TPWD 1972 F-2-R-19 #1448: Region 2-B Fisheries Studies: Fishery Management Recommendations, Job Progress Report, Project F-2-R-19

JOB PROGRESS REPORT As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTROATION ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Project No. F-2-R-19 REGION 2-B FISHERIES STUDIES Job No. B-26: Fishery Management Recommendations Project Leader: Darrell W. Butler Clayton Garrison Executive Director Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Austin, Texas Lonnie J. Peters Robert J. Kemp, Jr. Chief of Inland FisherieS' Director, Fish and Wildlife January 9, 1973 State of Job Progress Report Texas Project No. F-2-R-l9 Name: Region 2-B Fisheries Studies _ Job No. B-26 Title: Fishery Management Recommendations Period Covered: February 1, 1971 to January 31, 1972 Objectives: To determine the need for changes in fish harvest regulations, pOpulation control, stocking, evaluation of commercial netting, and vegetation control in Region 2-B waters. Procedures: 1. Findings: PrOposed fishing regulations for counties in the Edwards Plateau, Possum Kingdom, and Trinity-Brazos areas under regulatory authority of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department were presented at Public Hearings and to the Commissioners of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Lakes Lyndon B. Johnson, Canyon, Travis, and Stillhouse Hollow were inven- toried during this segment using standard lSO-foot experimental gill nets. Netting and seining collections were conducted quarterly at stations selected to uniformly cover the lakes. Seining collections were made using a 20 X 6-foot %-inch mesh sein in an attempt to determine Spawning success of game fish and to ascertain the relative amounts of forage fish available. During quarterly netting surveys each lake was visually surveyed to determine if aquatic vegetation was becoming problematic. Lake Lyndon B. Johnson On April 3, 1971 Lake Lyndon B. Johnson was chemically renovated. Approximately six months prior to renovation, the lake was lowered to about one-sixth its normal surface acreage, roughly 1,000 surface acres. Following the renovation the lake was filled to its normal level and stocked with game fish from state hatcheries. Netting surveys of the lake since the renovation indicate excellent growth of the stocked fish with some reinfestation of small rough fish, predominantly river carpsucker and EurOpean carp. A composite of the netting results since the reno- vation shows a rough fish population of 63.25% by number and 74.02% by weight. Longnose gar, many of which were observed to survive the renovation, represented 27.78% by weight of the total fish. The October, 1971 netting reSults reflects an average weight of 1.03 pounds for largemouth bass and 1.85 pounds for channel catfish. A summary of the netting results is listed on Table l. Lake Stillhouse Hollow Lake Stillhouse Hollow is a Corps of Engineers Lake located in Bell County, on the Lampasas River. The flood control lake has a conservation pool of 6,430 surface acres and a flood control pool of 11,830 surface acres. Basic inventory data was collected on the lake since it is relatively a new lake and should be reaching its peak in the near future. The netting results indicate a good rough fish/game fish ratio with the lake Supporting a game fish pOpulation of 48.28% by number and 39.15% by weight. Longnose gar, gizzard Shad, and the EurOpean carp are the most abundant rough fish and white bass, largemouth bass, and channel