TPWD 1960 F-5-R-7 #614: Resurvey and Appraisal of Several Public Waters in Region 3-B

Report of Fisheries Investigations ResurveX‘and Appraisal of Several Public waters in Region 3-3 by Lawrence-S. Campbell Project leader and James Wilcox Assistant Project Leader‘ Dingell-Johnson Project F-S-R—T, Job B-22 April 16, .1959 - April 1, 1960 H. D. Dodgen - Executive Secretary Taxes Game and Fiah_Commiasion Austin, Taxas Marion Toole Kanneth C. Jurgena &'William-H. Brown Coordinator Assistant Coordinators ABSTRACT Lakes Trammell, Sweetwater, Abilene, and Fort Phantom Hill were resurveyed on the Clear Fork of the Brazos River Watershed. Lakes Brownwood, Scarbrough, Nasworthy, San Angelo, moss Creek, and J. B. Thomas were resurveyed on the Colorado River watershed. No resurvey was done on lakes on the Pecos River but netting collections were obtained from the river itself. Altogether, 116 netting and 36 seining collections were obtained, Although all the lakes resurveyed were found to have excessive populations of several undesirable species, the only lakes where management recommendations were deemed applicable and practical were Lakes Scarbrough and Sweetwater. The treatment of Lake Scarbrough was indefinitely postponed as this was the desire of the municipal officials of Coleman, Texas, who control the lake. The complete eradication of fish and a restock- ing program for Lake Sweetwater is scheduled for the fall of 1960. Job Completion Report State of TEXAS Project No. F—5-B—7 Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 3-B ' JOb No. B~22 Title: Resurvey and Appraisal of Several Pablic Waters in Region 3aB, Texas - Period Covered: April 162 1959 — April 1, 1960 OBJECTIVES A. To study changes in abundance and in the physical condition of the principal fishery populations within the waters previously surveyed and as may occur. B. To determine the ecological succession of dominance of various species and to evaluate the conditions that influence and/or create such trends. C. To more accurately determine and define the extent and duration of conditions effecting the dominance and to determine what methods may be employed to bring about conditions favorable to the propagation and harvesting of game species. D. To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the various waters so that reliable and accurate data will be available in considering future management plans and rec- ommendations. PROCEDURE A total of 116 netting collections and 36 seining collections were obtained from ten lakes and one river location. All nets used were experimental type nylon gill nets, measuring 125 feet in length and eight feet in depth. They were made up in five 25- foot long sections with mesh sizes varying from onewinch square mesh to three-inch square mesh, increasing in éeinch intervals in each succeeding section. Various types of seines were employed including a l2wfoot commonsense seine; a 30-foot, fiuinch mesh, bag seine; a 50~foot, fieinch mesh, straight seine; and a lOO-foot, %-inch mesh, straight seine. An attempt was made to Obtain netting and seining samples from the same locations used previously during the initial survey of the waters involved. When feasible to do so, data were collected concerning length, weight, sex, and stage of sexual develw opment either on the complete netting collection Obtained from a location, or on a representative sample of the individuals collected. Physical and chemical conditions which mi_ght have a tendency to affect fishery populations, such as water level and fluctuation, turbidity, temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide content were noted. Hydrology data was Obtained on those lakes_where such data has been periodically recorded by the United States Geological Survey. FINDINGS ' Clear Fork 2; £32 Brazos River watershed Lake Trammell - Four netting collections and two_seining collections were Obtained from this lake. The information gleaned from such limited sampling does not afford a substantial basis for a comparison of the fishery populations, as they now appear to be, with the fishery populations as they appeared during the initial inventory. However, in analyzing the data obtained it appears that black bullhead catfish (Ictalurus melas), which were the most abundant species in the initial inventory, are now even mere numerous. Approximately 100 small flathead catfish (Pylodictus olivaris), have been stocked in this lake since the initial survey was completed in an effert to help control the vast population of bullheads. These fish have not had time to develop sufficiently for reproduction or to become large enough to consume a significant number of bullheads. More and larger largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) were obtained in the netting collections while the number of bluegill sunfish iLepomis macrochirus), collected by both seine and net decreased considerably. The fact that the resurvey collections were made in cold weather while most of the initial inventory was done in warm weather could account for the difference in the size of the samples Obtained of these two species. However, accepting the samples on their face value, the reason for the change in abundance of these species is suggested by an ecological relationship that is known to exist (by analysis of stomach contents). It appears that the largemouth bass have thinned down the numbers of bluegill sunfish during the fall and winter months in the absence of the more preferred gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), which appar- ently do not occur in Lake Trammell. In summary then, the results of these resurvey data indicate a favorable