is not probable because of the low value of the non-commercial rough fish species present. None of the lakes in Region 3-B, with the exception of Lake Striker, meet the criteria for rough fish population control and rough fish control in area streams is not feasible. It is recommended that this job be terminated. FINAL REPORT State of Texas Project No. F—3—er4 Name: Region 3—B Fisheries Studies Job No. B—24 Title: Fish Population Control Recommendations Period Covered: February 1, 1966 - January 31, 1967 Objectives: To determine those waters which would benefit from pOpulation control in Region 3—B. 1. To study past fish population records for lakes Caddo, Lake 0' the Pines, Murvaul, Striker, Palestine and Dam ”B” Reservoir and portions of the Sabine, Neches, Trinity and Angelina Rivers. 2. To survey the above lakes and rivers to determine present fish pepulationg- Procedures: Surveys were made on each of the above lakes and rivers during this segment. These surveys included sampling of fish populations with gill nets, hOOp nets, and seines. Standardized gill nets 150 feet in length and 8 feet in depth with mesh size ranging from 1 to 3% inches were used. The hoop nets used were 10 feet in length with a throat diameter of 4 feet and having a mesh of 2 inches. Bag seines were used to supplement the netting with seining collections. The criteria for consideration of control work would be a rough fish pOpulation exceeding 80 per cent by weight or number of the total fish collections for given waters. CADDO LAKE Caddo Lake, located on the Texas—Louisiana line and lying in Marion and Harrison counties, was surveyed in 1953-55, 1961—62, 1962—63, 1964 and l966. Table 1 contains the netting results for this segment and also compares the per cents by number of rough and game fish with those of previous segments. The rough and game fish has re— mained relatively constant throughout the sampling period, and the lake has remained a favorite fishing area for many sportsmen. _2_ Table 1 Species Number Per Cent No. Weight Per Cent Wt. Gizzard shad 12 21.06 9.25 16.21 Chain pickerel 5 8.77 5.88 10.30 Spotted sucker 1 1.75 2.00 3.50 Channel catfish 1 1.75 3.00 5.26 Black bullhead 8 14.04 13.00 22.78 Yellow bullhead 13 22.82 _ 13.31 23.32 Largemouth bass 2 3.51 2.63 4.61 Warmouth 3 5.26 1.63 2.86 Spotted sunfish 1 1.75 .13 .22 Redear sunfish 6 10.53 1.25 2.19 Bluegill sunfish l 1.75 -.50 .87 Black crappie 3 5.26 2.50 4.38 Drum 1 1.75 2.00 3.50 Totals '57 100.00 57.08 100.00 Rough fish 40 70.18 45.44 79.61 Game fish 17 29.82 11.64 20.39 Comparison of per cent of numbers for this segment with reconnaissance data from previous segments. 1953—55 1961—62 1962~63 1964 1966 Rough fish 74.08 69.57 68.49 72.85 70.18 Game fish ' 25.92 30.43 31.51 27.15 29.82 LAKE 0' THE PINES Lake 0' the Pines is located in Marion county west of Jefferson. This reservoir was surveyed in 1958—59, 1960—61, 1963, 1964 and 1966. Table 2 shows the netting re— sults for 1966 and compares the per cent of rough and game fish with those of previous segments. Lake 0' the Pines produces an excellent fishery for largemouth bass and crappie. LAKE MURVAUL Lake Murvaul, located in Panola county near Carthage, has been surveyed every year since 1960, with the exception of 1965. Table 3 contains the netting data for 1966 and compares this segment's results with those of previous segments. This res— ervoir has a very high pOpulation of redear and bluegill sunfish. These two species made up 29.50 per cent of the total sample during 1966. Lake Murvaul has become famous as a producer of large bass. Many are taken each year weighing from 6 to 10 pounds. fl‘ ‘ _3_ Table 2 Survey Results of Lake 0' the Pines November 1966 Species Number Per Cent No. Weight Per Cent Wt. Spotted gar 3 4.00 4.25 3.19 Gizzard shad 11 14.67 8.31 10.14 Chain pickerel 11 14.67 15 19 18.53 Golden shiner l 1.33 .19 .23 Channel catfish 1 1.33 1.50 1.83 Black bullhead 10 13.33 1?.25 21.05 Yellow bullhead 3 4.00 1.63 1.99 White bass 1 1.33 .88 1.07 Largemouth bass 9 12.00 12.69 15.48 Warmouth 1 1.33 .25 .31 Spotted sunfish 1 1.33 .19 .23 Redear sunfish 3 4.00 .88 1.07 Bluegill sunfish 2 2.68 .25 .92 Black crappie 18 24 00 18.00 21.96 Totals 75 100.00 81.96 100.00 Rough fish 39 52 00 46.82 37.13 Game fish 36 48.00 35.14 42.87 Comparison of per cent of numbers for this segment with reconnaissance data from previous segments. 