TPWD 1958 F-3-R-5 #362: Report of Fisheries Investigations: Basic Survey and Inventory of Fish Species in Striker Creek Reservoir, Dingell-Johnson Project F-3-R-5, Job B-12

--- Page 1 --- ~ [| i [Pe RILE Report of Fisheries Investigations Basic Survey and Inventory of Fish Species in Striker Creek Reservoir, = by _ John N. Dorchester Assistant Project Leader Dingell-Johnson Project F-3-R-5, Job B-12 June 1, 1957 - May 31, 1958 H. D. Dodgen - Executive Secretary Texas Game and Fish Commission Austin, Texas Marion Toole William H. Brown Coordinator Asst. Coordinator --- Page 2 --- ee SEGMENT COMPLETION * REPORT Investigations Project a State of TEXAS Project No. F3R5 Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the . Waters of Region 5-B. Job NO. B-12 Title: Basic Survey and Inventory of Fish Species in Striker Creek Reservoir. Period Covered: June 1, 1957 to May 31, 1958 ABSTRACT: Lake Striker is a new 2300 surface acre lake on which a year long basic survey was conducted. Water samples and temperatures were taken at three locations on the lake and at five foot intervals from surface to bottom. There were 1000 feet of experimental type gill nets set randomly each month. The water quality proved to be poor for biological productivity even thotigh there was.an excellent growth rate on fishes the first year. There are large populations of gizzard shad, largemouth bass, both species of bullheads and suckers present. Recommendations are made to continue this survey to see what effects the water quality has on the condition of the fish. OBJECTIVES : < 2 To gather fundamental data on this newly impounded reservoir in regard to its physical, chemical and biological aspects. To determine the growth rates and food of game species stocked. To observe the influx of other fish species and to record chemical changes, if any, of the water. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS : - This writer wishes to thank the Angelina and Nacogdoches Counties Water Control and Improvement District No. 1, Ned Shands, Jr., president, the Texas Power and Light Company, and Mr. Joe Brown, lake concessionaire, for their cooperation and interest in this project. LAKE HISTORY: Lake Striker was first conceived back in 1953 when the Angelina and Nacogdoches Counties Water Control and Imrpovement District No. 1 considered the construction of several water storage projects on the Angelina River and its watershed. The Texas Power and Light Company already had a small power plant located on Striker Creek and they let it.be known that they wanted to expand their generating capacity in the near future. So between these two organizations plans were made and --- Page 3 --- 2. construction was begun in 1956. The gates were initially closed about May 15, 1957 and after being raised and lowered several times for testing purposes they were finally closed on June 5, 1957 and water was beginning to be impounded. Almost immediately after the final closing of the gates torrential rains fell on the watershed and the lake filled to within five feet of its normal level. The Tyler Fish Hatchery then stocked the lake with largemouth bass and channel catfish. On June 10, 1957, just five days after the gates were closed, the first work on this job was initiated. Original plans called for eradicating the existing fish population in Striker Creek before impoundment. However, when the time came to do the job the creek was out of banks and it was decided that the volume of water was too great for any success. LAKE DESCRIPTION: Lake Striker was formed by an earth-filled dam located about 1400 feet up- stream from Farm Road 839 and about one mile southwest of New Salem. The lake lies on the Cherokee-Rusk Counties line. Other nearby towns are Rusk and Jacksonville to the west, Reklaw to the south and Mount Enterprise to the east. The dam is 2400 feet long and 41 feet high. A service spillway is located on the east end of the dam where the gates are also located. An emergency spillway is located at the west end of the dam. At an elevation of 292 feet mean sea level the reservoir area is 2340 acres and the reservoir volume is 26,500 acre feet. At this same elevation the discharge from the service spillway is 15,100 cfs. The watershed above the dam is located in Rusk, Cherokee and Smith Counties and covers an area of about 183 square miles. The land is used primarily for timber, farming and cattle. Soils found in the area are generally sandy clay on the uplands and alluvial soils in the bottoms. Natural resources include oil, gas, lignite and timber. The northern part of the watershed forms part of the East Texas Oil Field. . ‘Striker Creek, which is a ‘tributary of the Angelina River, rises in Smith and Rusk Counties and flows southward. The lake site is typical of East Texas stream valleys, that is it is wide and has a flat gradient and mostly covered with timber. The lake is about one mile in width and the lake bed has a fall of about two and one-half feet per mile. The slopes on the sides of the reservoir are fairly steep and are covered with timber with the exception of one section on the east side which is rolling meadow land. Only