TPWD 1962 F-4-R-9 #798: Fisheries Reconnaissance of Major Lakes in Region 2-A, Texas, 1961-1962

JOB COMPLETION REPORT As qequired gy FEDERAL.AID IN.FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Project No. F—4-R-9 FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS AND SURVEYS OF THE WATERS 0F REGION Ri-R . Job No. 3-29 Fisheries Reconnaissance Project Leader: Leonard Lamb Ha D. Dodgen Executive Secretary Texas Game and Fish Commission Austin, Texas Marion Toole Eugene A. Walker DwJ Coordinator Director, Program Planning February 5, 1963 ABSTRACT " Six major Lakes of Region 2~A were rechecked during the period November 1, 1961 and October 319 1.9626 These impoundments were; Benbrook (Tarrant County)9 Bridgeport (Wise County)9 Weatherford (Parker County), Eagle Mountain (Tarrant County)a Carter (Montague County) and Worth (Tarrant County)“ The most significant change in the makeup of the fish population of these lakes appears to be in the gizzard shad in Lakes Benbrookfi Eagle Mountain and Werth, Lake Benbrook showed a rise in the net collection of 14916 per cent while Eagle Mountain and Lake Worth had a drop of 45955 and 329A7 per cent respectivelyo Lakes BridgeportD Weatherford and Worth provided an increase in the crappie percentage while Eagle Mountain showed an increase in the white bass catch to correm spend with the decrease in gizzard shada Lake Carter was quite murky and there were only two species taken. The channel catfish appeared to be average size and in good conditionflbut the white crappie were small and in poor conditiono JOB COMPLETION REPORT State of Texas Project No. F'4"RF9 Name: Fisheries Investigation and Surveys of the waters Job Noa B~29 Title: Fisheries Reconnaissance Period Covered: November 1 1961 = October 31 1962 MM Objectives: To conduct limited investigations to obtain current information concerning gross changes in fishing conditions and factors influencing fish populationsa Techniques Used: Certain major lakes in Region ZmAs that had been surveyed in previous segments, were revisited and net collections made. These data collected were recorded for comparison with the results of previous survey work to provide a basis for determin~ ing any change that may have occurreda Lakes Benbrook, Bridgeport3 Carter, Eagle Mountain3 Weatherford and Worth were revisitedo Findings: Lake Benbrook Lake Benbrook shows only slight changes in population with the gainnbeing in gizzard shada This Species provided 80.51 per cent of the l960«196l net catch but rose to 94067 per cent in the 1961-62 catch (Tables 1 and 2). There was little change in the average length of the Spec1es taken but the number and pounds per A comparison of the "K” factor averages show slight changeo Gizzard shad, channel catfish and bluegill sunfish appear to be in slightly better condition while largemouth bass and white crappie have a smaller condition factor than last yearn This difference is light and may be the result of an insufficient sampleo Lake Bridgeport The netting of Lake Bridgeport in 1960»l961 was made with experimental gill nets that had mesh sizes from one inch to three inches while the 196lm1962 netting used only nets with 1% inch mesh. The most significant change is to be noted in the number and pounds of fish taken per 100 feet of net and this is believed to be due to the greater efficiency of the 1% inch mesh net over the graduated mesh size used in the experimental netse -2- Lake Carter The results of the 1961—1962 netting in Lake Carter were far from satisfactory. Weather conditions were not conducive to obtaining a proper sample as winds were Only channel catfish and white crappie were taken which made a extremely high. ompared to the seven Species taken in the 1960ml96l (Tables rather poor sample when c 5 and 6).. Lake Carter has been very murky for about two years and the wave action caused rather high winds tends to keep the colloidal clay suSpension at a high level by e more favorable to crappie and catfish which results in a condition that should b production than for bass and other sunfish. Eagle Mountain Lake The most significant changes in the net catch in Eagle Mountain Lake concerned the drop in gizzard Shad from 55.55 per cent in 1960-1961 to 10 per cent in 196lm 1962 and the rise of white bass from 6.35 per cent to 26.25 per cent (Tables 7 and 8). This is not an accurate reflection as the Shad population has not been depleated to this extent but there is usually a drop in the number of Shad taken when the white The only other significant change in the net catch was the reappearance of smallmouth buffalo, river carpsuckers and carp. These Species appear in cycles and periods of scarcity seem to be followed by periods of abundance. Small" mouth buffalo made Up 31.88 per cent of the net catch during the 1961-1962 netting after failing to appear during the previous year. bass catch increases. Lake Weatherford The netting results from Lake Weatherford indicate that gizzard shed and carp are increasing in relative abundance while channel catfish and white crappi a decrease (Tables9 and 10). The 1960n196l netting produced 2.15 per cent gizzard shad and 3.76 per cent crappie but the 1961~1962 netting Showed percentages of 29.16 and 13.33 for these Species respectively. In the case of the channel catfish and white crappie the percentages were 17.21 and 58.60 for the l960~1961 netting and 6.67 and 26.67 for the 196lwl962 collections. Other Species Showed Slight changes. The "K” factor comparison shows that lengthwweight relationships indicate that all Species have enjoyed better growth in 1961ml962 than was observed in 1960- 1961. The "K" factor average was considerably higher in each Species than in the previous year. Lake Worth Net collections from Lake Worth during l961wl962 were dominated by white crappie with 48.28 per cent of the total (Tables 11 and 12). This represents an increase of 17 per cent over the previous year. Gizzard shad was the most numerous Species in 1960wl96l collections with 41.67 per cent but drOpped to 9.2 per cent in the 1961: 1962 collections. The average length of all Species taken in the 1961—1962 netting Showed an increase over that of the previous year except longnose gar and largemouth bass. The average "K” factor for channel catfish and white crappie was slightly less m3... for the 1961w1962 netting but was higher for the other Species taken. Smallmouth buffalo3 river carpsucker and carp were taken in the 1961-1962 collection but were absent from the previous collection. w—H // Mada-Vl/J/ I’i-“f’LC/ 'oordinator Prepared by Leonard D. Lamb Approved by Project Leader Date: February 52 1963 __ Regional SUpervisor mmfloomm flmflw swson woumoHUcH % oH.N oo.Nnoo.o oq. mN.H man mo.n Ha.n mN.N m madaanu mung: ma.m OH.¢-ow.m mo. om. omn mm. mm. mm. N amuccam Hanmmaam OO.N OO.N-OO.N O¢.c mm. Odm mO.H HO.H an. H mama Sunoaomncq oo.n os.n-om.a am. om. ooN mm.n mm.n mm. N smuncao Mascara oo.N omoNaoo.N aH.H mN. omq om.¢ ¢S.a aq. H warao Om.N Om.muow.m NH.H mm. OHq mm.¢ m¢.q dc. 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