trend as far as largemouth bass and bluegill sunfish are concerned and an unfavorable trend in regards to bullheads. However, the flathead catfish stocked in the lake may eventually help remedy the'bullhead prOblem. No new species were obtained and no new fisheries prOblems were Observed. The lake is used as a reservoir for municipal water for the City of Sweetwater and water fluctuations have continued to be fairly common although not extremely abrupt. The extent that these fluctuations affect the game fish population is not known. No management effort is recommended for Lake Trammell at this time. “1‘ . :' .5 --" 1:: figure 1. — Results oftgour nets set for the resurvey.of Lake Trammell from April 16, 1959 - April 1, 19 0 Species Number Percent Golden shiner Channel catfish Largemouth bass Black bullheads l Redear sunfish Bluegill sunfish White crappie Total 2 of number 11 20.87 9 n.26 9 b.26 ht 68.25 1 O.h8 2 0.91 2 0.9L 11 100.00 Total weight Average weight Percent Average lbs. 025. lbs. ozs. of weight "K“ 7 8 2.72 17.57 2.13 Channel catfish were released . . . . . . . . . . 29 h 3 1.00 68.52 2.76 5 2 0.57 12.00 2.h8 2 2.00 0.29 3.67 S 2.50 0.7M 3.62 6 3.00 0.88 2.65 M2 11 .. 100.00 .... Figure 2. w A comparison of rough and/or forage species to game species in four netting collections for the resurvey of Lake Trammell. Type of fish Number Percent of number Rough and/or forage species (golden shiners & black bullheads) 188 89.10 Game species (channel catfish, largemouth bass and white crappie) 23 10.90 Totals 211 100.00 Lake Sweetwater - Twenty-one netting collections and eight seining collections were Obtained from this lake. The results of these collections indicate that the fisheries prOblems in Lake Sweetwater are basically the same as they were during the inventory period. At the end of the initial inventory it was concluded that, if the trend towards extreme overdominance by undesirable fish continued, management work would be necessary. In resurvey data, the percentage of gizzard shad was not quite as high as in the initial inventory, but that condition can prObably'be attributed to water and temperature variables which produced different conditions during the two periods. River carpsucker (Carpiodes carpio), and carp (Cyprinus carpio), however, were found to have a higher percentage by number in the netting sample. Since the lake is much lower than it was during the inventory period and since the City of Sweetwater is willing to fully cooperate in any management effort, it is recommended that the fish pepulations of this lake and the watershed above be completely eradicated and restocked with fish from state fish hatcheries. This recommendation has already been submitted and the JObs have been approved under the Statewide Rough Fish Control Project, F-lh-D—h. (JOb number 16a-23 and 18a-11). _mwmsem w. n womoHdm 0H asoo¢%nooo ooem mos Hoe don Homoueog om Howe macadaMdoH museum soc woewoo wHos eases pm. Home dosages essay H. Home meooemm assume monsoon HOde enemas reouomm smwmoa wmuoood bdoeomo om ocaoou How. one. How. cum. 0% aoemoa am: assumes some may :H.mm em or w Hm.mo H.:4 weeoe nouemoonH 4m Hm.Hm How m H m.m mm.w4 m.mo ones so m.me w: m Hm.m m.mm m.mm awesome awesome He: mw.om Ham m H H.m so.m4 m.mn womow.seoosmmom Ho p.mo w m m.: . o.w4. H.em emsmmaosas_emmm mo m.mo my pm H H.e m.mm H.e4 wpsmmooe seasons 4 H.Hm ow H.m o.mp _ w.mm asses seasons mm oo.oo on ow :.mm :.mo m.wm mosses mm: Hoo.oo wee m Hoo.oo Figure h. - A comparison of rough and/or forage species to game species Obtained in. twenty-one nets set for the resurvey of Lake Sweetwater Type of fish Rough and/or forage species (gizzard shad, river carp- suckers, carp and black bullheads) Game species (channel catfish, large- mouth bass, bluegill sunfish and white crappie) Totals Number 390 23h 62h Percent of_number 62.50 37.50 100.00 Total weight Percent lbs. 028. of weight 188 ll h8.71 198 11 51.29 387 6 100.00 Lake Abilene w Four netting collections and two seining collections were Obtained from this lake. The outstanding difference in the limited resurvey netting sample was that river carpsuckers had increased from less than 5 percent of the initial sample to over 35 percent of the resurvey sample, and that gizzard shad had increased from less than A percent by number to nearly 11 percent. The average size of white crappie (Pomoxis annularis) taken in the netting collections had decreased to slightly over three ounces. The seining sample further substantiated this trend. No management recommendation is made at this time because the populations of rough fish have not as yet reached the critical stage, because fishing is still relatively good in Lake Abilene, and because a high_1evel of water has been maintained in the lake and management work at this timé would be relatively expensive. However, the fishery trends, as indicated by the inadequate fish collections made during the re- survey, are towards dominance by undesirable species and the lake should continue to be checked periodically as some management work could become necessary in the near future. E momcuo m. : womoHdm ow nose scam one How doe Homoudow ow Howe boewooo acumen don eoueoo wees macaw Hm. mew aeeosme sweep H. Homo ._ . meoowom . assume wouoooa Hoemw sowmoe becomes aoemoe oneness economo ow meadow Hem. cum. Hem. cam. om common :m: assumes mass m Ho.eo m H.ww m.Hm ~.mm enema omeemeswme mo mm.em Hm - Hm.mo mo.oo H.mm mosses messes m w.m4 : 1 . m.oo H.0m H.eo memos assesses m . m.wm Ho w.ww .m.eo m.oo newness awesome so perm: m ow e.om Hm.pw H.me ewemmsop mesasme H. . H.4e e p.00 H.om w.mm essam seasons . ow mw.mo m on w.wm Ho.mm m.mo HOde mm HO0.00 mw w HO0.00