TPWD 1963 F-3-R-10 #860: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 3-B: Fisheries Reconnaissance, Segment Completion Report

SEGMENT COMPLETION REPORT As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTGRATION ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Project No. F~3wR-10 Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 3~B Job No. B—lB Title: Fisheries Reconnaissance Project Leader: John N. Dorchester J. Weldon Watson Executive Director Parks and Wildlife Department Austina Texas Marion Toole Eugene A“ walker D—J Coordinator Director, Program Planning December 43 1963 ABSTRACT During this segment reconnaissance surveys were conducted on seven reservoirs in Region 3wB. Data for these lakes are written separately in the following order: Eyler State Park Lake, Dam ”B” Reservoir, Lake 05 the Pines, Lake Murvaul, Lake Striker3 Caddo Lake and Lake Tyler. Netting and seining collections were made on each lake and the data compiled during this segment were compared to that of past collections. Water analyses which included pH, methyl-orange alkalinity, chlorides, turbidity readings and surface temperatures were also run. According to the data included in this report, there have been few gross changes in the fish populations of the seven reservoirs studieda Ex— cessive aquatic vegetation however? is becoming an increased problem in several of the lakes. The water quality of the reservoirs is generally goodfi which indicates that they are capable of supporting their existing fish populations. SEGMENT COMPLETION REPORT State of Texas Project No. F-34R-10 Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 3-B. Job No. B-18 Title: Fisheries Reconnaissance Period Covered: February 12 1962 - January 31, 1963 OBJECTIVE: To conduct limited investigations to obtain current information concerning gross changes in fishing conditions and factors influencing fish populations. TECHNIQUES USED: Netting trips were made to seven reservoirs that had previously been surveyed. These lakes are as follows: Tyler State Park Lake, Dam ”B” Reservoir, Lake 0' the Pines, Lake Murvaul, Lake Striker, Caddo Lake and Lake Tyler. Fish were collected with experimental type gill nets, the dimensions of which are 125 feet long, 6 and 8 feet deep with mesh size ranging from 1 to 3 inches. Also bag seines were used to make seining collections on some of the lakes surveyed. These seines were of two sizes, one was 26 feet long, 6 feet deep with l/4ninch mesh. The other was 15 feet long, 4 feet deep with l/8—inch mesh. Observations were made on several items such as water level, status of aquatic vegetation, fishing pressure and public access. Water analysis includes pH, methyl-orange alkalinity, chlorides, tur— bidity (secchi) and water temperature. The findings for each lake are written separately and as follows: TYLER STATE PARK LAKE Tyler State Park.Lake, located in Smith County 10 miles north of Tyler, was first surveyed in 1959. A complete lake renovation was completed in 1961. Surveys were also conducted in 1960, 1961 and during this segment. Table l is a checklist of all species taken from the lake over the 4-year period. In 1962, four Species were added to the checklist in addition to the return of a rough fish Species. Table 2 compares the percentage of numbers of fish taken by netting and Table 3 compares the percentage by weight. These data indicate that the fish population is still in good condition com- pared to the pre—treatment figure. Table 4 compares the average weight in grams, average standard length in millimeters and average coefficients of con- dition for four principal game fish species for the four periods. Bluegill sunfish is the only fish to cause concern as their average size is decreasing. -2- The water quality is fairly constant with no change at all in the pH. The water level dropped about 18 inches during the spring and summer drouth of 1962. 'Fishing on the lake has only been poor to fair at times, due mainly to the extremely clear water. Though recommendations were made to the Parks Board to fertilize the lake at regular intervals, this was not done because of the lack of funds. Vegetation in the form.of muskgrass (Chara EB') began reappearing in the lake in late summer. Plans have been made to treat the lake in 1963 with copper sulphate. Public access is excellent and people utilize the lake to a large extent, however, the only boat launch is unpaved and is easily washed out. Table l. A checklist of Tyler State Park Lake fish Species. Species 1959 1960 1961 1962 Spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) x Blacktail redhorse (Moxostoma poecilurum) x Lake chubsucker (Erimyzon sucetta) Carp (Cyprinus