cat- fish are the predominant game fish in the lake. A summary of the netting results may be found in Table 2 of this report. During the next segment investigations will be made relating to the possibilities of establishing a coldwater trout fishery below Lake Stillhouse Hollow since the water is released from below a depth of 100 feet. Water quality and points of public access will be determined to support or reject this possibility. Lake Canyon Basic inventory data was collected on the reservoir again this segment. AS a result of the statewide walleye program, it is very likely that Canyon Lake will be stocked with walleye in the future. The data collected this segment will com- pliment the data collected in past segments to evaluate the effect of the intro- duction of walleye on the existing fishery. The composite netting results from the past segment indicates the lake now supports a game fish pepulation of 36.04% by number and 40.60% by weight. Gizzard Shad, grey redhorse sucker, and the Euro- pean carp seem to be the problem rough fish with the grey redhorse sucker repre- senting 28.54% of the total fish by weight. Canyon Lake continues to support a good population of yellow catfish and has experienced a substantial increase in the white crappie pOpulation. The data from this segment indicates a crappie pOpulation of 3.64% by weight and 7.09% by number as compared to 0.48% by weight and 1.39% by number for the last segment. Reports from area marinas support this data with angling success increasing sharply over the last year. A summary of the netting data for the past segment can be found on Table 3 of this report. Lake Travis Lake Travis is a large lake located on the Colorado River in the Highland Lakes chain. Located near the city of Austin, Travis County, the lake supports many hours of recreation including fishing and water Sports from area municipalities and developments surrounding the 352-mile shoreline. Lake Travis is character- istically a long, deep 1ake_1ying in the hill country of Travis and Burnet Counties. The abrupt nature of the underwater terrain provides relatively little shallow water areas for largemouth bass Spawning activities. The lake level fluctuates depending on the rainfall which could have contributed to low success in largemouth bass Spawning in the past years. The netting data continues to indicate a low largemouth bass pOpulation as compared to the last complete set of netting results in 1965. Since 1965 the netting data available seems to indicate a fluctuation in numbers with the average weight remaining approximately the same. The evaluation available on the lake until the recent segment. -3- The lake continues to support an abundant white bass pOpulation and excellent fishing for this Species during a few months in the winter. The inventory data reflects a game fish pOpulation of 37.58% by number and 26.36% by weight. Approxi- mately 33% of the total fish by weight was contributed by smallmouth buffalo and '15% by Eurpoean carp. Blue catfish continue to be netted on Lake Travis but not in great numbers as compared to other game fish. The flathead catfish pOpulation represented 15% of the annual catch by weight and 4.41% by number indicating an acceptable existing pOpulation as compared to other lakes in the highland lake chain. A summary of the segments netting surveys may be found in Table 4 of this report. Public Hearings Only two changes were made in the fishing regulations for the Edwards Plateau, Possum Kingdom, and Trinity-Brazos