TPWD 1955 F-3-R-2 #175: Inventory of the Species Present in Caddo Lake: Job Completion Report, Project No. F-3-R-2, Job B-1

--- Page 1 --- STATE _ TEXAS PROJECT NO, F-3-R-2, Job B-1 PERTOD December 1, 1953 to May 31, 1955 JOB COMPLETION REPORT " FILE Charles E. Gray TITLE Inventory of the Species Present in Caddo Lake. OBJECTIVES To determine the species present end their relative abundance as well as to determine the ecological factors influencing their distribution. METHODS Four netting stations were selected at widely separated sites in order to sample the various environments in the lake. (See attached map for location of stations). These stations were netted once each month using experimental type gill nets composed of 25 foot sections of varying mesh, including 3/4", 1", 3", 2" and 3" square mesh. Hoop and fyke nets of 1/4" and 1" mesh were also used. Fish were kept alive until examined for length, weight, sex and stage of sexual development. Scale samples were taken and saved for future study and comparision with those from other sections of the State. Some doubt exists at present as to the reliability of annuli in age determination at this latitude. Stomachs of Sport species were preserved for food analysis. Results of the analysis of ten species are recorded in Table #15. Ecological data recorded for each collection include: a. Temperatures: air and surface water b. pH e. Turbidity ad. Depth of water e. Depth of net set f. Direction and strength of wind g. Dissolved oxygen h, Main cover types i. Bottom type Because of the heavy vegetation in Caddo Lake seining stations were difficult to find. The five sites were chosen simply because they were about the only ones open enough to allow seining operations and even these become impossible at times because of thick mats of water hyacinths. Seining collections were made once each month after waders became available. All seining specimens were brought to the laboratory for counting and identification. Ecological data recorded for each collection include the same items listed above for netting collections. --- Page 2 --- 2. For the purpose of comparing populations and conditions in the different areas of the lake, the data for each netting station was treated separately. Five collec- tions were made at each station during the period covered by this report. NETTING COLLECTIONS Station No. 1 - This site is located where the dense cypress breaks open into the waters of the Big Lake area, The area contains scattered cypress (Taxodium distichum) of a density of about four or five trees to an acre. Submerged aquatics occur here in dense beds although they do not cover the area completely. The more important ones in estimated order of abundance include: pondweeds (Potamo enton) water milfoil (Myriophyllum), coontail (Cerato hyllum) and muskgrass (Chara). By early summer, dense beds of water lily (Nymphaea) and lotus (Nelumbo) emerge to cover part of the area. Water hyacinths Gichernta crassippes) almost cover the area at times, depending on the time of year and wind direction and velocity. The bottom of this station is a sandy silt covered with organic litter. The water depth is normally 5 to 8 feet. Twenty-five species of fish, including nine fami- lies were collected at this station. Table #1 shows the relative abundance of each species taken at this station. Results of the water analysis for this station are recorded in Table Station No. 2 = This station is located in the open water of the Big Lake area, There are some widely scattered cypress trees in the area but they are so few that the area may be considered open water. Depth of the water ranges from 4 to 8 feet, and due to wind action it is generally more turbid than the other stations, Sub- merged aquatics are present but are much less abundant than at other stations. Water milfoil, (Myriophllum), Pondweeds (Potamogeton), Coontail (Ceratophyllum) and muskgrass (Chara) were found in the more shallow water. Mats of water hya- cinths (Eichornia crassipes) drift throught the area with water and wind currents. Twenty six species representing nine families of fish were taken at this station. Table #2 shows the relative abundance at this station. Water analysis results for this station are recorded in Table #7. Station No. 3 - This station lies in the Clinton Lake area as shown on the attached map. Woody vegetation in the area consists of thick cypress breaks and open water dotted with scattered cypress trees. In warm weather, Clinton Lake becomes choked with submerged aquatics to such an extent that boat travel becomes very difficult. The major submerged species found here include: Pondweeds (Potamogeton), water milfoil (Myriophyllum), Coontail (Ceratophyllum) and Muskgrass (Chara). Some scattered beds of water lillies (Nymphaea) and lotus (Nelumbo} emerge in the spring. The water in this area is very clear, becoming turbid only after prolonged rains and very high water. Water depth ranges from three to eight feet, The bottom is a sandy clay covered with organic litter. Twenty-three species re« presenting ten families of fish were collected at this station, Relative abundance for this station is recorded in Table #3, Results of water analysis are recorded in Table #8. Station No. 4 - This station is located in the Carter's Lake area in the ex- treme upper end of Caddo Lake, Aquatic vegetation at station four is much the same as at station three. However, station four receives even less water from the bayou than station three. This can easily be seen on the attached map. Very seldom does all of the water in Carters Lake become turbid. The bottom is sandy clay and sandy silt covered with organic litter. Netting collections at station four produced nineteen species of fish which included ten families. Relative abundance for this station is recorded in Table #4. Results of water analysis are shown in Table #9. --- Page 3 --- SEINING COLLECTIONS Five seining stations were selected at sites were vegetation was least likely to interfere with seining operations. (See attached map for location of seining stations). There were times when water hyacinths prevented seining at some sta- tions. Fifty species, representing twelve families of fish were collected at these five stations. The silversides family represented by Menidia audens and Labidesthes Sicculus were the most abundant, and stomach analysis showed that these two species made up a large portion of the diet of the game species. The relative abundance of each species is shown in Table #5. Water analysis results are shown in Table #10 through #14. On April 30, 1954, at station #2, 119 largemouth bass fry were taken in a 50 ft. haul with a 30 X 6 ft. bag seine On the same day under the same conditions, station #5 produced 80 largemouth bass fry, station #4 produced 26 and station #3 yielded 9, It is interesting to note that although Caddo Lake was once famous for White crappie fishing, not a single white crappie was collected at the seining stations and only 36 were taken in gill nets during the entire period. Three hundred and fifteen black crappie were taken by seining and gill nets during the period. The white crappie were found to be more abundant in the more Open and turbid water at netting stations #1 and #2 while the black crappie were more abundant in the wooded portion of the lake at netting stations #3 and #h. SUMMARY In order to measure and compare ecological differences in various localities in Caddo Lake, data from each collection station was recorded and studied sepa~ rately. Four netting stations and five seining stations were selected in widely separated areas for this purpose. Collections were made and ecological data recorded once each month