TPWD 1962 F-6-R-9 #781: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 8-B: Fisheries Reconnaissance

JOB COMPLETION REPORT Aa'rehuired7byy'“ FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORAIION.ABT TEXAS Federal Aid Project No. F-6-Rv9 I FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS AND SURVEYS OF THE WATERS 0F REGION 8-3 Job No. 3-20 Fisheries Reconnaissance Project Leader: Alvin G. Flury H. D. Dodgen Executive Secretary Texas Game and Fish Commission Auat in , Texas Marion Toale Eugene.Aa Walker D-J Guardinator Director, Program Planning February 7, 1962 ABSTRACT Five lakes were visited during this segment to see if any appreciable changes in the fish pOpulationS had occurred since the previous survey. Also, four lakes in the Escondido Creek watershed were checked as well as portions of the Frio and Leona Rivers in Frio County. Largemouth bass fingerlings were stocked in the Nueces River in Zavala County. In Delta Orchards Lake, near Monte Alto, Hidalgo County, game fish species (channel and Rio Grande blue catfish, white crappie and freshwater drum) showed a relative increase in numbers and a relative decrease in weight. Rough fish Species (Spotted and longnose gars, gizzard Shad, small- mouth buffalo, river carpsucker, carp, freshwater drum and Rio Grande perch) were found to be dominant in Falcon Lake, both by numbers and by weight. However, game fish Species including white bass, largemouth bass, white crappie, channel catfish and Rio Grande blue catfish, are in good condition and anglers continue to catch nice strings of fish. Two significant changes were noted concerning the fish papulation in Fort Brown Lake. There was an increase in the number of gizzard Shad and a decrease in the number of bfiuegills. Current information Shows that longnose and Spotted gars, buffalo, carp,,river:farpSupker,.RioiGrandejperchg Rio Grande blue oatfiSh find white. . crappie are now present in Eéntsen State Park'Lake. The lake was renovated in January 1960. Lake Casa Blanca's white crappie population showed more than a 17 per cent increase Since the previous survey in July 1960. River carpsucker, threadfin shad, and channel catfish Showed Slight increases in numbers, percentage wise, but these "changes” are probably attributable to netting bias. Gizzard shed and freshwater drum were found in lesser numbers than in the previous survey. Three of the four lakes in the Escondido Creek.watershed, checked during this segment, contained papulations of bullheads. Sunfish, of one species or another, were present in all the lakes checked. The fish populations in portions of the Frio and Leona Rivers in Frio County were checked in order to formulate the fish harvest regulations for Frio County which is under regulatory authority of the Game and Fish Commission. Largemouth bass fingerlings were stocked in the Nueces River in Zavala County on the findings of the recent study (Project Fn6~Re8, Job B-l6) made on that river. No recommendations for Federal Aid deve10pmental work are made in this report. ’ JOB COMPLETION REPORT State of Texas Project No. rE~6-R-9 Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys, of the waters of Region 8~B Job No. B-20 Title: Fisheries Reconnaissance Period Covered: January 1 through December 31, 1961 Objectives: To conduct limited investigations to obtain current information concerning gross changes in fishing conditions and factors influencing fish papulations. Techniques Used: Experimental gill nets and seines were used to sample the fish p0pulations. Nets were set overnight at previously established netting stations and were run the following morning. The netted Specimens were weighed in grams and measured in millimeters in the field. Sex and sexual deveIOpw ment and the occurrence of parasites in the individual Specimens were noted fisheries laboratory at Mathis for identification. A list of the common and scientific names of fish Species taken during this study is included as Table 1. Water analyses were made on Casa Blanca Lake but were not