areas. An ll-inch minimum length was placed on all catfish but was later contested at the January Commission meeting by repre— sentatives of the highland lakes area. The Commission repealed the law for the highland lakes only, which includes lakes Buchanan, Inks, Lyndon B. Johnson, Marble Falls, Travis, and Austin. The second change requires trotlines in public waters to be marked with the name and address of the owner. Vegetation Control None of the lakes surveyed in this segment were recommended for control of vege- tation. All the lakes remained relatively free from vegetation in any large amounts except in isolated coves and shallows. Recommendations: 1. It is recommended that no additional stocking of game fish be made in Canyon Lake as collection data indicate adequate pooulations. 2. It is recommended that inventory data be collected on Canyon Lake next segment for the purpose of evaluating the anticipated introduction of walleye into the fishery. 3. It is recommended that Lake Lyndon B. Johnson be stocked with additional large- mouth baSS, channel catfish, and flathead catfish if possible, in numbers to be determined through data collected later in the segment. 4. The recommendation is made that no game fish be stocked in Lake Stillhouse as collected data indicates good reproduction. 5. It is recommended that Lake Lyndon B. Johnson be surveyed next segment to determine the long range effect of the renovation. 6. It is recommended that Lake Travis be stocked with largemouth bass fingerling during the next segment as the collected data indicate a low population and the morphology of the lake is not conducive to spawning activities. The ex- tent of stocking will be determined by seining collections and the availability of fish from the state hatchery. -4- 7. No recommendations are made for vegetation control in any of the said lakes. It is recommended that this job be continued to provide valid fish harvest regu- lations through current pOpulation sampling, vegetation control and stocking when economically feasible. Prepared by: Darrell W. Butler Approved by: Project Leader Date: January 9, 1973 Robert L. Bounds Regional Director for Inland Fisheries TABLE I Lake Lyndon B. Johnson 1971 Nets set - 40 Per cent Per cent No./100 Weight/100 Species Numbers by Number Weight by Weight ft. of net ft. of net Lepisosteug osseus 78 12.30 188.34 27.78 1.03 3.14 lbs. Dorosoma cepedianum 76 11.99 58.88 8.68 1.27 0.98 Ictiobus bubalus 5 0.79 48.25 7.12 0.08 0.80 Carpiodes carpio 163 25.71 145.17 21.41 2.72 2.42 Moxostoma congestum 1 0.16 3.00 0.44 0.02 0.05 Cyprinus EEEBEQ 76 11.99 56.33 8.31 1.27 0.94 Ictalurus punctatus 23 3.63 46.63 6.88 0.38 0.79 Iotalurus melas 1 0.16 0.44 0.06 0.02 0.01 Ictalurus natalis 1 0.16 1.50 0.22 0.02 0.02 l -odictUs olivaris 3 0.47 21.12 3.12 0.05 0.35 Roccus chrysops 63 9.94 41.68 6.15 1.05 0.69 MicroEterus salmoides 53 8.36 41.51 6.12 0.88 0.69 Lepomis gulosus 15 2.36 4.97 0.73 0.25 0.08 Lepomis cyanellus 2 0.31 0.62 0.09 0.03 0.01 Lepomis microlophus 2 0.31 0.50 0.07 0.03 0.01 Lepomis macrochirus 56 8.83 12.06 1.78 0.93 0.20 Lepomis auritus l 0.06 0.38 0.06 0.02 0.01 Lepomis megalotis 3 0.47 1.63 0.24 0.05 0.03 Pomoxis annularis 9 1.42 4.19 0.62 0.15 0.07 Pomoxis nigromaculatus 1 0.16 0.50 0.07 0.02 0.01 Percina caprodes l 0.16 0.13 0.02 0.02 0.002 hlasoma cyanoguttatum 1 0.16 0.19 0.03 0.02 0.003 ‘mfl Totals 634 100.00 678.03 100.00 TABLE 2 Lake Stillhouse Hollow 1971 Nets set - 30 Per cent Per cent No./100 Weight/100 Species Number by Number Weight by Weight ft. of net ft. of net Lepisosteus osseus 83 14.69 112.19 17.83 1.84 2.49 lbs. Dorosoma cepedianum 84 14.87 23.63 3.76 1.87 0.53 Ictiobus bubalus 10 1.77 37.81 6.01 0.22 0.84 Carpiodes EEEEEQ 17 3.01 66.56 10.58 0.38 1.48 Moxostoma congestum 23 4.07 31.50 5.01 0.51 0.70 gypgiggg gagpig 72 12.74 109.19 17.35 1.60 2.43 Ictalurus punctatus 20 3.54 58.63 9.32 0.33 1.30 Ictalurgg melas 2 . 