at each station. A total of 5,241 fish were collected at the four netting stations during the period. A breakdown of the species and their relative abundance for each station may be found in Table #1 through #4. Stomach analysis were run on 1,057 indivi- duals of 15 species. Table #15 shows the results of these analyses. Length-Weight data was kept and the co-efficient of condition computed for 12 species totaling 1,054 individuals. These records are shown in Table #17. Water analysis data for the four netting stations is recorded in Tables #6 through #9. A total of 8,953 fish including 50 species and 12 families were collected at the five seining stations. On April 30, 1954, one 50 ft. haul with a 30 X 6 ft. bag sein yielded 119 black bass fry at station #2. Other stations produced good catches of bass fry on this same day, thus indicating a good bass spawn. White crappie, which were once extremely abundant in Caddo Lake, appear to be on the decline while black crappie seem to be increasing in abundance, A total of 69 species including 16 families were eollected by all methods during the period. A checklist of species collected during the period of this report is shown on Table #16, --- Page 4 --- TABLE #1. Results of 12 Netting Collections, Station #1, Caddo Lake % OF TOTAL % OF TOTAL SPECIES NUMBER NUMBER WEIGHT Short nose gar Spotted gar Long nose gar Gizzard shad Chain pickerel Bigmouth buffalo Small mouth buffalo River Carpsucker Spotted sucker Chubsucker Golden shiner », channel cat Blue cat Black bullhead cat Yellow bullhead Flathead cat White bass Yellow bass Large mouth bass Warmouth | Redear Bluegill White crappie Black crappie Drum TOTAL 100% 1455.63 100% --- Page 5 --- TABLE #2. Results of 12 Netting Collections, Station #2, Caddo Lake % OF TOTAL % OF TOTAL NUMBER NUMBER WEIGHT WEIGHT Short nose gar h 0.43 14.94 1.91 Spotted gar 28 2.98 54.93 7.05 Long nose gar 13 1.38 87.00 11.17 Gizzard shad 304 32.38 217.32 27.96 Chain pickerel 15 1.59 21.96 2.7T Small mouth buffalo 8 0.85 23.31 2.99 River carpsucker 33 3.51 58.58 7.52 Spotted sucker 55 5.86 60.61 7.78 Chubsucker 2 0.21 2.56 0.32 S. Channel cat 9 0.96 9.37 1.20 Blue cat 3 0.32 3.13 0.40 Black bullhead 1 0.11 0.31 0.04 Yellow bullhead 7 0.75 5,25 0.67 Flathead cat 10 1.06 25.95 3.33 White bass 4g 5.22 39.05 5.02 Yellow bass 251 26.74 75.17 9.74 Spetted bass 1 0.11 1.25 | 0.16 | Large mouth bass 23 245 13.78 L.77 | “Warnouth 10 | 1.06 3.38 0.43 Redan | L8 5.11 13.45 1.72 } JP gill | 10 1.06 3.17 0, ko |W White crappie | 28 | 2.98 19.86 2.55 Black crappi | il 1.17 54h 0.69 Drum | 1h 1.49 17.13 2.20 jLongear | 1 ll 0.31 0.03 Skip Jack 1 oll yh 0.18 ‘Skip Jack 6) on a ton ) --- Page 6 --- TABLE #3. Results of 12 Netting Collections, Station #3, Caddo Lake % OF TOTAL | % OF TOTAL SPECIES NUMBER NUMBER WEIGHT | WEIGHT Short nose gar 4 Spotted gar 85 Long nose gar 8 Gizzard shad 639 Chain pickerel 73 River carpsucker 1 Spotted sucker 83 Chubsucker 66 Golden shiner 1 S. channel cat L Black bullhead 72 Yellow bullhead 19 Flathead cat L Yellow bass 54. Large mouth bass 18 Warmouth ho Redear jt Bluegill LO White crappie L Black crappie 79 Drum 3 ‘Western sp. sunfish h Bowfin e POTAL --- Page 7 --- ! ' al TABLE # 4. SPECIES Short nose gar Spotted gar Alligator gar Gizzard shad Chain pickerel Spotted sucker Chubsucker Flier Black bullhead Yellow bullhead Yellow bass Largemouth bass Warmouth Redear Bluegill White crappie Black crappie Golden shiner Bowf in Western sp. sunfish TOTAL Ea 2 60 a 866 102 172 149 66 19 34 27 101 Xe) D9 103 1847 Results of 12 Netting Collections, Station #4, Caddo Lake % OF TOTAL | % OF TOTAL NUMBER | WEIGHT WEIGHT 0.27 10.00 0.50 3.29 l 179.18 10.07 0.05 2, 31. 0.12 47 U7 703.69 41.07 5.69 148.05 8.40 9.43 272.43 15.35 8.16 91.72 | 5. 