1958—59 1960 1961 i962 1963 196$ 1966 Rough fish 63 79 66.51 67.05 63-33 6fl.42 32.37 52.00 Game fish 36.21 33.49 32 95 36 67 35 58 63.63 48 00 % LAKE STRTKER Lake Striker, located in Rusk and Cherokee counties has been surveyed every year since 195? with the exception of 1965. Table 4 contains the netting data for this segment and compares this data with that of previous segments. Lake Striker has a good population of redear and bluegill sunfish. Flathead catfish have in— creased in the iake, with 10 being taken during this segment. Carp and gizzatd shad made up 58.39 per cent of the total weight of the fish collected during this segment. 1: is recommended that selective netting of carp and girzard shad be made on Lake Striker. _4_ Table 3 Survey Results Of Lake Murvaul April 1966 Species Number Per Cent No. Weight Per Cent Wt. Bowfin 13 6.50 96.89 49.59 Gizzard shad 16 8.00 5.87 3.01 Spotted sucker 1 .50 2.75 1.41 Lake chubsucker 26 13.00 13.12 6.71 Golden Shiner 14 7.00 2.62 1.34 Black bullhead 6 3.00 7.75 3.97 Yellow bullhead 25 12.50 11.63 5.95 Largemouth bass 6 3.00 5.00 2.56 Warmouth 13 6150 3.25 1.66 Redear sunfish 29 14.50 8.13 4.16 Bluegill sunfish 30 15.00 5.87 3.01 White crappie 20 10.00 31.76 16.25 Black crappie 1 .50 .75 .38 Totals 200 100.00 195.39 100.00 Rough fish 101 50.50 140.63 71.98 Game fish 99 49.50 54.76 28.02 Comparison of per cent of numbers for this segment with reconnaissance from previous segments. 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1966 Rough fish 68.00 57.49' 68.94 54.37 66.12 50.50 Game fish 32.00 ' 47.51 31.06 45.63 33.88 49.50 my ,4‘” LAKE PALESTINE Lake Palestine, located in Henderson, Cherokee, Smith and Rusk counties has been surveyed every year since 1962, with the exception of 1965. Table 5 contains the netting data for this segment and compares this data with that of previous segments. The unusually high percentage of game fish netted this segment is due primarily to the large number of bluegill and redear sunfish taken. These two species comprised 42.81 per cent of the total sample. The percentage of rough fish by weight was 69.30 per cent as contained in Table 5. -5- Table 4 Survey Results of Lake Striker May 1966 Species Npmber Per Cent No. Weight Per Cent Wt. Spotted gar 2 .85 3.50 1.33 Gizzard shad 140 59.83 66.88 25.35 River carpsucker 1 .43 .56 .21 Carp 18 7.69 139.94 53.04 Channel catfish 2 .85 2.88 1.09 Black bullhead 1 .43 .37 -14 Flathead catfish 10 4.27 33 00 12.51 White bass 1 .43 .88 .33 Spotted bass 2 .85 1.13 .43 Largemouth bass 4 1.71 2.37 -90 Redear sunfish 33 14 10 7-81 2.96 Bluegill sunfish 11 4.70 2.44 .92 Redbreast sunfish 5 2.14 .50 .19 White crappie 2 .86 .56 .21 Black crappie 2 .86 1.00 .39 Totals 234 100.00 263 82 100 00 Rough fish 162 69.23 211.25 80.07 Game fish 72 30.77 52 57 19.93 Comparison of per cent of numbers for this segment with reconnaissance from previous segments. 1957—58 1958-59 1959—60 1961 1962 1964 1966 ROugh fish 74.89 73.66 71.72 70.19 80.93 35.72 69.23 Game fish 25.11 26.34 28.28 29.81 19.07 64.28 30.77 % DAM "B" RESERVOIR Dam ”B” Reservoir, located in Jasper and Tyler counties on the Angelina and Neches Rivers, has been surveyed in 1958—59, 1961—62, 1963, 1964 and 1966. Table 6 contains this segment's netting data and campares this data with that of previous segments. Dam ”B” Reservoir continues to be a very productive reservoir, due to its shallow depth and water fluctuation. Dam ”B” Reservoir is one of the best cat- fish producing lakes in Region 3—B, as shown in Table 6. ~6— Table 5 Survey Results Of Lake Palestine July 1966 Species Number Per Cent No. Weight Per Cent Wt. Spotted gar 8 2.68 23.50 