TPWD 1964 F-6-R-11 #907: Job Completion Report: Experimental Stocking of Largemouth Bass and Threadfin Shad in Ponds in South Texas, Project F-6-R-11

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JOB COMPLETION REPORT As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORAIIO-N ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Project No. Fwfi-R-ll FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS AND SURVEYS OF THE WATERS OF REGION 5-13 Jab Non E-6 Experimental Stocking of Largemouth Bass and Threadfin Shad in Funds in South Texas Project Leader: Charles T» Menu Jo Weldoanatson Executive Director Parks and Wildlife Department Austin, Texas Narion Teole Eugene A, Walker, D—J Geordinator Directora Program Planning . * "February 1-1.: 196A ABSTRACT Five ponds ranging from 1 to 3 acres in size were selected for use in this experimento After the ponds were treated with rotenone9 they were stocked with 20 adult threadfin shad per surface acreo Approximately two weeks later largemouth bass fry were stocked at the rate of 509 1005 1509 200 and 250 per surface acrea Ten specimens of bass were seined at each pond at monthly intervals beginning in Augusta Length and weight statistics were recorded” At this time it is obvious that this job is being conducted under cone ditions which are most probable in South Texas and not under the ideal circumstances which were intendeda For examples the water levels have fluctuated in all five pondso However9 this job should be continued in order to learn as much as possible about the five stocking ratios in South Texaso A more detailed analysis will be made when more data are available. JOB COMPLETION REPORT State of Texas Project Noo Fm6~Rwll Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 5~B Title: EX3erimsntal.Stoskin; pfihLaruemsuth Bass and Threadfin Shad in Ponds in South Texas Job Noo Em6 Januar._l,bl963_thros.h_Decembsr_31lm 1963 Period Covered: Objectives: To determine growth rates and fishing success for largemouth bass stocked with threadfin shad as forages Techniques Used: Five ponds3 ranging from 1 to 3 acres in size, were selected for this studyo Before final selections however3 the owners assured the project leader that the ponds would be kept at their maximum capacityo 0f the five ponds3 three are located within 15 miles of Mathis and the other two are located within 60 miles of Nathiso Pond Nos 19 approximately 207 surface acres in sizes is located on Weavergs Ranch about 12 miles east of Mathis in San Patricio Countyo This pond is an abandoned caliche pit and its major source of water is seepage from the Nueces River about onewfourth of a mile awayo Secchi disc readings ranged from 11 to 24 inches with a mean average of 1605 incheso Minimum and maximum values for chemical constituents are as follows: dissolved oxygen 104 to 8,8 popomOS chlorinity 8500 to 9290 papvmoS carbon dioxide 004 to 400 papomo3 phmth alkalinity 12000 to 12890 popomaa and ph 708 to 8020 Even though the water level fluctuated about 18 inches in the summer3 it did not affect the dense stands of Chara along the shorelineo Figure 1 is an outline map of this pondg In May9 shortly after the pond had been treated with rotenoneg large numbers of Gambusia were seen; they apparently survived the rotenone treatmento Figure 2 is an outline map of Pond Nod 20 It is approximately 206 surface acres in size and is also located on Weaver‘s Rancho .. 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IE3 Secchi disc readings ranged from 10 to 15 inches with a mean average of 13:1 inches: The minimum and maximum values for chemical constituents are as follows: dissolved oxygen 2:0 to 6:6 p:p:m:S chlorinity 86:0 to 89:0 p:p:m:: carbon dioxide 0:2 to 1:4 p:p:m:3 phwth alkalinity 125 to 130 p:p:m:: and pH 7:8 to 8:00 Submerged vegetationa Potamogeton and Chara} is not as abundant in this pond as in Pond No: 1 due to more turbid water: Alsoa the water level fluctuated nearly 2 feet during the summer of 1963: The owner used some of the water for irrigation purposes during the summer drought: Pond No: 3:3 as shown in Figure 33 is approximately 2:3 surface acres in size and is located on the Abercrombie Ranch in Atascosa Countys nearly 60 miles from Mathis: This pondg originally built to store water for livestock? gets its water from a windmill: Howeverfl in September 1963 the water level began dropping due to evaporation and use by livestock: By October the pond had lost nearly two-thirdfis of its water but it refilled in November: The shaded area in Figure 3 shows the water area in October: Secchi disc readings ranged from 3% to 7 inches with a mean average of 5:0 inches: Minimum and maximum values for