2h 0.32 2.53 | O.14 3.61 86.86 | 4.90 1.04 16.25 | 0.91 1.86 2h. 32 1.37 1.48 32.31 1.81 5.53 4O,21 | 2.26 2.19 12.90 | 0.67 3.23 19.79 1.11 0.05 1.00 | 0.05 5.64 72.45 | h.O7 0.16 0.87 | 0.05 O.49 34.76 | 1.90 0.05 0.13 | 0.01 76 100% --- Page 8 --- ‘TABLE #5, Results of 12 Seining Collections, Caddo Lake, March 25, 1954 through Feb. 24, 1955 SPECIES Dorosoma petenensis Dorosoma cepedianum i | Hsox vermiculatus | Esox niger Minytrema melanops Notemigonus crysoleucas Opsopoeodus emiliae Notropis chalbeus Notropis roseus Notropis amnis Notropis venustus sropis lutrensis Notropis deliciosus Notropis atrocaudalis Notropis volucellus Notropis maculatus *Notropis alpha Hybognathus nuchalis Pimephales vigilax Ameiurus natalis Ameiurus melas Schilbeodes mollis Schilbeodes nocturnus Fundulus chrysotus notti Fundulus Fundulus notatus STATION NO. 1 93 LO LO 9 100 STATION NO. 14 LO 85 46 2 STATION | STAT NO. 3 No. 6 2 2 105 2h 2 1 4 e, 1 12 17 1 \ 1 1 8 2 158 145 1 1 1 45 ) 13 7 12 19 ION | STATION k | wo. 5 | TOTALS | 1 | 98 pos Pod Pos ja Poa 27 43 1 132 18 39 k ; 10 6 13 at " 7 1 1 10 3 1 305 1 | 1 1 7 10 123 259 ho 155 30 163 --- Page 9 --- TABLE # 5 ~ Page 2 Gambusia affinis 145 22h Lo7 | be | 48 | 570 ‘snidia audens | | 420 | 2u57 | 212 | 3089 Labidesthes sicculus 313 201 20 945 | 378 | 2077 Morone interrupta 3 1 | 4 Micropterus salmoides 15 135 25 43 107 325 Chaenobryttus coronarius 8 3 2 i 9 23 Lepomis symmetricus 3 ak 5 4 6 | ho Lepomis punctatus 7 1 5 55 | 68 Lepomis microlophus 90 73 151 | O7 184 595 Lepomis macrochirus | 153 70 38 j 200 208 669 Lepomis auritus 31 | 1 32 Lepomis megalotis 18 | i 19 Lepomis marginatus 4 4 Pomoxis nigro-maculatus 30 1 2 33 assoma zonatum 3 1 2 L 7 14 Hadropterus shumardi al 1 Percina caprodes 5 2 7 Ammocrypta vivax 2 2 Etheostoma chlorosomun a 2 3 Etheostoma gracile 5 1 16 22 Etheostoma barratti 1 2 5 8 Etheostoma proliare 11 3 10 ah Etheostoma fonticola 1 dL 2 Aplodinotus grunniens iL 1 TOTALS 910 1432 4062 1505 _ | 8953 v * Undescribed species collected in Caddo Lake, now listed as Notropis alpha in Clark Hubbs, Key to The Freshwater Fishes of Texas, Feb. 22, 1955. This Key is under study for cor- rections and has not been officially published on the date of this report. --- Page 10 --- : TABLE #6. Water Anaylsis, Netting Station #1, Caddo Lake WATER, TEMP. DISSOLVED On ] Dpm TABLE #7. Water Analysis, Netting Station #2, Caddo Lake DATE Ace TEMP. WATER oT EMP. = DISSOLVED 0, [CARBON DIOXIDE ppm ppm j 1-29-5) 3=10~5h 41-54 4-21-54 5-25-54 7-14-54 10-6-54 10-28-54 15-55 AVERAGES \ 4 --- Page 11 --- ‘TABLE #8. Water Analysis, Netting Station #3, Caddo Lake DATE ai Daa WATER TEMP. 2-3-54 2-24-54 3-26-54 5-11-54 60.0 6-354 70.0 8-17-54 85.0 916-54 70.0 10~8.54, 69.0 | 1-14-55 49.0 | AVERAGES 66.7 | iE #9. Water Analysis, Netting Station #4, Caddo Lake WATER TEMP. DISSOLVED 02 CARBON DIOXIDE F ppm AVERAGES --- Page 12 --- TABLE #10. Water Analysis, Seining Station #1, Caddo Lake DATE AIR TEMP, WATER TEMP, pH of Co 4/30/54 5/31/54 6/28/54 9/28/54 10/13/54 11/12/54 2/24/55 ae) ppm i OV ON OVNI ON ON ON ONDOONFW WNT ~AT1 ON © COOMMOO AVERAGES ——____ TABLE #11. Water Analysis, Seining Station #2, Caddo Lake DATE | AIR TEMP, Coa 4/30/54 80° F. 5.0 ppm 5/31/54 83 3.0 6/28/54 | 93 2.0 11/12/54 65 3.0 2/24/55 56 5.0 | | AVERAGES 75° 3.6 ppm TABLE 412. Water Analysis, Seining Station #3, Caddo Lake DATE ! AIR TEMP, WATER TEMP, 0° Con 4/30/54 76°R, O- ¥, 6.5 8.0 ppm 5/31/54 82 79 6.6 6.0 6/28/54 96 95 7.0 4.0 8/2/54 | 98 89 7.6 5.0 9/28/54 | gl 80 7.2 4.0 10/13/54 78 79 7.0 2.5 11/12/54 | 65 60 TO 3.5 | 7 F . AVERAGES 84.0 ; 80° 6.9 k.7 ppm --- Page 13 --- TA + #13. Water Analysis, Seining Station #4, Caddo Lake j 4/30/54 6.8 -5 ppm 5/31/54 6.8 0 6/28/54 74 <0 8/2/54 -O- .0 9/28/54 7.5 .0 10/13/54 7.1 20 11/12/54 0 : ‘ a hi = KS 3 AVERAGES TABLE #14. Water Analysis, Seining Station #5, Caddo Lake AIR TEMP, WATER TEMP, ee 4/30/54 sare AANAN NWO AVERAGES --- Page 14 --- TABLE #15. Results of Stomach Analysis, Fifteen Species, Caddo Lake, Dec. 1953 - Jan. 1955 A mtn NE RAMEE OR Les 2 Stomachs Stomachs Examined SPECIES SCELLANEOUS Ephemerida Mayf1 Odonata Dragonflies Hemiptera Waterbugs Coleoptera Beetles Unidentified Unidentified Insects No. No. foruteces | Game Fish Forage Fish Detritus Esox niger Chain pickerel Ictalurus punctatus _S. Channel catfish Ictalurus furcatus Blue catfish Ameiurus melas Black bullhead Pilodictus olivaris Fiathead catfish Morone chrysops White bass Morone interrupta Yellow bass Micropterus punctulatus Spotted bass Micropterus salmoides Largemouth black bass Chaenobryttus coronarius HH ~ Oo - fH fe) ine] ai wees Bole ae) a he LAD | ed id ise ine) oO ne) je) : 2) ig — ©o O ne) = oO a = = fo bh mg [o) Bh | (ee) aa _ (ee) O [e) to ee) im ne) 0) bh inv) ine) ne] 102 O NO Lepomis microlophus Redear sunfish a7 rE bh oma Ke ON O KO ND ye) oO Oo 12.9 Dy C29 a 4 Pomoxis annularis White crappie Pomoxis nigro-maculatus Black crappie 20 5 fe | ie (ee) A 8. 18.12] 5.44] 0.28 ange 0:87 W IN Fr {OV Wn pe f | essool + Aplodinotus grunniens | Freshwater drum J WI jo) oO ** Nem. - Nematodes * Veg. ~ Vegatation * Gras. - Grasshopper --- Page 15 --- =~ TABLE #16. Checklist of Species, Caddo Lake, Dec. 1, 1953 through May 31, 1955 PETROMYZONIDAE Ichthyomyzon castaneus LEPISOSTEIDAE Lepisosteus Lepisosteus Lepisosteus Lepisosteus AMTIDAE Amia calva CLUPEIDAE spatula platostomus productus osseus Alosa chrysochloris Dorosoma petenensis Dorosoma cepedianum EXOCIDAE Esox vermiculatus Esox niger CATOSTOMIDAE Ictiobus cyprinellus Ictiobus bubalus CYPRINODONTIDAE Fundulus chrysotus Fundulus notti Fundulus notatus POECILIIDAE Gambusia affanis ATHERINIDAE Menidia audens Labidesthes sicculus SERRANIDAE Morone chrysops Morone interrupta CENTRARCHIDAE Micropterus punctulatus Micropterus salmoides Chaenobryttus coronarius Lepomis symmetricus Lepomis punctatus Lepomis microlophus Lepomis macrochirus Carpiodes carpio Minytrema melanops Erimyzon sucetta CYPRINIDAE Notemigonus crysoleucas Opsopoeodus emiliae Notropis chalybeus Notropis roseus Notropis amnis Notropis venustus Notropis lutrensis Notropis deliciosus Notropis atrocaudalis Notropis volucellus Notropis maculatus Notropis alpha Hybognathus nuchalis Pimephales vigilax AMETURIDAE Ictalurus punctatus Ietalurus furcatus Ameiurus melas Ameiurus natalis Pilodictus olivaris Schilbeodes mollis Schilbeodes nocturnus ANGUTLLIDAE Anguilla rostrata Lepomis auritus Lepomis megalotis Lepomis marginatus Pomoxis annularis Pomoxis nigro-maculatus Centrarchus macropterus Elassoma zonatum PERC IDAE Hadropterus shumardi Percina caprodes Amnocrypta Etheostoma Etheostoma Etheostoma Etheostoma Etheostoma SCIAENIDAE vivax chiorosomum gracile barratti proliare fonticola Aplodinotus grunniens --- Page 16 --- TABLE #17. SPECIES | Chain Pickerel |S. Channel catfish | Flathead catfish “ White Bass Yellow bass Spotted bass Largemouth bass Warmouth nedear sunfish Bluegill sunfish + Black crappie “White crappie Length-Weight Data, 12 Species, Caddo Lake, Dec. 1, 1953 through May 31, 1955 SEX He FE ky mS ry M F ye. WE WE. WS NO. SPECIMENS STANDARD LENGTH RANGE STANDARD LENGTH AVERAGE nk RANGE 0.62 = 1.15 0.71 - 1.21 1.61 = 1.96 1.73 - 2.05 1.55 1.40 ~ 2.40 3.19 - 1.45 448 = 1.13 4,78 = 1.28 4.57 ~ 1.19 2.92 = 2.25 2.71. - 1.93 3.16 - 1.86 3.21 - 1.85 hook = 8.1) 4.98 - 2.16 houL = O.9k 4.90 - 2.22 5.31 - 2.70 4.76 - 1.60 3.85 - 1.37 5.27 = 1.40 3.55 - 2.40 3.57 - 1.20 hr CO WW ONNO Ow ° je) e Yer wo = WwW WW —_ QJ WoW \o PO COX\O my FO --- Page 17 --- “TREES CITY. SVXaL LOUISIANA vou 1NIOd 8. uaLLOS CLINGDN No. ao c) CARTERS g FE BIG LAKE ene : fs ‘ it a” / BIG LAKE Snore UNE Trees ROADS 1OLANOS rienina camps STATE Ling wlaM WATER CHANNEL An OTMIPS a BETTING Stations fl ae Bune stews F ‘_ e ii ao — »\ . 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