carpio) Golden Shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) x Red Shiner (Notropis lutrensis) X x Mimic Shiner (Notropis volucellus) Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) x Yellow bullhead (Ictalurus natalis) Blackstripe topminnow (Fundulus notatus) Mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis) Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) Warmouth (Chaenobryttus gulosus) Green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) Spotted sunfish (Lepomis punctatus) Redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) Bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) Longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis) White crappie (Pomoxis annularis) Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) x N X X N N N X X N N N N N N N N X N K N M s N X X X M N x N Number of Species 12 10 5 ll -3- Table 2. Comparison of per cent of numbers of netted fish from Tyler State Park Lake. Species . 1959 1960 1961 1962 Spotted gar* 0 0.89 0 0 Lake chubsucker* 16.67 55.37 0 O Carp* 4.17 0 0 0 Golden shiner* 0 0.89 0 0 Channel catfish O 0 6.67 40.00 Yellow bullhead* 41.66 0.89 0 5.00 Largemouth bass 12.50 7.14 40.00 5.00 Warmouth 4.17 5.36 40.00 15.00 Redear sunfish 4.17 10.72 0 0 Bluegill sunfish 16.66 15.18 13.33 15.00 Longear sunfish 0 0.89 O 0 White crappie 0 0 O 20.00 Black crappie 0 2.67 0 0 Rough Fish* 62.50 58.04 0 5.00 Game Fish 37.50 41.96 100.00 95.00 Total 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 _ n - a u u — m _ — fl - — — _ — - - - - - - — — n r- — I - - u) — _ - - _ - — h — ._, Table 3. Comparison of per cent of weight of netted fish from Tyler State Park Lake. Species 1959 1960 1961 1962 Spotted gar* 0 1.64 0 0 Lake chubsucker*‘ 16.62 58.14 0 0 Carp* 23.56 ' 0 0 0 Golden Shiner* 0 0.39 0 0 Channel catfish 0 0 11.96 59.89 Yellow bullhead* 39.22 1.55 0 2.86 Largemouth bass 10.56 20.12 66.86 25.12 Warmouth 0.96 2.41 18.89 6.80 Redear sunfish 2.29 7.80 0 0 Bluegill sunfish 6.79 5.72 2.29 1.47 Longear Sunfish 0 0.68 0 0 White crappie 0 0 O 3.86 Black crappie 0 1.55 0 0 Rough Fish* 79.40 61.72 0 2.86 Game Fish 20.60 38.28 100.00 97.14 Total 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 Table 4. Comparison of average Standard lengths in millimeters of several game fish Species from Tyler State Park Lake. 1959 1960 1961 1962 Number of Number of Number of Species Fish Length Not Taken Fish Length Fish Length Channel catfish 0 0 1 340.00 7 286.00 Largemouth bass 3 209.00 6 268.83 1 355.00 Warmouth 1 117.00 6 163.50 3 131.66 Bluegill sunfish 4 137.50 2 110.50 3 95.00 - - - - - m u - -- .I — — fl — - fl .— - — - - fl - — - - - - -- - — - — — — I n - - m - Comparison of average weight in grams of several game fish Species from Tyler State Park Lake 1959 1960 1961 1962 Number of Number of Number of Species Fish Weight Not Taken Fish Weight Fish Weight Channel catfish 0 737.00 459.71 0 1 7 Largemouth bass 3 216.60 6 680.50 1 1474.00 Warmouth 1 58.00 6 191.66 3 119.33 4 2 3 Bluegill sunfish 104.00 55.00 28.00 ”Haw“—_“H__—_—__¢_m_¢_l_|—_—__—_—__—-__—_—_____ Comparison of average coefficients of condition (”K”) of several game fish Species from Tyler State Park Lake. 1959 1960 1961 1962 Number of Number of Number of Species Fish ”K” Not Taken Fish ”K” Fish ”K” Channel catfish 0 0 1 1.87 7 1.62 Largemouth bass 3 2.15 6 2.97 1 3.29 Warmouth 1 3.62 6 4.31 3 4.19 Bluegill sunfish 4 3.66 2 4.08 3 3.27 ____n__mm_—u—M____—mm____m_n—_—_—a-n—_-—mmfl__“___ WATER QUALITY 1959 1960 1961 1962 pH 7.6 Not taken 7.6 7.6 Alkalinity 27.00 p.p.m. 0.5 p.p.m. 30.00 p.p.m. Chlorides 28.37 p.p.m. 21.28 p.p.m. 21.28 p.p.m. DAM "B” RESERVOIR Dam ”B” Reservoir, located in JaSper and Tyler Counties on the Angelina and Neches Rivers had considerable netting conducted on it in 1958-59 followed by reconnaissance surveys in 1961 and 1962. Table 5 is a checklist of all fish collected in the various sur- veys. During the 1962 survey there were eight Species added to the checklist. These included threadfin shed, a very important forage fish. Table 6 and 7 is a comparison of the per cent of numbers and weights reSpectively of the netted fish. This lake has one of the highest per- centage of game fish in Region 3~B. Gizzard shad, channel catfish and white crappie made the strongest increases. White bass which were introduced into the lake on several occasions have apparently failed to become established as none has been collected since 1959. Vegetation, which has always been a problem, has increased to serious proportions. Besides the infestation of water hyacinths, thick growths of willow and buttonbush have become established in several sections of the lake. Also submerged vegetation has become