chemical constituents are as follows: dissolved oxygen 0:0 to 6:2 p:p:mi: chlorinity 97:0 to 103:0 p:p:m:3 carbon dioxide 0:0 to 0:1 p:p:m:: thth alkalinity 162:0 to 172:0 p:p:m:3 and pH 7:8 to 8:6: Due to the high turbidityS caused by a collodial suspension9 aquatic vegetation is not a problem in this pond: Pond No: 43 as outlined in Figure 43 is approximately 1:5 acres in sizeg and is also located on the Abercrombie Ranch in Atascosa County: Like Pond No: 33 its original purpose was to provide storage for livestock: 'Water is pumped into the lake from.a nearby windmill: J Secchi disc readings ranged from.4 to 7 inches with a mean average of 5:2 inches: The minimum and maximum values for chemical constituents are as follows: dissolved oxygen 2:4 to 8:0 p:p:m:: chlorinity 96:0 to 103:0 p:p:m:3 carbon dioxide 0:2 to 6:0 p:p:m:S phwth alkalinity 140:0 to 175:0 p:p:m:3 and pH 8:2 to 8:4: Water temperatures ranged from 630 to 880 F: Submerged vegetation is not a problem in this lake: However3 the water level fluctuated nearly 3 feet due to the drought: The lake was refilled in November and has stayed full since: Despite efforts to remove the existing-fish pOpulation with rotenone, black bullheads (Ictalurus melas) and Gambusia survived the treatment: Pond No: 5 (Figure 5) is located on the Sidesa Farm less than 15 miles from.Mathis in San Patricio County: This pond3 an irrigation reservoirg is 0:97 surface acre in size: Its major source of water is from a nearby well: However3 the pump broke down.and the water level had dropped nearly 3 feet by the end of December: The owner has assured the project leader that the pump will be in operation as soon as possible and the pond will be refilled to capacity: .. r. 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Iii): II... .uPFlI. .il... ..an I... . .n .. “fir. ...}. enlivdflgrfg. weom_ RNN hamoumhv meow mm:o n more amm H :H QHMUW wmom meowwm once oommnsm mom mmmm 0mm 3 m :02 puom HmquEHnonnm m :wam Secchi disc readings were all greater than 36 inches: Because of this relatively clear water, cattails are somewhat of a problem.in the pond: The minimum and maximum values for chemical constituents are as follows: dissolved oxygen 1:6 to 6:0 p:p:m., chlorinity 83:0 to 87:0 p:p:m:, carbon dioxide 0:0 to 1:0 p:p:m:, ph-th alkalinity 120 to 130:0 p:p:m:, and pH 8:0 to 8:4: In addition to cattails, there is some algae and Chara in this pond, but it is not considered a problem at this time: All five ponds were treated with 5 per cent rotenone powder just prior to stocking with adult threadfin shad at the rate of 20 per surface acre: Approximately two weeks later largemouth bass, about 2 inches in total length, were stocked at the rate of 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 per surface acre: During the first two months after the bass were stocked, sight obser- vations were made at each pond at two-week intervals and notes were made of each visit: Beginning in August, the third month after the bass were stocked, 10 specimens of bass were seined at each pond at monthly intervals: The bass were held in a No: 3 wash tub filled with lake water until their length and weight measurements were recorded. Then they were returned to the ponds alive: Temperature, turbidity and water quality were recorded at monthly intervals in conjunction with the bass sampling: Due to limitations of the electronic thermometer, water temperatures were taken at the surface only: The electronic thermometer's maximum range is 900 F: Since the average depth of these ponds is less than 4 feet, the project leader decided to analyze surface samples only: It was felt that there would not-be any_appreciable difference in the quality of bottom and surface samples: Discussion: At this point in the experiment it is obvious that this job is being conducted under conditions which occur most frequently in South Texas and not under the ideal circumstances which were intended: For example, the water levels in all ponds have fluctuated, and all fish were not removed by chemical treatment in four of the ponds: Adult threadfin shad were stocked the first of May and the bass were stocked about two weeks later: Sufficient evidence was found to indicate that the shad had Spawned before the bass were stocked: Despite the fact that the shad had.spawned,’they.”disappeared” during the latter months of this segment: In fact shad were found only in Pond No: 4 during the December sampling. Further study will be necessary in order to determine whether or. not the bass have actually cropped all the shad: Table l is a comparison of the five stocking rates: At this time the steadiest rate of growth appears to be in 100 bass per acre ratio: