TPWD 1962 F-2-R-9 #785: Fisheries Resurvey of Lakes Inks and Buchanan

\\,\‘ JOB COMPLETION REPORT As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Preject Noe Fw2—R—9 FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS AND SURVEYS OF THE HATERS OF REGION 2-B Job Non B-24 Fisheries w Reserve of Lakes Inks and_u Project Leader: John Go Wood Ass‘t. Project Leader; Richard L“ White HQ D. Dodgen Executive Secretary Texas Game and Fish Commission Austin, Texas Marian Taole Eugene Ao Walker D—J Coardinater Director, Program Planning .April 6, 1962 ABSTRACT Lakes Inks and Buchanan were resurveyed during the segment. Submerged vegetation, notably Myriophyllum sp., continues to be a major problem on Lake Inks. A lake drawdown during February—March, 1962 is scheduled in the hope that the growth 'will be retarded during the year. Some increase in relative abundance of gizzard shad over previous segments was noted for the lake. This, combined with poor ang- ling success, is responsible for the scheduling of a selective rotenone treatment of Lake Inks during the drawdown mentioned above. Rough fish Species (as listed in the body of the report) were found to constitute.over 73 per cent of numbers- and 85 per cent of weight of fish netted in Lake Inks. Rough fish species constituted 80 per cent of number and 86 per cent of weight of fish netted from Lake Buchanan. DeSpite the large population of rough fish, the lake supports a large Sport fishery, with trotlining for the catfishes probably most popular. Evidence of heavy siltation in the upper lake was observed. This job will be continued on Lake Inks to aid in evaluating both the pro— posed selective treatment with rotenone and the experimental removal of rough fish under Job E-6. JOB COMPLETION REPORT State of TEXAS Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the waters of Region 2~B. Project No. F—2-R-9 Title: Fisheries Resurvey of Lakes Inks and Buchanan. Job No. B—24 Period covered: February 1. 1961 - January 31, 1962 Objectives: To conduct fisheries resurveys of LakeSInks and Buchanan regarding the fish species present, their relative abundance and the ecological factors influencing their distribution. Procedure: Physical and chemical data are available for Lake Buchanan, located in Burnet and Llano counties, under Job B~13, Fe2-R-2 and F-2-R-3 (basic inventory), and for Lake Inks, located in Burnet County, under Job 3-14, F-2-R-3 and F—2—R-4 (basic inventory). During the period of this resurvey, efforts were made to note physical changes and other factors which might influence fish distributions, movements, Spawn— ing activities and angling success on these impoundments. Fish samples were collected with 125 foot experimental gill nets. These nets consist of five: 25-foot sections ranging between one inch and three inches square mesh, increasing in mesh size by one—half inch per section. One hundred such nets, at stations established during the basic inventory, were set on Inks Lake. Sets were made during each month of the segment. Lake Inks netting during 1961 is summarized in Table 1. Netting summaries by month are shown in Tables 2 and 3. A total of 154 experimental nets were randomly set on Lake Buchanan. An effort was made to get lake coverage by dividing the lake into lower, middle and upper sections, and alternately netting within these areas. Sets were made during each month of the segment, except December, but including January of the preceding seg- ment. A summary of this netting is given in Table 4. Monthly netting summaries are shown in Tables 5 and 6. Netting success in terms of number and pounds of fish per foot of net set is presented in Table 7. A checklist of species mentioned in this report is given in Table 8. The tables included in this report were compiled from data sheets on which iden— tifications, weights, measurements, and gonadal development were recorded in the field. Discussion: Lake Inks Lake Inks has been netted extensively by project personnel during the past three years. This was done following heavy 1957 floods to obtain data which could be com- pared to the basic inventory data. It was continued as part of the evaluation of a restocking program and a prOposed selective shad kill. The shad kill was cancelled due to high water on Lake Buchanan immediately above. The Inks resurvey was continued through the past segment as a part of the evaluation of Job E—6 (rough fish removal) which was begun last year. Despite restocking attempts, largemouth bass fishing has steadily declined during the past few years. White crappie fishing is practically non—existent. Both channel and flathead (yellow) catfish are taken in fair numbers, and white bass fishing is good seasonally. Submerged vegetation, principally Myriophyllum gpy, complicates efforts to fish Lake Inks. Many areas of the lake are totally inaccessable to fishermen* as a result of this growth. Considerable money is spent, mostly for herbicides, in efforts to clear boat dock approaches and beach areas. The Lower Colorado River Authority, in reSponse to public request, has agreed to lower Lake Inks several feet for a period of approximately two weeks in late February and early March 1962 , in an effort to relieve the vegetation problem. Gizzard shad continued to be the most abundant species in the lake, according to netting samples. Table 1 shows that shad made up 47.88 per cent of number and 10.57 per cent of weight of fish netted during the past segment. This is in line with past years, and indicates some increase over the previous two segments of re—: survey. .Combined with continued poor angling success, the large shad population is responsible for the re-scheduling of a selective rotenone treatment of Lake Inks in early March 1962, while the lake is lowered as described above. Details of this work will be available under Job 16a35, Project F-14-D-6. Rough fish, consisting of gizzard shad, longnose gar, smallmouth buffalo, river carpsucker, gray redhorse sucker, carp, black bullhead and freshwater drum, continue to make up most of the netted fish. Comparisons are given below for years from which data is available. Lake Inks Rough Fish Ration 1955*61 WWW 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 Per cent rough fish (number) .63 78 63 71 65 7O 73 Per cent rough fish (weight) 74 74 78 71 74 79 85 The increase from 1959 through 1961 is considered real, since netting data is extensive during that period. -3- As indicated earlier, an experimental program (Job E—6) was initiated last year on Lake Inks to test methods of selectively removing rough fish. Lake Buchanan It was felt that netting data for Lake Buchanan suitable for comparison with the basic inventory was lacking. Accordingly, the lake was netted extensively during the past segment. A comparison of per cent of number and per cent of weight of rough fish, comprising gizzard shad, longnose gar, smallmouth buffalo, river carpsucker, gray redhorse sucker, carp, black bullhead and freshwater drum, for years from which data is available, is presented below. Lake Buchanan Rough Fish Ration, 1955-61 1955 1958 1959 1960 1961 Per cent rough fish (number) 77 61 73 7O 80 Per cent rough fish (weight) 77 66 78 82 86 Only the 1955 and 1961 data is extensive, and it is felt that a comparison between these two years reflects a fairly stable ratio, with the increase indicated probably more real than due to sampling error. A point of interest is that in agreement with the basic inventory of 1955, no blue catfish have shown up in the netting samples from Lake Buchanan. Apparently, this species' range is restricted in the Colorado River system to a point below, Buchanan Dam. It appears likely that Lake Travis is the northernmost boundary and here the species has become greatly reduced in recent years. A few thousand fin- gerlings were stocked in Lake Inks during 1960, but no catches have been reported to date. Lake Buchanan continues to support an enormous Sport fisheries. Angling success is reportedly good for flathead (yellow) and channel catfish, largemouth bass, white crappie, and white bass. Good strings of two pound white bass are commonly reported in the upper lake during the late winter and early spring. Trotline fishing, for the catfishes, is quite extensive. Most coves and inlets, as well as much of the open shoreline along large areas of the lake, are laced with trotlines and their floats. Trotlines are often cut by other fishermen as theyfind close-in trolling difficult. Despite constant vigilance by State Game Wardens illegal fish traps, largely selective for catfishes, are common on Lake Buchanan. Siltation is heavy in upper Lake Buchanan. In the Falls Creek area, where water once stood over fifteen feet deep at 1010 elevation level following impound- ment in 1939, it is now difficult to maneuver a small boat over much of the area. Submerged aquatic vegetation, a serious pest on most Colorado River lakes, presents no problem on Lake