TPWD 1957 F-2-R-4 #322: Inventory of Species in Lake Granite Shoals, Texas

--- Page 1 --- JOB COMPLETION REPORT ie ; eS | a rn ~ Investigations Projects STATE OF TEXAS Project No. F2R4 Name Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 6-B. Job No. B-16 Title _Inventory of Species in Lake Granite Shoals, Texas Period Covered: February 1, 1956 through January 31, 1957. ABSTRACT Thirty-seven seine and fifty-nine gill net collections produced a total of 3,351 fish specimens from Lake Granite Shoals during the segment period. The gizzard shad, Dorosoma cepedianum was the most abundant species taken in gill nets, accounting for over 10% of the total number. The spottail shiner, Notropis venustus was the most abundant species taken in the seining collections, making up slightly over 30% of the total. Net and seine collections were made at random since the lake was considered toslarge to effect- ‘ively work set stations. Rough fish in Lake Granite Shoals are becoming an ever-increasing problem, with longnose gar, gizzard shad, smallmouth buffalo, river carpsucker, and gray redhorse suc- ker making up 71.76% of total numbers taken in the net collection during this segment — compared to 63.98% in the previous segment. Percent of total weight for these same rough fish species increased from 45.58% of the total number in the 1955-56 segment period to -.61% of the total in the 1956-57 segment. - The increasing abundance of aquatic vegetation which is closing some of the bet- ter fishing areas to the fishermen is one of the most pressing problems and one that will have to be conquered if this lake is to be retained as a good fishing lake. OBJECTIVES To determine the species present and their relative abundance. TECHNIQUES Fish collections and ecological observations were made monthly throughout the segment period with the exception of November 1956. Random gill net sets provided almost half of the collected material. , With the exception of one 2 inch mesh net set, all netting was done with experimental type gill nets. All specimens taken in gill nets were identified, weighed, measured and checked for gonadal development in the field. In addition, all game fish stomachs containing food were preserved in a formaldahyde solution and returned to the laboratory for content analysis. — Three types of seines were used in collecting the seined material. Six foot straight, thirty-six foot by six foot bag, and twenty foot & inch mesh bobbinet seines -- were utilized during the segment period with only limited results. The specimens taken 1 the seine collections were preserved in a 10% formaldahyde solution and taken to the laboratory for identification and study. --- Page 2 --- PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION A complete physical description of Lake Granite Shoals is included in the Segment Completion Report, Project F-2-R-3, Job B-16. CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS Analysis of water samples was discontinued during this segment period because it was felt that the analyses made during the preceding period were sufficient. Since the lake area is thinly populated and no industries are present in the vicinity, the chance for harmful, man-made pollution is remote at this time. AQUATIC VEGETATION Over-abundant aquatic vegetation, chiefly Myriophyllum sp., is one of the major deterrents to the full utilization of the lake by the angler. Large areas of the lake are completely blocked to both the boat and shore fishermen. This aquatic weed is found in all sections of the lake and in many areas grows as far as 50 yards out from the shoreline. The heavy matting on, and just beneath the surface make boat travel near the shoreline extremely difficult. The number of specimens collected in seines dropped during this segment period, largely because of the vegetation. Only a few areas contained enough