about one-half of the timber was cleared which -leaves some 1100 to 1200 surface acres of open water. See Figure l. PROCEDURE: » Data was collected once each month, generally close to or on the 10th of each month, during this job. No collection was made in November 1957 due to the heavy rains at the time which made all roads to the lake impassible. Water samples and temperatures were taken in the afternoons about the same time of day each month. There were‘ six net sets made each month at randomly selected locations. Seining collections were also made at randomly selected locations. --- Page 4 --- e! 1. lLimnological Data Water samples were taken with a Foerst water sampler at five foot intervals from surface to the bottom. The samples were put in 250 ml glass-stoppered bottles, one for dissolved oxygen which was fixed on the spot, and one for alka- linity, pH and salinity. The latter was brought back to the laboratory for analysis. There were three water sample stations set up on the lake to make a series of three for each trip. The first station was located near the center of the dam, the second up the lake about midway between the TP&L powerhouse and the concession, the third location was toward the upper end of the open water. An occasional sample was taken at the extreme upper end of the open water. (see map for locations) Temperatures were taken at the same locations as the water samples. A reversing thermometer was used. Again data was collected at five foot intervals from surface to bottom. The thermometer was calibrated in degrees centigrade so this data was converted to degrees Fahrenheit by using the conversion table found in Lagler's STUDIES IN FRESHWATER BIOLOGY. Other limnological conditions recorded were turbidity (Seechi disk), color of the water, sky, wind, time and air temperature. 2. Netting Collections Eight experimental type gill nets were set at six random locations each month. The dimensions of the nets were 125 feet long, eight feet deep with mesh sizes of 1; 13, 25 a4, and 3 inches. The nets were set out late in the afternoon and picked up the following morning. Each location was selected with the idea of having each set in a different type of location, i.e. open water, set across a small neck, off a point, in the timber etc. In this way a sample was made of each habitat in an effort to get a true picture. A total of 66 sets made up of 88 nets were made. « = A count was made of all rough fish caught. They were destroyed and returned to the lake. All game fish and bullhead catfish were saved. These were then’ measured (both standard and total lengths) and weighed. Spot checks were made on stomach contents and sexual developments. Coefficients of condition ("K" factors) were determined in the laboratory. The average lengths, weights and condition factors were calculated for each species each month. _ 3. Seining Collections Seining collections were made with a 26' by 6' by 2" mesh bag seine. The original idea to make at least ten drags at various locations proved to be too ambitious at times. Seining areas were difficult to find because of the nature of the shoreline of the new lake - heavy wave action and cold, freezing weather cut down collections. However, 81 drags were made to represent 9 collections. All specimens were preserved in 10% formalin solution and brought back to the laboratory for identification. 4 STOCKING RECORD: The Game and Fish Commission's Tyler Hatchery placed approximately 175,000 --- Page 5 --- largemouth bass fry and 65,000 channel catfish fry in the lake in June 1957. Additional stocking was made on September 27, 1957 when 2,600 channel catfish fingerling, 3,500 black and white crappie fingerlings and 500 redear and blue- gill sunfish were placed in the lake. A few flathead catfish have been put in the lake by fishermen. FINDINGS: 1. Limnological Findings One of the primary objectives of this job was to record any chemical changes which might occur in the water. It was determined that chemically and physically the waters of Lake Striker vary greatly from month to month, area to area and even at different depths within an area. The contributing factors involved are runoff from rains, high winds or no wind at all, sources of runoff water and decay- ing vegetation. a. Methyl Orange Alkalinity and pH Table 1 gives the alkalinity and pH for each depth and location on the lake by months. An attempt to closely correlate these figures would be extremely difficult, however, this general statement can be made on the correlation of alkalinity and pH - when pH goes up the alkalinity goes up and when pH comes down the alkalinity comes down. That was to be expected though. The range of pH was from a low of 5.0 to a high of 7.1. The extremes of alkalinity are 3 ppm to 60 ppm. Generally though, the pH started off low in June (around 6.0) and gradually built up to the high in October (7.0 - 7.1). After heavy rains in November the pH started dropping off to a low of 6.1. Again it started a small rise after the spring rains. The low pH's of 5.2 were found in February at the upper end of the lake. Some months the pH was higher on the bottom than the surface and