Buchanan. Apparently, this is due to a higher average turbidity because of river silt in the upper lake, a granite and gravel bottom in the lower lake, and considerable water-level fluctuation throughout the year. Recommendations; No further work, except for occasional reconnaissance, is anticipated for Lake Buchanan during the near future. Good fishing and enormous water volume of the lake preclude development work for the present. It is recommended that this job he continued on Lake Inks during the coming segment. The data gathered will be utilized in evaluating the rough fish removal experiment (Job E—6). The resurvey data can also be used to aid in evaluating the selective shad kill mentioned earlier in this report. No other extensive resurveys are planned during the next segment, since a recent re—alignment of Project F~2-R boundaries introduced considerable waters which need preliminary reconnaissance before problem areas can be determined. . ngp» gffifl;w{é;/ Prepared by John G. Wood Approved by'/%/ Lx flhv Project Leader 'Coordinator Richard L. White Assistant Project Leader Date April 6, 1962 I Regional Supervisor -5- Table 1. Lake Inks Netting Results, 1961. Per Cent of Weight Species Number Longnose gar Gizzard shad Smallmouth buffalo River carpsucker Gray redhorse sucker Carp Channel catfish Black bullhead Flathead catfish White bass Texas spotted bass Largemouth black bass Warmouth Green sunfish Redear sunfish Bluegill Longear sunfish White crappie Freshwater drum Totals 1,990 100 00 2,311.96 100.00 an ,H mam Ne.a a as. N Nk.H a i ..... Ne.s as as. N ..... aN.H m as.n a ma. H ..... s¢.m a ..... ms. .H ..... me. E ..... ow.s an as.a a ..... om.mn Hm Ha.om as ms.mm as mH.HH am ucou Mom Home as: ocoo mom .oz _ HQQH mesh .02 ucoo pom Homo Hosea .Oz IIIIIIII. III-[It'll- lIII'I-l Demo Mom Homa gone: .OZ 'RBIDUI IIOIIIII. 11"" I'll-ll IIII'II' ocoo Mom Hooa .02 .com OD.OOH hm mm.OH o wN.NH h N©.mq om mn.H H Nw.mm NH ucoo Mom .02 HQOH .coh .— m—n—pflv memo. sown nouosfimonm oflooono ouHSB fimflmcom noomcoq Haammsam cmflmcom noooom fimflmcnm coonw Luooanmz omen xooan fluSOEomnoA moon nouuodm moon omen ouflflz newsflash xooam emsnosu_eamaoana mm fimflwumo Hoccono demo. noxoomflomMOJUon keno noxUSmonoo no>Hm oHommnn nooosHHoEm. moan osoNNHo new omocmnoq mamz GOEEOU .HomH .%o>nomom .noneoz Mo ucoo nom_cco nocEnz hm mufiomom wcfluuoz mxcH oon .N oHQoH mHouOH some nouosfimonm oflodono ouflcz smflmcnm noowcoq Assamese cmflmcom noooom Lmflwcom coonw guacamoa moon noooaownoq moon oouuoom moon swan moan: assesses scene smashes sameness memuoo Hancoco onoo oxoom omnoccon mono noxonmonoo no>fim Oneness assoeaaasm coco nnonnww new omocwcoq coo Mom .02 ucoo Mom .02 .coo pom .oz ucoo Mom .02 .coo Hem Home .>oz noon Haas sass meaz coasoo .mnoceoz kn mcwuuoz meH axed .noncflucoo N oases Woo.oon mm.mmamoo.ooa A aH.H om.m W Mam. as.n * Mao. as. _ was. Ho.m ‘ M Mme. mm. fl M Wwo. mm. w Mam. ms.n _ m uuuuuuuuuu _ m _. wwo. mm. m W . . mamm H mm a ; Mme. mm. m Woo.m ma.oa q.— wm.m 00.0NH ucoo Mom .u3 Homa ocoh III-I III-III llll' IIIIII IIIII'. Illlll' lllllll‘l am. so.n as. mm. mm. as. om. mo. em. ......................... NH. mm. raw. em. on. ma. ..... on. om. so. ma. ............... on. om. awn ,om. ............... sm.a sm.a . .......... Ha.s as.© W ..... uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu mO.H Om.H _ --- am. so.s ........... em. aH.H _ mm.nm _ llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll M III'I ........... i----- ------ ----- ----- m ----- _ m w ma.e No.NN ms.n wm.m mm.m ww.a . No.s wo.m Hm.w ...................... M ..... m _ mm.sm ma.mw ma.HN aw.ms os.mm sm.ss W m¢.om _ m mm.w an.sm maH.m Hm.on mw.s as.a _ ..... _ Na.w Nm.wm as.ws mm.wm mo.nn mm.mn v sm.oH sa.ma oo.amn so.nm sm.ooa me.mn as.n~ . ..... w ucoo Mom .uB ucoo mom .uB ucoo Mom .uB mucoo Mom _ Haas as: Home Hausa Homo Boas: Haas .Homa .%o>nnwom .ufiwHoB mo ucoo pom one ufiwwoz he wuaomom mcflouoz meH oxoa .nma n¢.¢om oo.ooa m©.hma OO.QOH mm.mm Ill-Ill.- loll" [1'1" Ill-ll... IIIIIIII Om.am .uB 00.00H mN.mw. IIIUIIIII .IIIIIIII- .unmo ummm. Homa .coh mHouOH Bonn nonosfimonm III'II oflmoeno ouHLE LmflmcSm noowcoq snowmaam I‘ll-III] cmnmcnm noooom IIIIIII fimflwcnm compo SnooEnoz . . .. .. .... —me-.wflmiwh—n ----- moon xoofic Snooaowneai moon nouuoom moon mass manna coofiaaon xooam Bananas sameness cmflmuoo Hoccoco ammo ----- noxoom omHOSoon knew noxoommnoo no>Hm odommoc LuooEHHmem pogo UnoNNHO_ -r: new mooanOA we: meoz coEEOU M _ .m oHQoH