TPWD 1958 F-4-R-5 #405: Inventory of Species Present in Lake Weatherford, Dingell-Johnson Project F-4-R-5, Job B-23

--- Page 1 --- UNITED STATES REGION 2 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ARIZONA FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE NEW MEXICO Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife TEXAS ‘ OKLAHOMA OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR KANSAS ADDRESS ONLY THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO J COLORADO FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE P. O. BOX 1306 " VV UTAH vm WYOMING FA-Texas . | March 10, 1959 Project F-4-R-5 be 7 aa yf [}& Ve . rt ail ey U y yt C 4 Mr. H. D. Dodgen, Executive Secretary X qr? Game and Fish Commission P J Walton State Building / yx Dd Austin, Texas 2 V wh i Dear Mr. Dodgen: In review of the completion report for Job B-23 of Project F-4-R-5, Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 4-B, it is noted that the poundage catch per 100 feet of gill net is shown as 4.01 (pp-2 and 6). Should not this figure be (52? While this would seem a minor point, the catch during the '57-'58 period will no doubt be compared to future gill net catches in determining fish population trends, and erroneous conclusions could result. : Sincerely yours, Carey H. Bennett, Chief Division of Technical Services scSEiVED MAR 16 iggy G. GF, Comm SV ke --- Page 2 --- 3 MOORS Sy eye O3%° 4U rt a a “ty " aos Gh TA ej a a “1 as VAP Bs ti aw GWA Hele en lL - » , € - CAXKAT go WW oa ee pe fo ume J RSA LOTS ~~ a = Ne Ay aa la ee A Si ie TaN ED foe 4 22 EQ JAKOHVAR SMT Vow oceans : = er Ss Z35)VH3 PUG GWA WAY HA? ooh: AO. 3 BSVHRSS FU G Pa ‘ bag wt tae pewea' ti Ly Oe gM we CBA domes kb, + 7 ae oe vytt - v4 mere oS BS OY i pene Sis & dais] € gOS Looe kh Reid Me i. . wes Ji VS \ - ax a! ‘ Ny as Sue Fi Lik Ue aod ¥. Gare gic cock. pe oat Foe © Sara ea eS 7 wey! ae FNS ot “ lek ke 1% sheer ro? eVogeW Oro Jal: @YSVaEse j fav + at ve 4 Hogsod r ty & ft, hae Sd u& & ‘ ~et 4 oy Bayes dbg aay cs : , ote ye 1 1 GB0ob.S oh! yates 7" WE We Sih. GIL OS 3 te S eS LO ws > oh . fuse eNO YAO: ~ gud Sation. 6, whew 7 Wa erso: HY Shep ODT ON OS ats : --- Page 3 --- Report of Fisheries Investigations Basic Survey and Inventory of Species Present in Lake Weatherford by L. D.. Lamb Project Leader Dingell-Johnson Project F-4-R-5, Job B-23 August 1, 1957 - October 31, 1958 H. D. Dodgen - Executive Secretary Texas Game and Fish Commission Austin, Texas Marion Toole Kenneth C. Jurgens & William H. Brown Coordinator Assistant Coordinators --- Page 5 --- JOB COMPLETION REPORT State of Texas Project No. F-4-R-5 Name: Fisheries potest ite ions and Surveys of the Waters of Region 4-B. Job No. B-23 Title; Inventory of Species Present in Lake Weatherford, ABSTRACT; Lake Weatherford is located on the Clear Fork of the Trinity River north of Highway 80 between Ft. Worth and Weatherford, Texas. It was constructed in 1957. This is a comparatively shallow lake and covers about 1800 acres. : Largemouth bass, channel catfish, white crappie and sunfish were stocked from State Fish Hatcheries but some rough species and large game fish came from ranch tanks and farm ponds on the watershed when heavy rains broke their dams. Gizzard shad and black bullhead provide 27.5 percent and 22.2 percent of the total respectively and appear to be likely to present a problem in the near future. OBJECTIVES : To determine the species present and their abundance as well as to determine the ecological factors influencing their distribution. METHODS ; The net collections from Lake Weatherford were started in August 1958. The City of Weatherford requested a check to determine the size of the fish stocked in May of that year. This data was included with the material collected during the work on the present job. Net collections were made at stations representing the different areas and habitats and were made at monthly intervals when weather permitted. Since the collections showed little variation, it was decided in June of 1958 to net on alternate months. The specimens were weighed, measured and examined for parasites and disease as well as checked for sexual maturity and food habits. The data were recorded and filed for use in writing reports and making management recommendations. Seine sampling was attempted but the brush had grown back on the reservoir floor before flooding so that the margins could not be seined efficiently. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Lake Weatherford is located on the Clear Fork of the Trinity River just north of Highway 80 between Ft. Worth and Weatherford. The dam was completed in early 1957 and filled in April of that year. Bass fry were planted soon after the lake was filled and channel catfish, crappie, and sunfish were introduced in September, Fish- ing was prohibited until March 15, 1958. --- Page 6 --- This lake is comparatively shallow with a rather flat bottom. It covers about 1800 surface acres and drains an area that is largely grassland. There is little protection from the prevailing winds and during much of the year high waves make fishing difficult. Little cover present, except for some rocky banks near the east end of the dam, and the water is likely to be very murky as soon as the grass cover is gone from the bottom. RESULTS : The check list of species is limited to those caught in gill nets since brush in shallow water prevented seining. A total of 549 specimens representing five families, seven genera, and eleven species were taken (Table 1). Six of these species were stocked from the Possum Kingdom State Fish Hatchery and the other five came from small lakes and farm ponds on the watershed. The rains that filled the lake broke dams of ranch tanks and farm ponds on the watershed. This accounts for the large rough fish taken in nets soon after the lake filled. The species stocked from state fish hatcheries were largemouth bass, white crappie, channel catfish, and the three species of sunfish. Some fish of these species also escaped from broken dams during the heavy rains but the majority were introduced by stocking. A comparison of the game and rough fish species taken in gill nets shows them to be of almost identical average weights (Table 2). That this is generally a young population may be seen in the average weights of .4 pounds for the rough fish and .38 pounds for the game species. Rough fish represented 59 percent of the total weight and 58 percent of the total number. These figures include the channel catfish among the game species since they are highly regarded by the local fishermen. Table 3 presents data concerning the success of the gill netting in terms of the catch per 100 feet of gill net used on an overnight set. A total of 2850 feet of gill net having 3 inch stretch mesh and 8 foot depth were set in Lake Weatherford in 29 overnight net-sets. These nets produced an average of 19.23 fish, per 100 feet of net, weighing 4.01 pounds. The length and weight ranges as shown in Table 4 reflect the presence of older fish from the broken dams in the few outsize specimens of each species. This is especially true in the case of the channel catfish and carp where specimens were taken that were unusually large for a lake of this age. Gizzard shad, largemough bass, and white crappie were taken each month and provided 27.5 percent, 12.7 percent, and 11.3 percent of the total number taken (Table 5). Black bullheads appeared in the catch each month except the last two but the unusually heavy catch of December 1957 raised this species to 22.2 per- cent of the total. Bluegill sunfish were taken in each month except February and July with 57 taken in May to total 13.3 percent of the catch. Table 6 presents the data concerning the weight