other months it was lower. According to Table 1 the lake evidently tended to stratify in late spring then tends to be homo- genous throughout the remainder of the year with variations only on the bottom. * This is referring to pH. Methal orange alkalinity over the year pretty much varied parallel to pH - it started low and rose to a peak in October, fell sharply after the fall rains, then stayed low with slight monthly variations the rest of the year. The alkalinity stayed pretty constant from top to bottom. The extreme low of 3 ppm was found in the extreme upper end of the open water in February. It should be pointed out that the low alkalinity found in this lake is not very conducive for biological produc- tivity. b. Chlorides The ‘chlorides ranged unusually high - from a low of 85.104 ppm to the high of 425.520 ppm. Most often the range was from approximately 127 to 255 ppm. It was noted that the chlorides nearly always were higher on the bottom of the lake than the upper levels. This is due to the greater density of saline water. Table 2 gives the ehlorides for each depth and locations. The upper end of the lake was generally always more saline than the middle and lower ends. Over the year, the chlorides rose gradually to a peak in September where it stayed until December, when the fall rains dropped it slightly. It continued down until March where it rose sharply through April then dropped to the all time low. --- Page 6 --- The normal chloride content for water in the same area is less than 50 ppm. The source for this high salinity is evidently the East Texas Oil Field. Though the high chlorides possibly will not harm the normal fish life in the lake, it might be somewhat corrosive to steel boiler plates and plumbing. 7¢. Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen Table 3 shows the temperatures and dissolved oxygen at the five foot inter- vals from surface to bottom and at the three locations on the lake for each month. Also the air temperature is given. Most of the time the temperature followed the usual pattern of being cooler as the depth increased. The temperature change was only slight during the winter months. It was noted that on some occasions the surface temperatures were a little cooler than at five feet. This was always when the wind was blowing so this writer believes that the increased evaporation caused by the wind was the reason for this cooler water. It was also noted that the waters near the dam were slightly warmer than midlake water. This is possibly due to the heat retention characteristics of the earthen dam causing the water to be warmer. Surface temperature ranged from 45.7 to 97.2 degrees Fahrenheit. Dissolved oxygen followed no particular pattern as it very seldom was uniform over the lake. During the early months of the lake there was an oxygen deficiency at the lower depths due to decaying vegetation. The range was from 0.8 to 12.6 ppm. The lake appeared to be turning over in March as the temperature change was little and the dissolved oxygen was higher on the bottom than the upper five feet. Air temperature, at the time of taking water samples, ranged from 43.2 to 99.0 degrees Fahrenheit. Invariably during the winter months a cold front would move through dropping the temperature to below freezing the following morning. d. Turbidity * « Turbidity varied directly with the inflow of runoff water into the lake. Striker Creek is an extremely clear stream with no color during normal conditions. The lake started off with a turbidity of approximately 18 inches Seechi and decreased each month through October when it was 5 feet Seechi. Then the fall rains brought in suspended solids and brought the turbidity up to 3 feet S. It remained 3 - 4 feet until the spring rains when it rose back to 20 inches. a During February there was an unusual situation in the lake. At the upper end of the open water portion of the lake the water was extremely clear (turbidity 10 feet Seechi) and a bluish-green in color. This water extended out from the timber for 50 to 100 yards then abruptly changed to the greenish-brown color of ‘the rest of the lake. This water had an extreme low pH and alkalinity and high salinity. The next month this clear water had moved on down through the entire lake and was a beautiful green in color but more turbid because of a beginning of a plankton bloom. There was great concern over this apparent infertile water condition. The spring rains seemed to improve the quality though probably just temporarily. 4 e. Water Samples from the Tributaries . . In an attempt to find the source of the poor water coming into the lake, water samples were taken at nearly all road crossings on the tributary streams. Samples --- Page 7 --- were taken at the headwaters of Striker Creek where the water was observed coming out of the ground. Even here the poor quality was found. Table 4 gives the location of each collecting point and the analysis of the water. 