13.49 Gizzard shad 39 13.04 17.25 9.90 Carp 2 .67 8.62 4.95 Spotted sucker 22 7.36 18.50 10.62 Lake chubsucker 1 .33 .69 .39 Black bullhead 18 6.02 30.06 17.25 Yellow bullhead 24 8.03 22.13 12.70 Largemouth bass 2 .67 2.06 1.18 Warmouth 17 5.69 5.25 3.01 Spotted sunfish 1 .33 .50 .29 Redear sunfish 31 10.37 7.44 4.27 Bluegill sunfish 97 32.44 21.25 12.20 Redbreast sunfish 3 1.00 .50 .29 Black crappie 34 11.37 16.50 9.46 Totals 299 100.00 174 25 100 00 Rough fish 114 38.13 120.75 69.30 Game fish 185 61.87 53.50 30.70 Comparison of per cent of numbers for this segment with reconnaissance from previous segments. 1962 1963 1964 1966 Rough fish . 73.37 84.67 87.70 38.13 Game fish 26.63 15.33 12.30 61.87 SABINE RIVER Approximately 15 miles of the Sabine River was surveyed in lower Newton county during this segment. Table 7 gives the netting results of this survey. While this portion of the Sabine River meets the 80 per cent rough fish criteria for pOpulation control, such management is not recommended. Stream management by chemical controls is not economically feasible and rough fish population control by commercial fishing is not probable because of the low value of the noncommercial rough fish species present. River carpsucker (Carpiodes carpio) and gars (Lepisosteus g2.) comprised 58.14 per cent of the total number of fish taken. -7- Table 6 Survey Results Of Dam ”B” Reservoir February 1966 Specigg Number Per Cent No. Weight Per Cent Wt. Spotted gar 27 14 06 48_31 21.23 Gizzard shad 55 28.65 36.94 16.23 Smallmouth buffalo 4 2.08 21.13 9.28 River carpsucker 4 2.08 8.25 3.62 Spotted sucker 2 1.04 1.32 .58 Lake chubsucker 1 .52 .25 .11 Carp 1 .53 3.00 1.32 Channel catfish 22 11.46 7.41 3.26 Blue catfish 17 8.85 44.40 19.51 Black bullhead 1 .53 .19 .08 Spotted bass 1 .52 .56 .25 Largemouth bass 14 7.29 16 63 7.30 Redear sunfish 5 2.60 .94 .41 Bluegill sunfish 2 1.04 .56 .25 White crappie 17 8.85 21.56 9.47 Black crappie 9 4.69 7.57 3.33 Drum 10 5.21 8.57 3.77 Totals 192 100.00 227 59 100 00 Rough fish 105 54.69 127.96 56.22 Game fish 87 45.31 99.63 43.78 Comparison of per cent of numbers for this segment with reconnaissance from previous segments. 1958—59 1961 1962 1963 196i 1966 Rough fish 62.37 64.21 64.99 72.59 59.93 54.69 Game fish 37.63 35.79 35.01 27.41 40.07 45.31 NECHES RIVER Three surveys were made on the Neches River this segment. The first survey was made in Tyler county near the confluenoe of the Neohes and Trinity Rivers. Table 8 contains the results of that survey. The second survey was made near Highway 59, south of Diboll, in Polk and Angelina oeunties. Table 9 contains the results of that survey- The third survey was made near Highway 21, south of Alto, in Cherokee and Houston counties. Six gill nets were set overnight and only one smallmouth buffalo, weighing one pound, was collected- —8— Table 7 Survey Results Of The Sabine River 1966 Lower Newton County Species Number Per Cent No. Weight Per Cent Wt. Spotted gar 3 6.98 2.75 5.03 Longnose gar 4 9.30 11.93 21.82 Gizzard shad 1 2.33 1.37 2.51 Blue sucker 1 2.33 2.75 5.03 Smallmouth buffalo 3 6.98 14.25 26.06 River carpsucker 18 41.86 11.63 21.27 Spotted sucker 2 4.65 2.37 4.33 Striped mullet l 2.33 .75 1.37 Spotted bass 5 11.63 3.37 6.16 Bluegill sunfish 1 2.32 .13 .23 White crappie l 2.32 .13 .24 Black crappie 1 2.32 .19 .35 Drum 2 4.65 3.06 5.60 Totals 43 100.00 54 68 100 00 Rough fish 35 81.40 47.80 87.42 Game fish 8 18.60 6.88 12.58 Table 8 Survey Results Of The Neches River 1966 Tyler County Species Number Per Cent No. Weight Per Cent Wt. Spotted gar 6 6.52 8.63 6.77 Longnose gar 2 2.18 3.37 2.64 Gizzard shad 8 8.69 4.00 3.13 Smallmouth buffalo 26 28.27 64.88 50.85 River carpsucker 6 6.52 9.63 7.55 Channel catfish 1 1.09 1.37 1.08 Blue catfish 4 4.36 5.75 4.50 Flathead catfish 3 3.26 12.19 9.55 Bluegill sunfish 7 7.60 .50 .40 White crappie 16 17.39 7.13 5.59 Black crappie 6 6.52 2.50 1.96 Drum 7 7.60 7.63 5.98 Totals 92 100.00 127 58 100 00 Rough fish 55 59.78 98.47 76.92 Game fish 37 40.22 29.11 23.08