open water to be seined and even these were so close to large concentrations of Myriophyllum sp. that the fish population immediately escaped into it. A mechanical barge-mounted weed cutter has been used by dock owners in clear- ing dock areas and cutting limited boat paths in some areas of the lake. This method is expensive and completely impractical in clearing as vast an area as is covered by th weed. The problem of aquatic vegetation is particularly acute in Lake Granite Shoals because much of the lake is relatively shallow. Unless some inexpensive and effective weed control process is developed soon, the shoreline area will have only a small por- tion of its surface acreage available to the fishermen. FISH COLLECTIONS Table 1 contains a checklist of species found to occur in Lake Granite Shoals. Twenty-seven species were taken during this segment as compared with 29 during the previous segment period. Although Lepisosteus platostomus was included in the check- list for the first segment period it is now felt that this was an error and that this species is not found in Lake Granite Shoals. The only member of family Lepisoseidae found in the collections was the longnose gar, Lepisosteus osseus. Table 2 presents the results of seine collections for the period February 1956 through October 1956. No seine collections were made after this date because of difficult seining conditions and the poor results obtained. The largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides and the bluegill sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus were taken in much larger numbers during this segment than during the initial period. An excellent spawn of both species in the spring of 1956 was evident. Fifty-nine random net collections were made during the segment period and the results of the netting in terms of number and pounds of each fish species, by month, are included as Tables 3 and 4. --- Page 3 --- 3- Table 5 shows success of gill netting in number and pounds of fish per net and per foot of net and is broken down into monthly totals. Rotenone sampling of selected areas was planned but the idea was abandoned because of the over abundance of aquatic vegetation. Application of the rotenone would have been difficult and recovery of the specimens all but impossible. FINDINGS Lake Granite Shoals is considered a good fishing lake, with largemouth black bass, white bass and channel catfish the most sought after fish species. Excellent strings of all three species were observed during the segment period and both net and seine collections indicate a large game fish population. The largemouth black bass spawn was apparently very successful since thousands of fingerlings were seen in the shallow bank areas in June and July. A comparison of the 1956-57 segment period shows a noticeable increase in the rough fish population. Longnose gar, gizzard shad, smallmouth buffalo, river carpsucker, and gray redhorse sucker contributed 63.98% of the total number and 45.58% of the total weight during the 1955-56 segment as compared with 71.76% of total number and 64.61% of the total weight during the later period. The primary shift in relative abundance concerned three fish species and this shift is shown in Chart A. Chart A. Comparison of Netting Results for Three Species, 1955-56 Segment and 1956-57 Segment. Gizzard shad White bass Smallmouth buffalo Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent total wt. total no. total wt. total no. total wt. total no. 1955-56 8.29 27.82... 