2, Fish Findings . . . Both netting and seining collections yielded thirty eight species of fish representing twelve families. Table 5 list each species phylogenetically as taken from Hubbs', A CHECKLIST OF TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHES, dated February 1957. a. Netting Results Table 6 gives the number of fish collected by nets each month. As can be seen by this table there were only three species collected every month. They are the gizzard shad, largemouth bass and black bullhead. This table also gives the totals of game fish and rough fish and percentage of each. There were 19 species collected by gill nets - 10 rough species and 9 game species. The rough fish catch predominated the game fish catch every month except one (that was due to the high bluegill catch). The average percentage of rough-game fish was roughly 74-26% over the year. Rough fish seem to be more active than game fish in the winter months than summer months as concluded by the high percentage of those caught. ‘A total of 1918-.fish were caught by gill nets over the year. This includes 1426 rough fish and 492 game fish. Gizzard shad- had the highest numbers with 574 being caught. Black bullheads were next with 324, Largemouth bass ran in fifth place and tops of the game fish with 149 being caught. The number of species caught each month ranged from 7 to 15 and averaged about 10. Relative abundance would be rather meaningless in this case because some species were not caught during the winter months. An indication could he gotten from only eight species and this would not give a true picture of the. populations in the lake. This being the case only the percentages and numbers of those fish caught by nets are given for a rough comparison. Figure 2 illustrates this graphically. From the fish that were caught indicates that the most abundant rough fish present. besides bullheads which have a commercial potential, are the chub suckers and spotted suckers. Gizzard shad are considered a forage fish in some instances. b. Seining Results e Table 7 gives the numbers of fish collected by the bag seine each month. Sein- ing yielded 28 species and a total of 7322 specimens. By far the most abundant species according to the collections was brook silversides. However, this may not be an actuality in the lake because 3299 were collected in one month. The spottail shiner was the only species showing up every month a collection was made. Silver- sides and bluegill missed one month and several missed two months. It is interest- ing to note that bass, bullheads and several sunfish were picked up as fry in seining collections the first month or two then were picked up only in nets. The number of species collected each month ranged from 4 up to 19 and averaged 12 eo . It can be concluded from seining that there is a good supply of bait or forage . --- Page 8 --- fish available, the most abundant of which are spottail shiners and golden shiners. It should be noted that some minnow species showed up strong at first but later decreased in numbers to only a few or none. Others began to show up later in the segment. e. Growth Rates - Standard length records were kept on five game species and two rough species (important commercially) to determine growth. Insufficient numbers of other game species were collected from start to finish of the project to give a good picture. The best data was collected from the bass and bullhead. All of these specimens were measured if the numbers were below 25 and if over 25 specimens were selected random- ly for measurement. An average length was determined each month and plotted on the ‘graphs, Figures 3 and 4. As can be seen by studying these charts that there was a rapid growth through September then a tapering off period - except bass which main- tained their growth through February. Many fishermen were amazed at the rapid growth of the bass. The first month of collection there were two distinct size groups of the bass - one the hatchery stock and the other the natural stock. However, the next month no groups could be distinguished. Table 8 gives the standard length ranges and average length for these seven species of the same age group. a. Condition of Fish Generally speaking the condition of the fish in Lake Striker during the first year is excellent. Table 9 gives the average standard length, the average weight and the average coefficient of condition for the entire year for several species. These are for netted specimens. The sunfishes and crappie were in the best condition due to the large fauna of invertebrates present. ~: @. Food Habits -, No intensive study was made of the food habits of the fish in Lake Striker. Spot checks were made however of several game fish to get an idea of the main diets of each species. The majority of the stomachs checked were empty. The major diet of the bass. was bluegill, shad and an occasional sucker, crayfish or water beetles. Bluegills ate aquatic insects and larvae, crappie ate small shad and insects, war- mouth ate crayfish, insects and some unidentified fish. A f. Sexual Development and Spawning Activity Like the food habits no intensive study was made of sexual development. Spot checks were made on some game fish. In October all bass checked were immature. ‘Those bass checked in January were approaching ripeness and had progressed little by February. Most of the bass were fully ripe and nearing a spawn when checked in May. Some, however, were still immature. Nearly all the sunfish were very gravid in May and some were gravid even in early spring. Several spawning areas were observed in May and indications are for a good spawn of all fish. --- Page 9 --- 8. | | | Many of the rough fish, such as the suckers and carp were gravid in March and April and evidently spawned before the game fish. The bullhead catfish were just approaching ripeness in May which indicates they will spawn later in the summer. ge Annotated Checklist . ‘1. Lepisosteus productus - this is the only species of gar found in the lake. Though not uncommon they are no problem at this time. None were captured during December, January or February. 