made on other lakes checked due to old or insufficient quantities of reagents. A limited check of the surrounding area of each lake was made to determine land usage and possible sources of pollution. Reference points were established on many of the lakes studied during this period for the purpose of comparing water levels. Fishermen usage of the various lakes was determined largely by talkm ing to camp owners, game wardens and sometimes fishermen. With the exception of the lakes in the Escondido Creek watershed, publio access is available to the lakes studied in thiS'Segment. ’ Findings: Delta Orchards Lake Delta Orchards Lake, a 2,200 surface acre irrigation reservoir near 121 Table 1. Checklist of Species Referred to in Textsand Tables Common Name Scientific Name .Alligator gar Lepisosteus Spatula Lacépéde Spotted gar Legisosteus oculatus (Winchell) Longnose gar ' Legisosteus osseus (Linnaeus) Threadfin Shad ; Dorosoma Retenense (Gunther) Gizzard Shad Dorosoma ceEedianum (LeSueur) Mexican tetra Astyanax mexicanus (Filippi) Smallmouth buffalo _ Ictiobus bubalus (Rafinesque) River carpsucker ; Carpiodesw carpio (Rafinesque) Carp Cyprinus Qgrpio Linnaeus Golden Shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas (Mitchill) Pugnose minnow ORsoEoeodus emiliae Hay Texas Shiner f NotroEis amabilis (Girard) Red Shiner ? NotroEiS lutrensis (Baird and Girard) Bullhead minnow ' . Pimephales vigilax (Baird and Girard) Stoneroller ; Camgostoma anomalum (Rafinesque) Channel catfish ' Ictalurus Eunctatus (Rafinesque) Rio Grande blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus (LeSueur) Black bullhead Ictalurus melas (Rafinesque) Flathead catfish : Pylodictus olivariS (Rafinesque) Atlantic needlefish . Strongylura marina _(Walbaum) Sheepshead minnow Cyprinodon variegatus Lacepede Mosquitofish ' Gambusia affinis (Ba.ird. and Girard) Amazon molly ‘Mollienesia formosa (Girard) Tidewater silverside Menidia beryllina (Cepe) White bass .Roccus chgysoEs (Rafinesque) Largemouth bass ‘MicroEteruS salmoides (Lacepede) Warmouth Chaenobryttus gulosus (Cuvier) GreengsunfiSh ' Legomis.cyanellus Rafinesque Redear sunfish Lepomisrmicrolthus (Gunther) Bluegill LeEomis macrochirus Rafinesque White crappie Pomoxis annularis Rafinesque Freshwater drum i Aglodinotus grunniens Rafinesque Rio Grande perch CichyEm cyanoguttatum (Baird and Girard) -3- Monte Alto, is a part of the Hidalgo and Willacy Counties Water Control and Improvement District No. 1. The reservoir contains approximately 20,000 acre“ feet of water which is used to irrigate nearly 70,000 acres of farm land. water in the lake originates in the Rio Grande River and reaches it through a system of gravity flow irrigation canals. Public angling in Delta Orchards is permitted for a fee of 25 cents per person per day. Trotline fishing, however, is prohibited except to certain persons who are issued Special permission. That more than 20,000 fishing permits were sold in 1961, is some measure of the lake's popularity with Sports fishermen. 0f the 25 cents per day fee, a portion is paid to the concessionnaire and the remainder goes to the water improvement district. Netting 1 In March 1961, five netting collections took a total of 339 fish of 11 Species (Tables 2 and 3). The game fish Species taken in nets included channel catfish, Rio Grande blue catfish, white crappie and fresh- water drum. Normally the drum is considered a rough fish species, but is classed as a game fish in this case because Delta Orchards anglers harvest them in large numbers the year around. Of the total fish taken in nets, game fish Species comprised 68.17 per cent of the number and 38.67 per cent of the weight. A year previously, game fish comprised 65.81 per cent and 28.62 per cent by number and weight respectively. This increase in numbers and weight in the March 1961 netting data may have been in part due to the commercial netting of rough fish from June through November 1960. Though no commercial netter was working the lake at the time of the March 1961 sampling trip, a