TPWD 1958 F-4-R-5 #359: A Study of Crappie in Lake Whitney: Project F-4-R-5, Job E-4

--- Page 1 --- SEGMENT COMPLETION REPORT State of TEXAS Project No. F-4-R-5 Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 4-B. Job No. E-4¥ Title: A Study of Crappie in Lake Whitney Period Covered: November 1, 1957 through October 31, 1958 OBJECTIVES ; To determine the population of crappie in Lake Whitney and the reasons for the recent small harvest. Study the pattern and extent of travel of tagged or marked crappie and the ecological factors influencing their distribution. To develop satisfactory methods of sampling crappie fry and study the effects of a bacterial type of infection found on some of the crappie. ABSTRACT: The trapping and marking of crappie in Lake Whitney has been continued along the same general lines as during the 1956-57 segment with the trapping stations ex- panded to cover the entire lake. The Monel Metal jaw tags were used and returns of the tags taken by fishermen was encouraged through publicity. The same type of poultry wire trap was used and the card system of recording data was augmented by a permanent ledger on which the trap catches of species other than crappie was recorded along with the data on tagged crappie and their recapture. The most numerous species taken in the traps was bluegill sunfish which made up 59.3 percent of the total followed by crappie with 16.48 percent. The gill net catch was dominated by gizzard shad which provided 57.66 percent, with crappie com- prising only 4.41 percent. None of the five tagged crappie returned during this segment had been released during the previous segment. The returns represented 2.1 percent of the number tagged which is a smaller percentage than the 4 percent return of the previous segment PROCEDURE: The trapping and marking of crappie in Lake Whitney was continued along the same general lines as during the previous segment except that the trapping was extended to cover the entire lake. The same traps were used as well as the Monel Metal jaw tags. Latex marking was not attempted since the material was not obtained. Publicity was given to this work in an effort to obtain maximum information regarding tagged fish taken by fishermen. Card forms were distributed to the camps around the lake that when filled out, would provide data wanted on recaptured tagged fish. These cards were picked up at intervals and the data was recorded and filed. --- Page 2 --- Data from these cards enabled the biologist to determine the days of freedom and distance between points of tagging and recapture. The traps used were constructed of one-inch mesh poultry wire over a frame of six-gauge concrete reinforcement wire, having 6 by 6 inch mesh. These traps were 5 feet long and 27 inches in diameter. They were of both single and double throat construction but there appeared to be little difference in the effectiveness of the two. These traps were constructed with a door to facilitate the removal of the fish. Crappie taken in traps were tagged and returned to the water in the vicinity of the trap. The data were recorded and all recaptures were noted. Data on other fish taken in the traps were tabulated and filed. A 5" by 8" card was used to record data in the field but a ledger was kept in the office to which field data was transfered for permanent record. This ledger provided space for all data concerning the tagged crappie as well as the other species taken in traps. Gill net. collections were made in the vicinity of the traps to provide compara- tive information on the relative abundance of crappie in the area and to serve as a check on the efficiency of the trap as a means of taking this species. RESULTS: The trapping work of the previous segment was confined to the middle one-third of the lake with the exception of one trap station in Kings Creek, which was used for a short period. These trapping stations were increased in number during the present segment with stations added in both the upper and lower portions of the lake. (Figure 1). It will be noted that large areas of the lake have not been trapped and an effort will be made to include these areas in the next segment. In