2, Amia calva - only three specimens of this species was collected. They seemed to disappear after October. . 3. Dorosoma cepedianum - this is the most common species collected, making up about 30% of the total. 4. Esox americanus - only two of this species seining in the early stages of the lake. Later three were caught by nets in March. 5. Moxostoma poecilurum - This species is not too common. 6. Minytrema melanops - though not out of control this species showed up heavily during late winter. .... 7 Erimyzon sucetta - this is one of the more common species in the lake. They have a possible interest for commercial fishermen. 8. Cyprinus carpio - most of the carp found were of large size (over two pounds) and should make some good fishing for those who fish for carp. 9. Notemigonus crysoleucas - this is one of the most common bait fishes and they have remained small in size so they can be utilized by game fish. ° 10. Notropis fumeus - this is the most common species of this family accord- ing to numbers collected, however, they were found only until September except for two in May. ll. N. umbratilis - only one group of these were found in January. 12, N. brazosensis - just one specimen of this fish was found in April. 13. N. roseus - this is another species that was found only in the early stages of the lake. ® ° 14. N. blennius - one specimen found the first month. 15. N. venustus - every month this species was found and in good numbers. One of the most important bait species. 4 16. N. lutrensis - was found every month except two. - 17. N. deliciosus - another species that is fairly common. --- Page 10 --- “18. N. atrocaudalis - found only twice - August and October. 19. WN. volucellus - two specimens were found in May. 20. Pimephales vigilax - picked up throughout the year but not in large numbers. : | ----. 21. Ictalurus punctatus - stocked by the state hatchery and not found again until May. , “22...I. melas - found every month and in large numbers, second only to shad. Good commercial fish. 23. I. natalis - though not as common as black bullhead this species is quite numerous. ‘eh, Fundulus chrysotus - this topminnow is not too common. Most were found the first few months. 25. F. notatus - found in every seining collection except one. 26.. Gambusia affinis - quite numerous especially in the early months of the lake. ; e 27. lIabidesthes sicculus - very abundant, over three thousand caught one month. 28.. Micropterus salmoides - this popular game fish has done remarkably well. There are large numbers of this fish in the lake and they are of a good size. 29. Chaenobryttus gulosus - there are good numbers of this species present and all are very fat. 30. Lepomis cyanellus - the greatest numbers of this species wre caught the first month. They were rare after that. 31. L. punctatus - this native species is fairly common. & 32. L. microlophus - though the hatchery stocked the lake with this species only four have been recovered and they were small. 33. L. macrochirus - this is the most common species of sunfish and so far they have been in good condition. 34. L. auritus - this brightly colored fish was more common in the early months of the lake. 35. LL. megalotis - only five of this species was collected. 36. Pomoxis annularis - this popular game fish is rare, only three have been caught. --- Page 11 --- 10. 37. P. nigromaculatus - the waters of the lake are more suitable for this species than the white. They were caught nearly every month. One weighed 1 pound 11 ounces. 38. Etheostoma gracilie - only two of this species wae captured in September. 3. Vegetation During this segment aquatic vegetation was no problem. The first traces of vegetation showed up in August when small patches of smartweed (Polygonum sp.) were observed. Therevwere also growths of filamentous algae. However, the fall rains evidently killed out the smartweed as none was observed again. No other aquatic vegetation was seen until May when several scattered patches of parrot feather (myriophyllum brasiliense) were seen. This is a potential problem. The only other aquatic plant present is black willow (Salix nigra) which was in the original creek bottom. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: During Lake Striker's first year of existence the growth of the game fish has been remarkably good. Though the rough fish population far outnumbers the game fish population, there are sufficient game fish present to support a good sport fishery. There is also a good commercial fishery potential. The water quality of the lake tends to be very poor biologically speaking. If the quality does not improve both fisheries may drop off considerably. Aquatic vegetation is no problem at this time. Considering the above conclusions it is therefore recommended that: . 1. Sport fishing pressure be kept high. * 2. The lake be kept closed to commercial fishing except that contract fishing be allowed but then under close supervision of the Game and Fish Commission. 3. Any growths of aquatic vegetation be kept under control before it gets out of hand and becomes too expensive to control. ‘ h, Efforts should be made to improve the quality of the water running into the lake from the East Texas Oil Field. 5. Additional data should be cotlected to determine the effects of the poor water quality on the fish present. 6. It should be kept in mind to stock the lake with white bass (Roceus crysops ) in later years if needed to utilize the shad population and to maintain the sport fishery. & . Prepared by: John N. Dorchester Approved by: Rep ee. Assistant Project Leader Chief Aquatic Biologist Date: June 30, 1958 --- Page 12 --- . _ EXTREME _ UPPER END OF ” , OPEN WATER MID LAKE | LOWER END NEAR DAM te nm le = nM = wn oO wi (e) {e) fo} wn le} - UPPER Wi ( on fon ine) inv) W b i Ir tk mo [eRe Je 0 jo On {nN | on WwW. 1N Fa ron nN |r N TO ON ° ° io . ° ° ne) mo |E Co |= S ee lee | | ft i] x ON ON ON Ov ON ON ON ON ON ON > inv) i _ ~ ine) -_ - ine) ia) aad eee Does aad bh Pie er oIPR br tH lo wa br - Cc |W Ww w (ey) Ww (ey) Ww o tl Pras er OEE a ro] orl ef eles] on vy efmlolol = awe ee a | I] o} ct iz Eica d E/ ad ad is) ©) Trady uy WAVINTS DVI NO SNOLLVOOT GNV SHidad INGUATad Ly Hd CNV ALINTIVYIV SONVYO IVHLAW eTasL T “TT --- Page 13 --- UPPER END OF OPEN WATER 15 20. June Lt 177.300] 191.474. July August Septembe 212,760 | 212.760 248.460 248.460 212.760 283.680] 226.944. 212.760 foo | AL ps | || 212.760 CHLORIDES AT DIFFERENT DEPTHS AND LOCATIONS ON LAKE STRIKER 198.580 ve wy i jd _ ge eve 197.310 fexainso| =] 120.560 1 eu.,390_| o) 5a 3. 120.560 [isu 390 | 226.940 oe 255.310 120. 3 127.660 _|212,760 283 5 177.300 sino | | 85.104 --- Page 14 --- LOWER END NEAR DAM 0°t6 0°66 5°26 0°08 / LimHNadAVa SAMA NI GuOLveadnah HxxO GHATOSSICA ° YAHLULS AVI NO SNOTTVOOT UNV SHIadd INGWHIAId bY NAGLXO CHA TOSSIG ANY SHUAIVEAdWaL o°eL e WR NOTTIIN Usd SLUvd NI Na Bien 2 ren a2) ON 1o ° 9 - = - i . : [= bs Y ©o ° ON io ; a ° i ro) | ims oo lo ° co |a_ Ff mo: k o> Iw Ir aTqeL 3 oo 5 --- Page 15 --- Table No. 2 fo bees Striker Creek 1 fans Ditch Bowies Creek Johnsons Creek Stream triker Creek ast Tributary to Creek Worth Fork Striker Creek jouth Fork Striker sreek CQtanttenn Craaotk 14. yo: SALINITY AND pH OF SOME TRIBUTARY STREAMS OF LAKE STRIKER, APRIL 7, 1958 we Location (Distance is airline miles pH — Cl Remarks 6.3 miles ENE New Summerfield | mone 21.28 Normal for area *indicates the pi is less than what 574.45 is shown US 79 crossing, County Road, 6.5 miles NE New Summerfield 3.6 miles ESE Concord County Road a County Road, 5 mi. E. Concord 5.6 127.66 5.2 198.58 Oil sludge on bank SH 259, 0.7 miles S Carlisle FM 13, 1.6 miles ENE Carlisle 2.9 miles SW Carlisle 249 miles WNW Turner Town 7 0.8 miles off FM 16 on County Road, 1.5 miles County Road off FM 16, 1. siles NW Saiem ‘county Road, 1.8 miles E Salem --- Page 16 --- Table 5 : A CHECKLIST OF LAKE STRIKER SPECIES I. Family LEPISOSTEIDAE - Gars “ 1. lLepisosteus productus - spotted gar II. Family AMITDAR - Rowfins 2. Amia calva - bowfin III. Family CLUPEIDAE ~ Herrings a 3. Dorosoma cepedianum - gizzard shad IV. Family ESOCIDAE ~- Pickerals 4, Esox americanus - grass pickeral V. Family CATOSTOMIDAE - Suckers » Moxostoma poecilurum - blacktail redhorse » Minytrema melanops = syctted sucker - Erimyzon sucetta - lake chubsucker P) 6 7 VI. Family CYPRINIDAE - Shiners and minnows 8. Cyprinus carpio - carp 9. Notemigonus crysoleucas - golden shiner 10. Notropis fumeus - ribbon shiner ll. N. umbratilis = redfin sHner i2, N. brazosensis ~ Brazos River shiner 13. N. roseus = weed shiner we 1k. N. blennius - river shiner 15. N. Yenustus = spottail shiner 16, N. iutrensis,- redhorse shiner Lis Ne deliiciosts - sand shiner 18. N. atrocaudalis ~ blackspot shiner 19. N. volucelius = mimic shiner 20. Pimephales vigilax - parrot minnow VII. Family AMEIURIDAE - Freshwater catfishes 21. Ictalurus ‘punctatus - channel catfish é2. I. melas - black bullhesd 23. i. natalis - yellow bullhead 4 ~ VIIT. Family CYPRINODONTIDAE - Topminnows 24, Fundulus chrysotus - redspot topminnow 25. F. notatus - blackstripe topminnow --- Page 17 --- 16. Table 5 (CONTINUED) A CHECKLIST OF LAKE STRIKER SPECIES IX. Family POECILIIDAE - Mosquitofish 26. Gambusia affinis - gambusia X. Family ATHERINIDAE - Silversides 27. Labidesthes sicculus - brook silversides XI. Family CENTRARCHIDAE ~ Basses and sunfishes 28, Micropterus salmoides - largemouth bass 29. Chaenobryttus gulosus - warmouth 30. Lepomis cyanellus - green sunfish 31. L. punctatus - spotted sunfish 32. L. microlophus - redear sunfish 33. L. macrochirus - bluegill 34. auritus ~ yellowbelly sunfish 35. megalotis - longear sunfish 36. Pomoxis annularis - white crappie 37- P. nigromaculatus - black crappie _ IFIP] XII. Family PERCIDAE - Darters 38. Etheostoma gracilie - slough darter --- Page 18 --- 7 Table 6 : Tabulation of Monthty Netting Results on Lake Striker i [waren effete] | | | tel lb qlee > | PP Pt be 9 eg ee (ummm fe| | (>t?) iel@l=l=1 oi [rumen || || [> | |» |» |@ [eo [a [= fe be S[ommene | >> t@f=[>|] [otal [>l«ls be [same | | >) | |) > >. 