quite a problem. The water level this past year was lower than usual in the late summer and it is hOped that the lake can be drained, possibly in 1965, to help rid it of vegetation. U. S. Corps of Engineers estimate that more than 624,000 fisher- men visited the lake in 1962. It was estimated that a million and.a Quarter pounds of fish were harvested by Sportsmen. Nevertheless, there have been complaints of the crappie fishing being poorer this year and many are infested with leeches. The crappie are getting more numerous but Smaller. New areas of access are being opened and constructed by the U.S. Corps of Engineers. Table 5. A checklist of Dam ”B” Reservoir fish species. Species l958~59 1961 1962 Alligator gar (Lepisosteus Spatula) X Shortnose gar (Lepisosteus platostomus) x Spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) x x X Longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus) x x x Bowfin (Amia calva) x Threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense) x Gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) Blue sucker (Cycleptus elongatus) XX X >4 ~6~ Table 5. A checklist of Dam_”B”'Reservoir fish Species (continued). Species 1958-59 1961 1962 Smallmouth buffalo CIctiobus bubalus) River carpsucker (Carpiodes carpio) Gray redhorse (Moxostoma congestum) Blacktail redhorse Cbeost.oma poecilurum) Spotted sucke.r CMinytrema me.1.an0ps) Lake chubsucker (Erimyzon suce.tta) Carp (C yprinus carpio) “Ribbon Shiner (Notropis fumeus) Weed Shiner (Notropis_texagpg) x Chub Shiner (Notropis potteri) Pallid Shiner (Notropis amnis) Blacktail Shiner (Notropis venustus) Red Shiner (Notropis lutrensis) Sand Shiner CNotrOpiS stramineus) Mimic Shiner (NotrOpis volucellus) Silvery minnow (Hybognathus nuchalis) Bullhead minnow (Fumephales vigilax) Channel catfish (Ictaluru.s punctatus) Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) Black bullhead (Ictalurus melas) Yellow bullhead (Ictalurus natalis) Flathead catfish CPylodictiS olivaris) Golden topminnow (Fundulus chrysotus) Blackstripe topminnow (Fundulus notatus) Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) Brook silversides (Labidesthes Sicculus) White bass (Roccus chrysops) a Spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus) Largemouth bass (MicrOpterus salmoides) Warmouth (Chaenobryttus gulosus) Spotted sunfish (Lepomis punctatus) 'Redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) Bluegill sunfi.sh (Lepomis macrochirus) Longear sunfish (Lepom m_is me.galotis) White crappie. (Pomoxis annularis) Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) River darte.r (Hadropterus shumardi) Logperch. CPercina caprodeg) Scaly sand darter (Ammocrypta vivax) Bluntnose darter CEtheostoma chlorosomum) x Slough darter-(Etheostoma gracile) Freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens) N >4 N N NNNMNNNN N MN MN NM NXNM MNMNN KNMNNNNXMNNNNMNNNNNKNNN N .54 >4 N N M N NNNXNNMMNNMN >4 >4 Number of Species 41 16 33 * Introduced. Table 6. Comparison of percentages of number of netted fish from Dam ”B” Reservoir. Species Alligator gar* Longnose gar* Shortnose gar* Spotted gar* Bowfin* Gizzard shad* Blue sucker* Smallmouth buffalo* River carpsucker* Gray redhorse* Blacktail redhorse* Spotted sucker* Lake chubsucker* Carp* Channel catfish Blue catfish Black bullhead* Yellow bullhead* Flathead catfish Spotted bass Largemouth bass Warmouth Redear sunfish Bluegill sunfish Longear sunfish White crappie Black crappie Freshwater drumfi Rough Fish * Game Fish Total 1958-59 0.34 3.12 0.08 4.68 0.68 16.27 0.08 22.11 4.96 0.24 0.36 5.38 0.08 0.80 6.20 2.72 0.16 0.47 0.60 0.24 3.36 0.47 3.80 4.24 0 10.60 5.40 2.56 .62.37 37.63 100.00 1961 0 14.74 6.31 0 0 10.53 0 18.95 4.21 64.21 35.79 100.00 1962 0 5.66 0 5.00 0 27.00 0 14.33 6.34 00 0.66 00 11.33 3.00 00 0.34 1.34 3.00 1.67 0.33 10.00 4.00 6.00 64.99 35.01 100.00 Table 7. Comparison Reservoir. Species Alligator gark Longnose gar* Shortnose gar* Spotted gar* Bowfin* Gizzard shad* Blue sucker* Smallmouth buffalo* River carpsucker* Gray redhorse* Blacktail redhorse* Spotted sucker?‘c Lake chubsucker* Carp* Channel catfish Blue catfish Black bullhead* Yellow bullhead* Flathead catfish Spotted bass Largemouth bass Warmouth Redear sunfish Bluegill sunfish Longear sunfish White crappie Black crappie Freshwater drums Rough Fish* Game Fish Total —8- 1958~59 1.08 6.47 0.16 9.70 2.86 6.17 0.20 9.23 7.38 0.36 0.14 4.75 0.02 2.42 4.29 3.08 0.21 0.24 1.91 0.14 3.83 0.17 1.02 0.71 0 6.59 3.66 3.21 74.60 25.40 100.00 1961 0 29.34 7.61 0 0 3.39 0 28.31 4.79 00000 100.00 of percentages of weights of netted fish from Dam ”B" 1962 0 15.73 0 6.57 0 13.79 0 27.23 10.77 0 O .42 0 0. 0.03 4.09 3.00 3.78 78.16 21.84 100.00