Table 1, the data concerning the number of each species taken in traps is given together with the percentage of the total trap catch represented by each species It will be noted that bluegill sunfish made up the bulk of the trap catch with 59.30 percent of thel978 fish taken. They were followed by white crappie with 16.48 percent and carp with 8.34. The remaining 15.88 percent was divided among 16 species with none making up as much as 3.00 percent. The traps were set in conjunction with gill nets in an effort to determine the effectiveness of the trap in the taking of crappie. The results of the gill netting shows that only 59 of the 1,339 fish taken were crappie for 4.41 percent. The gill net collections were dominated by gizzard shad with 772 specimens making up 57.66 percent of the total catch (Table 2). The comparison of the trap and gill net catches indicates that the traps are no less effective in the taking of crappie but nuch work is needed with regard to baits or other attractors in increasing the catch of crappie. Table 3 includes data concerning the recovery of tagged crappie from the previous segment but it will be noted that none of the tags returned during the 1957-58 segment were from the previous year. The longest period of freedom among --- Page 3 --- 3. the five tags recovered during present segment was 19 days and the shortest period was one day. Four of the recaptured fish were taken at the place of release while one moved from Lakeside Village to the mouth of Mesquite Creek a distance of one mile. This fish was recaptured after four days of freedom. The recaptured crappie from the previous segment were free from less than one day to 149 days between tagging and recapture, with the average period of free- dom being 19 days. The distance traveled by individual tagged crappie varied widely. Nine or 26.4 percent, failed to move at all while two crappie moved 9.75 miles down the lake. The average distance traveled was 1.02 miles from the point of re- lease. A total of 39 tagged crappie have been recaptured during the life of this job with 18 or 46 percent being recaptured in the traps. These fish showed a minimum of travel and were recaptured after an average of 7.2 days of freedom and 300 yards from the point of release. They ranged in days of freedom from none to 36 days and moved a maximum distance of one mile. Nine out of the eighteen failed to move at all. One crappie was recaptured in a trap one mile from the point of release on the day following the tagging. Of 850 crappie tagged during the 1956-57 segment, 34 or 4 percent, were recaptured while of the 237 tagged during the 1957-58 segment only 5, or 2.1 percent, were re- captured. This indicates that some changes in methods are needed in both trapping crappie for tagging and in their recapture. t Prepared by Leonard D. Lamb Approved by LiL Le ea Project Leader Director Inland Fisheries Division Date December 23, 1958 --- Page 4 --- Table 1. Number of each Species of Fish captured by wire traps, Lake Whitney, November 1957 through October 1958. ene ee ee i tN tN SS Species No. of Fish Trapped Pereent of Total Number Trapped White crappie 326 16.48 Black crappie 5. 0.25 Largemouth bass 25 1.26 White bass 42 2.13 Bluegill sunfish 1,173 59.30 Carp 165 8, 34 Channel catfish 35 1.77 Warmouth 58 2.93 Longnose gar 5 0.25 Spotted gar 3 0.16 Flathead catfish 12 0.60 Texas gray redhorse 1 0.05 Gizzard shad ho 2.13 Spotted bass 1 0.05 Longear sunfish 15 0.76 Carpsucker 29 1.46 Buffalo 8 ~ 0.41 Drum 32 1.62 Green sunfish 1 0.05 ener nearer aenethnevte tent ttt Lt eT Totals 1,978 100.00 --- Page 5 --- Table 2. Tabulation of data from gill net collections from Lake Whitney, November 1, 1957 -- October 31, 1958. i Species No. Caught Percent of Lbs. Caught Percent Avg. Wt. No. Fish Lbs.Fish Total No. Total Wt. Lbs. 100' Net 100'Net Spotted gar 8 59 21.30 2.61 2.66 0.15 0.39 'Lonenose gar 19 1.42 58.09 7.13 3.06 0.35 1.08 Gizzard shad 772 57.66 375.21 46.06 0.49 14.30 6.95 | Buffalo 67 5.00 42.50 5.22 0.63 1.2h 0.79 Carpsucker 39 2.91 38.80 4.76 0.99 0.72 0.72 ‘Carp 120 8.96 62.12 7.62 0.52 2.22 1.15 Channel catfish 121 9.04 104. 