1 let: bes hawasp [of=[=le pels) l= 12 |e be be 17 | L. megalotis Pot fl TT 3 4 | 0.20 [romeo | (>> 1 | || || | | [@J> [ex fend ee fe [oe [oe [oe Pm i Pe fe ss ed ed ed cof om[ | [os [oe | o [oe [ue [oe [oe | Premera [ow] aol an[aa maf Taal vl sol nerfs [s/s] --- Page 19 --- 18. Table 7 3 TABULATION OF SEINING RESULTS ON LAKE STRIKER bse certian | | [sl| aie) | [| | | | | s Cee Teer Er Se hele el ist ET be | le heeaae | dwhabal oP DO Pete Rewwue EL et Pe ese a Chew afalah | | >>) >? tte Gowen T lene a talelela| tel |e belie Fg Fa OP Beet ele | — aa | ne) od 3 . volucellus Ictalurus melas 18 coe a bh a scare a F. notatus 19 rambusia 2 in O 20 |Labidesthes sicculus 1 |Micropterus salmoides h 2 |Chaenobryttus gulosus Ny Pots | | ; ND - <q Y a at ine) = 3 |Lepomis cyanellus 24.|L. punctatus 25 |L. microlophus , » mMacrochirus bw b [ee) i fo Bf O ia ON ed _ _ [ [acer iste fap ras foeo foonal [es oso | | bse | os | vax Number of Species wh fik | 19 | 12 | 13 4 | 6 a ‘ ine) Aw —~ ims Ae] | oon B --- Page 20 --- Largemouth Bdss moutl Blupgil i y Spotted gun- is fig Yellowbelly St head ~ Blaék Bull Je Yellpw Bull- Table 8 Numpers Range Average Numbers Range Average Numper's Raupe Avueruge Numbers Range Average Numbers Range Average Numbers Range ~ Averare Numbers Range Average Jur aig 15-27 fen 10-34 22.4 bw oO 8-39 2726 20-64, 22-2 Eh caigg ~wO z {th 50-125 100.0 2 106-138 122.0 : 139-296 196.0 202.8 13-125 af 95-15U 121.4 25-59 110-125 117.5 118-297 177.1 99-24, 175.1 Oct Nuv oO 153-248 nN wud Sis 16-46 ae) oO e aw liu» 110 102-265 187.5 123-254 143.1 Dec, < = i) 208-320 250.0 5 0-297 pu | |e 195.1 90-236 160.8 PESTLE Hitt ; Standard Lengths in Millimeters of Some Species Showing Growth op Jan 130 126-315 156.4 F $ 149-262 178.6 ESE: 218.6 Mar 153-282 238.1 13U0-Lo4 132-31 LO 185.6 151-192 165.2 ang Apr 160-345 22900 92-130 LOB at 106 106 ae) o 430-208 176.0 150-292 178.3 May w Ww 158-400 260.9 nN jo) Y5-1h4 127.2 9 11-178 150.9 nN nN 124-132 a 127.1 ~m oO 135-275 170.9 nN jo) 140-320 e xn --- Page 21 --- -Ietalurus natalis 20. Table 9 H DATA ON CONDITION OF NETTED FISH FROM LAKE STRIKER Ictalurus melas 1 Micropterus salmoides Lepomis auritus Lepomis macrochirus punctatus Pomoxis annularis Fomoxia nigromaculatus ia 1he Chaenobryttus gulosus _ le 69.8 a 46.7 144-234 lt hn 7 105-308 Standard Weight Average Length Range| Average SL Range ~ | Weight* 110-315 wm | 155.8 mm erent sax [ins fn os fo yy ohh 127. 2 91 - 1h mq Range 1.73-3.92 © Average wre 2.69 © a te i] ON © Er ON O --- Page 22 --- Te Tacksenvi th = A RTI a \ i { t Tim ber Tm ber Rolling eee eS we Rolling wooded hills grassland Rusk County Ch t Open. Water —— cotnty 4 Weter . Station @ i . abe te OO THs — ee = ‘ Texas | i i ‘ i { | i ' | ' \ \ ( 1 4 ' | i i) \ | | . To Naw Salem Browns Marina ‘ e, Water Station Power and Light Company Lake Striker Scale /° + /000’ Shoreline shown at 305 ‘ elev. Normel elev. 1s 292! Fisune 1: Showing general outline of Lake Striker, and water sample statient --- Page 23 --- & RHE CSSSESASAs SaRaa oa aeewaes SURRSRERSS ROSES Faas SHeReeNee8 BANSReesesaeaRT sauavenseaasese SASS ISSSRRASHS SEUSS VHSSNSRNOReRESs LasaaeseeRsEee: ae! SUSERHSIRA FERES | 2SSSRaseausesse ce Se Se a ee ee are HEHE Buseuaue psssseeces tossserratsesrssrass resesteasss sss se eqn coasefasramasese ces sesescoea seseseest siisessessss ideeteedE sees Seasceussnsssstuansas inussnnas nesses cseasears cess tiessorserassetsarattesesenssesserseress rE peaagecneanes' ty ee 2: Rese ae VRE: Si pau sssssesesensssssenrseeseeress rr Zi = scccceaane - Sass ganas Oceeatsean ances Cenat cnteesresz ast ostesirenzsastacs tas ase? cnscaseeet ever reat setae mresesessssessseesevesssensest mm: eauaeeen 20S RGSS ORNs eeees Reeee eeeee Re eReeeess er. ME Hie 8S PURER ORNs am Lee Stee nt ea ene ne eee ene ee teeter eee AA ae gu ussaasossanzestaste fant osses eens sees tend antessdantentas ostassestansestesse test arte ast estaszeesoseer ataatant? s Bs tosadocrasaencarasssseneraresessesesesssascs Sassusesacsaessessessrseresseseezes=e Sassearsseess NH seuss soceseeeesseaaseeeesseecssertsssess Bsuueonscauuscenssessses sesssesrssseseetsses tearasessseneeriserssessserces Seseeaees Sufes jes sussenssnsen enttasentecantanten oa. agued ange est tard aneesasantastessastarectsztaztenta estestestastar zrecereest AQ iss #8600 teases eazaazeed soe eae aactenees sneer eoeeOoeeeeeeee severest atastneaz tats szzaqasssae?omeeeress aemetaee sa nr eco aes ee Sosa fazed ssesevazas zasssanes sutatasazataversanes vazazazes etasyestaatasevevateveveeees SS setuscenaratsessasessessoec Se eee ee eee SEesSEEeeaecezecstenssesstt ostecrestesstocsttanszens Savassentansssteset