Six—month contract had been let by the water district for the summer of 1961. ' Compared with netting data for the same period in 1960, gizzard shad in the March 1961 collections increased about 4 per cent in relative numbers. Contrarily, smallmouth buffalo decreased about 5 per cent. A successful spawn for freshwater drum during the 1960 season was indicated by their increase of nearly 15 per cent in the 1961 netting data. These fish ranged in standard length from Slightly less than 6 to over 11 inches. The average was 7 inches. Even though the concessionnaire reported anglers to be very successful in taking large numbers of white crappie as well as freshwater drum, crappie numbers decreased from 17 per cent of the total fish netted in March 1960 to 10 per cent in March 1961. The average "K” factor, or index.of physical con- dition, remained fairly constant for white crappie: 2.20 in'March 1961 and 2.22 in March .1960. ' Seining - The data for seining are inconclusive Since only one collection was made and this took place during midwafternoon at a time When a 20 to 25 m.p.h. southeasterly wind was blowing. However, 9 specimens of 3 species of fish were taken and these included: 1 Atlantic needlefish, 5 thread- fin Shad and 3 tidewater silversides. mofiooam swam ofiowm oomwfios woo woo? pow moHoow sow owhma oou one? new mommy H . . mm.Ho . mw.Hm swam swoon unoo Mom mo.wm . ma.wo swam meow meow mom O0.00H ow©.NOH O0.00H mmm mHmUOH anew Househmosm N Noaooono comma fimwmoauooo ofiuomaum h Nfimwmuoo moan oedema cam Nd—mfl HUGO Hmfifiwd—U memo oammmon nuoomaawfim mono mummmww how omoowooq _ new mouuoow how Houmwwadm ufinwoB HmuoH _ . _ Honafiz Honey ooon . moaooom no some new ; - no usmu.nmm . musessz _ . gamma monoz .oxog mnemnbhoaoufiom .mfifluuofi Hfiaw mo muHomom .N oHnoH MH.N ON.N ¢H.o om.H ON.H m¢.N mm.N mn.H mm.o mm.o .mosooo ON moan Homeonw monwaoa Ewan “womnooou moo muoofiouommofi fins manganese... omqlam some Homoscmosm QHMINN mangoes ouflnz Nwloo . . nmflmoauooo ofluomaum mmmmnoo " . omamuoo moan mucosa OHM NHNINHN omamumo Hoooomo moomlooom memo 38,..me Swans fisoaflmsm anIom womNtNmN mmethm muouoEflHHfia_ nausea chofidoum .HomH sonoz “maxed mnemfioeo ouHoQ seem Ema“ Mom moflumfiuouo unwaoelfiumoog .m onoH mono numumww new woodwoog new wcuuoom new nooswwaam moflootm A -6- Stomach analyses - Besides algae, most of the Rio Grande blue catfish stomachs examined contained insect and fish remains. A six pound Rio Grande blue catfish, however, had two Atlantic needlefish in its stomach. Stomachs of white crappie, freshwater drum and gars were also.examined but most were completely empty and no Significant food analysis data were collected. Other Lake Conditions ~ Although algae was found in several catfish stomachs, aquatic vegetation is rather scarce in the lake. This may be attributed in part to the fact that the prevailing, strong, southeasterly winds keep silt in suSpension. This is evidenced by Secchi disc readings of light penetration WhiCh ranged frmm.22“1x>23 inches in the lake‘s east portion and from 1U3 to 14.5 inches in the west portion. However, since the water level is virtually constant, other forms of vegetation will probably become established. Recommendations: Since wild fiSh from the Rio Grande River have constant access to Delta Orchards Lake, pepulation control work would be ineffective and therefore is not recommended. It is recommended, however, that commercial fishing with nets be permitted to harvest as many of the undesirable fish as possible. Commercial netters should not be allowed to take any of the catfish Species in order that this pOpulation be kept as abundant as possible. In addition to the commercial netting of rough fish, it is recommended that white crappie and freshwater drum.be crapped as heavily as possible by sport fishermen in order to make full use of these Species. Falcon Lake .Netting _ A total of 12 gill net collections was made on Falcon Lake during March 1961. All were surface sets in water ranging from 10- to 70-foot in depth. In all, these