24 12.80 0.86 2.2h 1.93 White bass 51 3.81 33.07 4.06 0.65 0.94 0.61 Spot'+d bass 3 0.22 2.64 On 52 0.88 0.06 0.05 Largemouth bass 32 2.39 39.23 4,82 1.23 0.59 0.73 Redear sunfish 3 0.22 0.89 0.11 0.30 0.06 0.02 Bluegill sunfish 38 2.8) 8.92 1.09 0.23 0.70 0.17 White crappie 59 yYd 2h. .80 3.05 0.42 1.09 0.46 Drum 7 0.53 2. 8h 0.35 O.41 O.135 6.05 ee a A Totals 15339 100.00 814.65 100.00 ah.79 15.10 nn eae ean nnn IE NRISERRNNRARNIRERRERREEIREEEREER --- Page 6 --- 6. Table Tagged Crappie Captured in Lake Whitney, from N amber 1, 1956 through October 31, 1958 eee tN nn nn nt ee ese renee pee enna Tag No. Date Tagged Where Tagged Date Caught Where Caught Days of Freedom Description of Travel a L5 2-14-57 Cedar Cr.Dock 3-22-57 Mouth Jun. Cv. 37 300 yards 62 h- 3-57 Above TL Dock kh. 57 Above TL Dock 1 No. travel 63 h- 3-57 Above TL Dock 4-18-57 Bl. Hole Ce.Cr. 15 4 miles 73 hk. 4-57 Opp. Wanns Dock ye 5-57 Above Cher. Dk. 1 250 yards 80 4 5-57 Juniper Cove 6- 1-57 Mouth Big Rky. 58 9 3/4 mi. dn. lake 90 h- 5-57 Cher. Bt. Dock 4-22-57 Below Cher. Dk. 17 50 yards 93 4- 5-57 Cher. Bt. Dock 9- 1-57 Bee Bluff 149 43 miles dn. lake 97 4- 5-57 Cher. Bt. Dock 6- 1-57 Mouth Big Rky. 58 9 3/4 mi. dn. lake 98 4- 5-57 Cher. Bt. Dock 4 7-57 Below Ce. Cr. Dk. 2 3/4 mi. up lake 115 4-11-57 Waldocks Dock 4-11-57 Waldocks Dock ) No. travel 116 4-11-57 Waldocks Dock 4-11-57 Waldocks Dock ) No travel 128 411-57 Above TL Dock 4-12-57 Above TL Dock 1 No travel 130 411-57 Below Cher. Dock 4-23-57 Wanns Dock 12 300 yards 135 4-11-57 Below Cher. Dock 4-23-57 Juniper Cove 12 1 mi. up lake 161 412-57 Juniper Cove 5-12-57 Dp. Canyon Dk. 31 lt mi. dn. lake 163 4-12-57 Juniper Cove 4-22-57 Waldocks Dk. 10 50 yards 174 4-12-57 Cher. Ramp 4-15-57 Cher. Ramp 3 No travel 176 4-12-57 Cher. Ramp 4-24-57 Dp. Canyon Dk. 12 3 mi. dn. lake L177 412-57 Wanns Canyon 4-15-57 Wanns Canyon 3 No travel 181 h-15-57 Juniper Cove 4-16-57 Juniper Cove 1 No travel 185 415-57 Juniper Cove 4-22-57 Below Cher. Dk. 7 1 mi.dn. lake 203 h-17-57 Waldocks Ramp 4-24-57 Below Gays Dk. 7 200 yards 219 4-22-57 Waldocks Ramp 4-23-57 Below Cher. Dk. 1 1 mile 225 4-22-57 Waldocks Ramp 4-23-57 Waldocks Ramp 1 No travel 306 7-22-57 Waldocks Ramp 8- 7-57 Waldocks Dk. . 16 100 yards _ CO TFOHOHeeEeTNNOOOOoSEeee ee Abbreviations --Cher.-Cherokee Dk. -Dock Ce. -Cedar Cr, -Creek Dp.-Deep Bl.-Blue Dn. -Down Mi.-Mile Jun. -Juniper Cv.-Cove Rky.-Rocky . _ --- Page 7 --- Table 3. Continued Tagged Crappie Captured in Lake Whitney, from November 1, 1956 through October 31, 1958 Tag No. Date Tagged Where Tagged Date Caught Where Caught Days of Freedom Description of Travel 336 7-30-57 Cedar Cr.Dock 8- 7-57 Cedar Cr. Dock 9 No travel 341 7-30-57 Above Cher.Dock 8-17-57 Wanns Bt. Hse. 18 200 yards 372 8- 5-57 Wanns Boat Dock 8-22-57 Ce. Cr. Pier 17 3/4 mi. up lake 390 8~ 6-57 Bluff #8 Marker 9- 9-57 Ce. Cr. Pier 34 + mi. across chan. 391 8- 6-57 Bluff #8 Marker 8-13-57 Helm Cove 8 300 yards hho T= 1-57 TL Boat Dock 7-12-57 Juniper Cove 20 3/4 mile 450 T- 2-57 Waldocks Dock 8- 7-57 Waldocks Dock 36 50 yards 537 8- 7-57 Waldocks Dock 8-15-57 Bluff #8 Marker 8 3/4 mi. across chan. 600 8-19-57 Below Gays Dock 9-28-57 Ce. Cr.Dk. te) 500 yards 872 2-18-58 Nolan View Dock 3- 2-57 Nolan View Dk. 12 No travel 919 4-1 -58 Lakeside Village he 5-57 Mouth of Mosquite h 1 mile up lake 926 he-1 -58 Lakeside Village 4-20-57 Lakeside Village 19 No travel 941 4-15-58 Lakeside Village 4-26-57 Lakeside Village 11 No travel O47 4-16-58 Cedar Creek Lodge 417-57 Cedar Cr.Pier 1 No travel Abbreviations~-Cher. -Cherokee Dk.-Dock Ce.-Cedar Cr.-Creek Dp.-Deep B1.-Blue Dn.-Down Mi.-Mile Jun, -duniper Rky. -Rocky --- Page 9 --- Segment Completion Report State of Texas Project No. F-4-R-5 Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 4-B Job No. E-4 Title: A Study of Crappie in Lake Whitney Period Covered: November 1, 1957 through October 31, 1958 Attached is Figure 1 (Map of Lake Whitney Showing Trapping Stations) which was not attached to this report when it was distributed. Please attach this map to your report for this job. --- Page 11 --- uoftqaeqgs deaq soqoueg ----- x Tt + 7 TN of + ae *suotqyeys Sutddeaqy BSutmous Leuqgyzum ee T go dey] *T eamsty