evedaseres ceasatares nsesaveessvatsecezesa esas? Heveiererssssss sesestertears eieeciesateesttnses gies esate mem seatiteseaitia: HEHEHE REE Se Ssbesessacessesasasey eisereseeses ssseeez? Ssesuesass sds seceeets retest Sessa tastsaseeteseesceasssee eect aettets sssssssers doses cesenstssseegioemesanar’ HTT SS A Sree ees aaseeeeertesaew Ausszszisee eee buEr ri. SoU seResabenseeneeteassserisszses cease csacsssesssaaeraazassucsersses asuennsseasasnees ratsarerstnasseress nsesanaesseretsevessetsstesassersesesssess7eP aeons peer PCE PH eH Pot Seccueaguecesse jam Seen sccsseuegasenee -dusesneeeesnaseenas rr acre a ee eg Bessasasedosessasaerevesteesstatescasstsssarereesseeereces Banustnazs astatsasetearapsene senseesete=ac= Sera, gazstranraresseesers qansessses a ai ve siinctiineuieeieee tes Seas tseetaeeteee tant ftat evasion oemeete s Srsetossssecesizteccsstsnccedingestesseassey tassstrrastartenatetonsaa tens aveaeenveaseiniss Epsaressss * Soe EEE samp ——— Sctosseunus sesessecesesescacees suenaseassvaseusscas Sustoattasdent testtenstfenittast steanaee, Sunasocesessnssnsaccesessnnessesesssassazes ressensersevsevesszs Sucssassazssnessessatee cesestseestesssssesssensas BSS 4UUSRESEED CRRENSERERSUARS SEES CRSSSORASSBEeeE! Sere cases sees sesassstesaeccansstccssssnsss sossssamesteocasrens sasstses SS SASS CPSSS SHPS8 OSASE CASRE CANSS SHSUS SHSCS SASSS CASASSRTES GESeesaaes See ecceaeneeases SAVER A CELA ERE RSS ERRR AS ewe SPP CLOT SSSSSSClES CECT eeSe0 seRes sees seseS See eecssscesauaescssne A comparison of game fish— rough fish catch of Gill nets by FIGURE 2: + numbers and percen --- Page 24 --- - Standard Lengths 77) 74 Ih meters = Hot 3 . - oS 3 oe ; = : . I syscesdzaaayenrevuccseeuaeers H = : maewess sunen(y) =, % & = aaeeees! 6 s é a € G Oo + 0 avg JO soOUOL Arquiada] AP GENO srgepo qua .5 . tape aS ® " : x = FE aN > a $ _" 3 --- Page 25 --- Standard Lengths in raulumeters i a as ; ee eceasaassazsceeete tssaseet eeesteeateseaazane eee? eseeesassametceattanssnseeteeeq eee eeeatazeciore(oeteseanipeaeeet sasusassnsas fasdasansessasdozsaz sates aves esas esas atastenss astendesessestenestasestartessssevevteveeraztessssaees toes! evareaae? eee i) agazs seuss antassassezntantaststesteses anes anes tazes azsasssnastast snsszastes asses ates svaz artaterss aes seeeseaen Sestarstes 9 fg Sidstas asec sansastassstantocsas tates tases tassstoses Cansssastastacsztest ozaet antes ousaz esas eases eves araztamss cesaeat ceseasaict ~ mssssesansasivecsereer Specs cescsvesssssrsseassrestassnas vans sastsssessersee eess esses sessssressssees sess sesesseers m aaassutesescassssazsssasd tart atesssserazusta anes ants avtssazss atessoses esas tevez ontetansntatessesss? seassecereasesesast Geese sess soeesegeed oeeeccoesssenccees aes asus sree oeaesemesdasasSoceroceesaseasaeeeeeeeesoenstaueeic ae a=s| WF s 2 Se SS eS a BeGiu esas eat cstesustar tans asst onsesttent fessecssesitocazocds Seen este wansaesscsateasssvarsnnateoces ge ususaassassansassees resessrearscersatest seeracsseseseseeess | i i | H i {y | 4 Me a snge Suscusceuessune snag Sanneunewasesscsecen Stee CORES CTT Se ee eesnae 8 SRE Eee OT Ae eS < (2200S SS PAS —— Sngesueses sessed suaceserscec=as:eesassewssecnrtesse Bezaz osangsavaresees snaraveret arersssesseasssiar=s CO eC ere Pee SuSaunueuusSunaucessccosansesss iY) Sena ene ene SUS RSSSERS SeEseeenenesess, C SSS . asia! Sp eeaecoae egeaeesiect aero successes secn=eceelstccecesnssseessenes sesanes = Suanstsasa sessassaad setraseaes sarseeens ssseereeee? = BERET cyt < Poe cane eee eee SER SS SESE Poh Re imme HE Seen eee pene n SUSEs FERRE SEEES SeESeaseRs Sle eres ane neato Seaeeeeer ean Sceeeet ee te a eens eee Peet fees suaasssaas corsa ssensteeesseses fesessseessesseecest az nnsasazeed opas ceed stastasent acerdusSutanses ated anand tonessesentets ants asevtetassocet Seer eee esn acne acer ere Sis TITER eerecerereett Sigestfinistssrasresseravsser=s SSeS eentshiss eet oe Se 3 | iis ees SbDoeesearsnanies SS ELSege eg eetceeteetepene geese feces teeters ere omeee eae SHEE - Maxltds ayo7 Ul salrads /vigasaaumoy fwopsoduyT Jo y4Mos9 | H i seg ara ee ea idggtaneeeeeitasceiegritt nassonee eeeeetetazeeeroea SEESaeee urease eeaeeea ane sae essa aaee egsssee aurea ate aae saasnes tataneeeeeee eee Saeeeeees aces --- Page 26 --- ae aa ys Nate roe Photo 1: Lake Striker Dam looking west. Service spillway and gates on this end, emergency spillway on other end. i / af rs fay Photo 2: East shore of Lake Striker from upper end of open water looking south toward the dam. --- Page 27 --- Nets were set in the eveningoece Photo 3 we eeeand picked up the following morning. Photo 4: --- Page 28 --- Photo 5: The game fish were weighed... of Photo 6: .e.eand measured. This is a five months bass. --- Page 29 --- 2@ * ae RETR Re iin the tenes acorn at ER, sis ca t5if Salt tstk ak ide deme Photo 7: Upper end of the open water looking north toward some of the inundated timber, —~ ORs i Rare Ret EN ne ith BRB Bic 1B ote cheat ate i, Stata gree soe mest coy nm stern ee gam me x & ' Bas % b i ; &é F Pa head 7 i Photo &: Typical 10 months bass from Lake Striker. These average about 12 inches total length, (All photos by author) at