nets took a total of 542 fish of 15 species (Table 4). Rough fish Species comprised 75.46 per cent of the number of fish netted. This is 7.4 per cent decrease in numbers from comparable data for March 1959. There was a similar decrease of 5.2 per cent in the total weights of these species. Longnose gar decreased nOticeably in numbers and weight in the March 1961 collections as compared to Similar data for 1959. They comprised 12.58 per cent of the number and 34.86 per cent of the weight of the total fish netted in March 1959 but only 2.40 per cent and 14.48 per cent of the number and weight, reSpectively, in March 1961. On the other hand, SLEght increases in numbers or weights were recorded for the threadfin and gizzard shads, river carpsucker and carp. Rio Grande blue catfish were considerably more abundant in the netting collections for March 1961. In the March 1959 collectfions they comprised 9.89 per cent of the number and 5.38 per cent of the wéight of the total fish swam ofimm mouooweoHs mm.mm swam swoom meow Mom ease memo some Em. mammoe Josoe ooomeu OHM anew Houmsmmoem romeoouc some: smmwwoom moonom momma muoofiownmg swoon omen: smmfimuoo ooHn museum cam enmfimuoo Hoooomo ammo noxoomenoo “seam ‘ oHommon suooEHHoEm comm oHoNNHU comm oflmomoan How owoowoog new nouuoem umwfioB HouOH mo memo Mom Hoefioz HouOH wo.uooo.aom moon éi. gmhthSZ; .HomH moses .oxoq mecaom..wrneuoo HHHw mo muflomom .q oHnoH -81 netted. In the 1961 collections they comprised 15.32 per cent of the number and 18.68 per cent of the weight. Gizzard shad and Rio Grande blue catfish_were taken in all netting collections and longnose gar, threadfin shad and smallmouth buffalo were all well distributed over the lake. River carpsucker and freshwater drum were limited largely to the upper portions of the lake. White bass were found mainly in the lower portions of the lake at the time of the survey. Table 5 shows the lengthmweight statistics of the fish taken in the netting collections. The average “K“ factors of all Species showed a slight decrease. Reining w Five seining collections took a total of 1,872 fish of 5 Species. Tamaulipas shiners and tidewater silversides were taken at all seining stations. Silversides along comprised 92.59 per cent of the seining collections {Table 6}; they showed 78.59 per cent in 1959. Threadfin shad, a very important forage fish in the lake, was down to 4.ES per cent from 18.91 per cent in 1959. Other Lake Conditions w Secchi disc readings in the lower portions of the lake ranged from 50% to 55 inches while those in the upper portions ranged from 12 to 31 inChes. Evidently the silt settles before reaching the lower portions of the lake. Aquatic vegetation is scarce along the Texas side of Falcon; no investigation was made on the Mexican side. Algae was found in many of the catfish stomachs but no other aquatics were found. These findings are in line with previous studies of Falcon. Since Falcon is an international reservoir, no deve10pmental work is planned for the future. Fort Brown Lake Netting m Four gill net collections were made in March 1961 and took a total of 120 fish of 7 species (Table 73. Of the 7 species, 3 were classed as game fishes (channel catfish, Rio Grande blue catfish and largem mouth bass) and s were classed as rough fishes {gizzard Shad, bluegills, freshwater drum.and Rio Grande perch}. Rough fish Species comprised 89.17 per cent of the number and 75.03 per cent of the weight of the fish netted. Overall, this is a 7 per cent increase in numbers and a 15 per cent increase in weight of rough fishes since the 1960 survey. The majority ofjthis relative increase is due to the gizzard shad. ' One freshwater drum was taken in the March 1961 netting collections. This was the first specimen of this Species taken since the lake was renogited in the spring of 1958. Apparently this fish was introduced frOm the Rio “sands River since the lakegs water supply comes from.the river. Attempts were made to screen.the incoming Water before it entered the lake,but.the screens cone