21.33 12.71 9.85 6.46 1956-57 8.03 41.19 8.58 6.33 23.53 10.69 As can be seen in Chart A, the white bass population shows a definite decline in both total numbers and total weight while gizzard shad have increased significantly in total numbers and the smallmouth buffalo in total weight. The increase in the gizzard shad and smallmouth buffalo was expected but the decline in the white bass population was not. Lack of running water for spawning during the past few years is probably res- ponsible in part for this decline and possible it is part of a natural cycle of peaks and lows in white bass populations as found in other lakes in the United States. The increase in percent of total pounds for the smallmouth buffalo is due to a slight increase in number collected and a greater increase in weight of individuals. The smallmouth buffalo averaged one pound during the 1955-56 segment and 1.7 pounds in the present segment. --- Page 4 --- RECOMMENDATIONS Following the pattern of other Colorado River lakes and other major impound. ments in Texas, Lake Granite Shoals is beginning to suffer from an overabundant rough fish population. Much of the lakes' productivity is being utilized for undesirable fish which have little value from either a sport or commercial standpoint. No chem- ical rough fish control measures are feasible at this time, because of the excessive cost of treatment and the difficulty in applying it to so large an area, particularly with the weed problem. ' It is recommended that the lake be inventoried again in from two to five years and recommendations for management be made at that time. The vegetation problem appears insolvable at this time but when techniques are developed for the control of Myriophyllum heterophyllum on a large scale, a weed control project should be initiated on Lake Granite Shoals. Prepared by John E. Tilton Approved by OID pep PA pole Assistant Project Leader Chief Aquatic Biologist Date May 8, 1957 --- Page 5 --- Table 1. Checklist of Species Found to Occur in Granite Shoals Lake. SCIENTIFIC NAME Lepisosteus platostomus ** Lepisosteus osseus Dorosoma cepedianum Ictiobus bubalus Carpiodes carpio Moxostoma congestum Cyprinus carpio Notropis venustus Notropis lutrensis Pimephales vigilax Campostoma anomalum Ictalurus punctatus Pilodictus olivaris Gambusia affinis Roccus chrysops Micropterus punctulatus Micropterus treculi Micropterus salmoides Chaenobryttus gulosus Lepomis cyanellus Lepomis microlophus Lepomis macrochirus Lepomis humilis Lepomis auritus Lepomis megalotis Pomoxis annularis Percina carpodes Etheostoma spectabile Aplodinotus grunniens Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum COMMON NAME shortnose gar longnose gar gizzard shad smallmouth buffalo river carpsucker gray redhorse sucker carp spottail redhorse shiner parrot minnow stoneroller channel catfish yellow catfish gambusia white bass Kentucky spotted bass Texas spotted bass largemouth black bass warmouth green sunfish redear sunfish bluegill sunfish orangespotted sunfish yellowbelly sunfish longear sunfish white crappie logperch orangethroated darter freshwater drum Rio Grande perch JUNE '55- JAN. '56 FEB. JAN. '56- ‘of ** Note: Lepisosteus platostomus was incorrectly identified in thé Segment Com- pletion Report F-2-R-3, Job B-16. en nance ll anemone memaaeaaae ae It should be Lepisosteus osseus. --- Page 6 --- 6. Table 2. Number of Specimens Taken in Seines from Lake Granite Shoals, February through October, 1956. Species February March April June July August September October Total Percent of Total Dorosoma cepedianum - - 58 3 16 31 1 - 109 6.50 Carpiodes carpio - - - - ~ 1 - 1 0.06 Notropis venustus 4 70 22 ho 121 #119 50 78 504 30.07 Notropis lutrensis 11 3 ho 16 7 39 16 h 200 11.93 Pimephales vigilax 1 - 15 - - - - - 16 0.96 Gambusia affinis - - - - 59 11 19 19 108 6.44 Micropterus punctulatus - - - - - 4 - - y 0.2 Micropterus treculi - - - 12 - - 8 4 eh 1.43 Micropterus salmoides - 8 2 69 5 16 23 2 125 7.46 Chaenobryttus gulosus - 1 - - - 3 2 10 16 0.96 Lepomis cyanellus - 3 - - - 2 3 12 20 1.19 Lepomis microlophus Zz - 2 3 - - 6 + 13 0.77 Lepomis macrochirus 25 8 31 51 17 60 163 32 4o7 25.48 Lepomis humilis - - - i - 5 2 - 8 0.48 Lepomis auritus - y - 3 3 y 17 12 43 2.56 Lepomis megalotis - ~ 1 9 1 2 15 - 28 1.68 Pomoxis annularis - - 2 - - - - - 2 Q.11 Percina caprodes - - 1 - 3 3 - 2 9 0.54 Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum - - - - 2 3 8 6 19 1.14 Totals ho 137 174 207 298 302 334 182 1,676 100 .00 --- Page 7 --- Ls Table 3. Number of Specimens taken in Gill Nets from Lake Granite Shoals, February, 1956 through January, 1957. Species February March April May June July August September October December January Total Percent of Total L. osseus - - 22 1 Ll - - - - - - ah 1.43 D. cepedianum 37 14 290 48 60 32 ho 110 25 23 ii 690 41.19 I. bubalus 14 20 12 3 33 «6 ~— 30 18 8 31 4 = 179 =10.69 Carpiodes carpio 43 1h 31 23 25 10 26 9 17 27 6 231 13.79 M. congestum 8 al 2 1 9 - 2 1 3 3 1 ra 2.45 Cyprinus carpio - 4 5 4 15 - 1 3 1 1 2 36 2.15 I. punctatus 30 6 31 9 5 10 { 21 5 10 17 151 9.01 P. olivaris - - - - - - 2 - = - - 2 0.12 R. chrysops 10 2 7 8 7 9 14 27 6 14 2 106 6.33 M. treculi 1 - - - - - i. 2 - - 4 0.24 M. salmoides 2 3 2 - - 1 3 5 2 4 3 25 1.49 C. gulosus 1 - - - - - - - - - - 1 0.06 L. macrochirus - 1 8 9 9 7 12 12 9 15 11 on S061 L. megalotis - - i 2 3 1 2 - 1 - - 10 0.60 P. annularis 6 2 43 3 3 3 3 7 7 - 3 80 4.78 A. grunniens - - - ~ 1 - - - - - ~ 1 0.06 111 17 79 142 214 86 128 60 1,675 100.00 o E mn hk WI PO = oo Boma wa rE --- Page 8 --- 8. Table 4. Number of Pounds of Each Fish Species taken in Gill Nets from Lake Granite Shoals, February, 1956 through January, 1957. (Figured in Tenths of Pounds). Species February March April May June July August September October December January Total Percent of Total L. osseus 0.00 0.00 97.81 1.81 7.94 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 107.56 8.41 D. cepedianum 8.19 2.88 41.38 6.00 8.44 h.25 5.69 1.00 3.75 4.19 4.00 102.77 8.03 i. bubalus 24.94 41.19 12.56 6.19 76.06 7.63 38.56 25.25 11.00 53.94 3.44 300.76 23.53 Carpiodes carpio 40.56 11.63 26.50 22.19 24.19 7.50 23.19 6.88 13.75 29.19 8.19 13.77 16.72 M. congestum 10.00 15.00 3.19 1.25 11.38 0.00 2.56 1.19 3.13 475 0.56 53.01 15 Cyprinus carpio 0.00 44h = 7.63 6.63 19.06 0.00 1.19 34k 0.50 1.38 3.06 47.33 3.70 I. punctatus 23.94 10.25 34.06 12.50 12.69 18.44 17.38 28.63 13.13 16.88 57.63 245.53 19.20 P. olivaris 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 16.69 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 16.69 1.31 R. chrysops 10.00 2.31 5.81 5.25 11.19 10.50 16.63 28.81 4.1300 (12.94 2.13 109.70 8.58 M. treculi 2.50 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 06.00 0.19 2.19 0.00 0.00 4.88 0.38 M. salmoides 9.81 3.00 4.75 0.00 0.00 1.06 1.81 2.00 1.25 7 ob 7 ob 38.56 3.02 C. gulosus 0.13 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.13 0.01 L. macrochirus 0.00 0.25 O.94 1.25 1.31 0.88 1.44 1.06 1.38 1.31 1.13 10.95 0.85 L. megalotis 0.00 0.00 0.13 0.25 0.38 0.13 0.31 0.00 -..0.13 0.00 0.00 1.33 Goll P. annularis 3.38 1.06 7.75 0.63 2.00 1.06 0.56 1.94 4.56 0.00 1.81 2h.75 1.93 A. grunniens 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.94 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.94 0.08 133-45 92.01 242.51 63.95 175.58 51.45 126.01 113.39 58.90 132.02 89.39 1,278.66 100.00 be 1°) ct PB, 7) --- Page 9 --- Yo Table 5. Success of Gill Netting in Terms of Number and Founds of Fish, Lake Granite Shoals, May through Becember, 1956 Month Number of Number of Number of Number Lbs. Average No. Average No. Average No. Average No. Net Set Foot Net Set Fish Caught Fish Caught Fish/Net Fish Ft. of Lbs. Fish/ Lbs. Fish Per ___— iNet Net Ft. of Net. aR fence cnt EE Ot ELC May h 500 184 391.07 h6.0 0.36 : 97-77 0.78 June k 500 66 Uhh. 71 16.5 0.13 36.18 0.29 July h 500 102 158.51 25.2 0.20 39.63 0.32 September h 500 206 160.62 51.5 0.4L 26.66 0.32 December 4 500 98 67 44 2h..5 0.19 16.86 0.13 Total 20 2,500 656 922.35 32.8 0.26 46.12 0.37 --- Page 10 --- SS a re SS 2 ¢s06