0.35 0.44 0.07 0.04 0.01 ,lctalurus natalis 1 0.18 0.25 0.04 0.02 0.- Pylodictus olivaris 9 1.59 60.38 9.60 0.20 1.34 Morone chrysogs 43 7.61 53.12 8.44 0.96 1.18 MicroEteruS treculi 3 0.53 4.25 0.67 0.07 0.09 Microgterus salmoides 18 3.19 38.81 6.17 0.40 0.85 Lepomis.gulosus 3 0.53 0.88 0.14 . 0.07 0.02 Lepomis cyanellus 4. 0.71 1.00 0.16 0.09 0.02 Lepomis microloghus 5 0.88 0.94 0.15 0.11 0.02 Lepomis macrochirus 119 21.07 17.01 2.70 2.64 0.38 Lepomis auritus 3 0.53 0.50 0.08 0.07 0.01 Lepomis megalotis 4 '0.71 0.70 0.11 0.09 0.02 Pomoxis annularis 40 7.08 10.12 1.61 0.89 0.22 Aplodinotu grunniens 2 0.35 1.25 0.20 0.04 0.03 W Totals 565 100.00 629.16 100.00 TABLE 3 Canyon Reservoir 1971 Nets set - 60 ' Per cent Per cent No./100 Weight/100 ' Species Number by Number Weight by Weight ft. of net ft. of net Lepisosteus osseus 7 0.69 1 18.75 1.11 0.08 0.21 lbs. 1 Dorosoma cepedianum 278 27.36 138.03 8.16 3.09 1.53 Carpiodes pagpip 12 1.18 40.19 2.38 0.13 0.45 Moxostoma congestum 301 29.62 482.84 28.54 3.34 5.36 Cyprinus carpio 35 3.44 320.67 18.96 0.39 3.56 Notemigpppp crysoleucas 11 1.08 2.94 0.17 0.12 0.03 Ictalurus punctatus 84 8.27 188.58 11.15 0.93 _ . 2.10 Ictalurus punctatus X I, furcatus 1 0.10 10.44 0.62 0.01 0.12 _;ctalurus melas 1 0.10 0.38 0.02 0.01 0.004 Ictalurus natalis 5 0.49 0.94 0.06 0.06 0.01 E dictus olivaris 53 5.22 351.79 20.80 0.59 3.91 ‘EQEEEE chrySOps 1 0.10 3.25 0.19 0.01 0.04 MicrOpterus salmoides 33 3.25 44.78 2.65 0.37 0.50 Lepomis gulosus 12 1.18 2.63 0.16 0.13 0.03 Lepomis cyanellus 16 1.58 2.69 0.16 0.18 0.03 Lepomis microchirus 12 1.18 4.19 0.25 0.13 0.04 Lepomis macrochirus 68 6.69 9.39 0.55 0.76 0.10 Lepomis auritus 5 0.49 2.56 0.15 0.06 0.03 Lepomis megalotis 1 0.10 0.13 0.01 0.01 0.001 Pomoxis annularis 72 7.09 61.66 3.64 0.80 0.69 Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum '8 0.79 4.63 0.27 0.09 0.05 Totals 1016 100.00 1691.46 100.00 TABLE 4 Lake Travis 1971 Nets set - 45 Per cent Per cent No./100 Weight/100 Species Number by Number Weight by Weight ft. of net ft. of net Lepisosteus osseus 10 1.13 66.26 3.59 0.15 0.98 lbs. Dorosoma cepedianum 311 35.14 171.41 9.28 4.61 2.54 Ictiobus bubalus _ 71 8.02 612.14 33.15 1.05 9.07 Carpiodes EEEEEB 97 10.96 290.91 15.75 1.44 4.31 Moxostoma congestum 16 1.81 22.89 1.24 0.24 0.34 Cyprinus 223212 . 44 4.97 172.53 9.34 0.65 2.56 Ictalurus punctatus . 30 3.39 39.02 2.11 0.44 0.58 Ictalurus furcatus 8 0.90 21.00 1.14 0.12 0.31 Pylodictus olivaris 39 I 4.41 273.01 14.78 0.58 4.04 MoronechrySOps 62 7.01 91.04 4.94 0.92 1.35 MicrOpterus treculi 5 0.56 4.73 0.26 0.07 0.07 MicrOpterus salmiodes 23 2.60 17.66 0.96 0.34 0.26 Lepomis gulosus 3 0.34 p 1.19 0.06 0.04 0.02 Lepomis cyanellus 18 2.04 4.51 0.24 0.27 0.67 Lepomis microlophus 7 0.79 l3.44 0.19 0.10 I 0.05 Lepomis macrochirus 65 7.34 13.13 0.71 0.96 0.19 Lepomis auriqjs 17 1.92 2.13 0.12 0.25 0.03 Lepomis megalotis 3 0.34 1.06 0.06 0.44 0.02 Pomoxis annularis 22 2.49 12.82 0.69 0.33 0.19 Aplodinotus grunniens 26 2.94 23.66 1.28 0.38 0.359 Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum _8 0.90 2.01 0.11 0.12 0.03 Totals ' 885 100.00 1846.55 100.00