and percentage of each --- Page 7 --- species taken. The gizzard shad provided 21 percent of the total weight but were exceeded by black bullheads with 25.8 percent. Largemouth bass made up a greater percentage of weight than they did of the total number as they provided 18.8 percent of the total weight. Prepared by Leonard D. Lamb Approved by Vd / Adon Orpgth- Project Leader Date February 3, 1959 --- Page 8 --- Table l. SCIENTIFIC NAME Dorosoma cepedianum Carpiodes carpio Cyprinus carpio Ictalurus punctatus Ictalurus melas Ictalurus natalis Micropterus salmoides Lepomis cyanellus Lepomis microlophus Lepomis macrochirus Pomoxis annularis 31, 1958. Checklist of Fish From Lake Weatherford August 15, 1957 - - October COMMON NAME gizzard shad river carpsucker carp channel catfish black bullhead yellow bullhead largemouth bass green sunfish redear sunfish bluegill sunfish white crappie --- Page 9 --- Table 2. A Comparison of Game Fisi* and Rough Species Caught in Gill Nets From Lake Weatherford, August 15, 1957 to October 31, 1958. a ennennnenneneneemeneemneneneenneeeeeneeeee Total number specimens caught 549 Total weight of specimens (pounds) 214.29 Average weight per. specimens (pounds) 239 Total weight of rough fish (pounds) 127.02 Total weight of game fish (pounds) 87.27 Total number of rough fish 320 Total number of game fish 229 Average weight per. rough fish (pounds) 40 Average weight per. game fish (pounds) 38 Percent rough fish (by weight) 59 Percent game fish (by weight) We Percent rough fish (by number) 58 Percent game fish (by number) 42 __ *Channel catfish included in the game fish. _— --- Page 10 --- 6. Table 3. Success of Gill Netting at Lake Weatherford, in Terms of Number and Founds of Fish Caught, August 15, 1957 to October 31, 1956. “Wo. of | No. Ft. No. fish No. lbs. Avg. No. Avg. No. Fish Avg. No.” Avg. No. MONTH net net Caught Fish per Per, 100! lbs. Fish Pounds Fish sets set Caught Per. net Net Per. net Per. 100! August 3 250! 46 14.00 15,33 18.4 4.66 4.00 September 3 300" 52 19.08 17 33 Hy ie: 6.36 6.36 October 3 300! 19 8,38 6.33 06.3 2.79 2.79 December 3 300" 104 48 49 34.66 34.6 16.16 16.16 February 3 300! 42 17.43 14.00 14.0 5.81 5.81 March 3 300! 52 21.25 17.33 17.3 7.08 7.08 April 3 300! 70 33.32 23.33 23.3 41,14. 11.11 May 3 300! 98 27.17 32.67 32.6 9.05 9.05 July 2 200! 32 12.58 16.00 16,0 6.29 6.29 | September 3 300! 3h. 12.59 11.33 11.3 4.19 4.19 TOTALS 29 2850! 549 214,29 18.93 19.23 7.39 4,01 --- Page 11 --- Te Table 4. Length, Weight and Coefficient of Condition of Fish Collected by Gill Nets From Lake Weatherford, August 15, 1957 to October 31, 1958. MM) Length (ems) weight (ems) Weight SPECIES No. Length — Average Range Average K. Range K. Average _Range D. cepedianum 151 140-255 204 54-304 152 1.30-5.00 1,84 Carpiodes carpio 2h. 200-275 217 200-340 262 1.90-3.10 2.57 Cyprinus carpio 16 200-310 229 235-907 479 2.62-3.00 4.10 I. punctatus 8 250~360 288 195-907 367 1.45-1.95 1.62 I. melas 122 100-265 211 20-567 253 1.05-2.80 2.69 I. natalis 7 210-245 222 24.5 ~300 260 2.05-2.70 2.39 M. salmoides 70 110-265 217 78-571 267 1.50-3.40 2.61 L. cyanellus 1 125 125 60 60 ate mine sce L. microlophus 15 145-160 155 140-170 1he 3.42-5.00 3.79 L. macrochirus 73 100-140 133 87-310 112 3.80-5.00 475 annularis 62 125-235 179 46~300 139 1.70-2.90 2.41 ‘J --- Page 12 --- 8. - Table 5. Species Distribution in Net Catches, by Number and Parcentage, in Lake Weatherford, August 15, 1957 to October 31, 1958. Species No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % D. cepedianum 10 «21.74 lL = 21.15 3 15.79 29 «27.88 17 ho. 31 59.62 Carpiodes carpio | A 3.85 6 14.29 2 3,85 Cyprinus carpio 10 21.74 1 1.92 4 21.05 1 1.92 I. punctatus 2 3.85 I. melas 12 26.09 16 30.77 4 21.05 56 = 53.85 6 14.29 9 17.30 I. natalis lL @17 1 1.92 1 0.96 M. salmoides 1021.74 8 15.39 3 15.79 11 10.58 49.52 ho 7.69 L. cyanellus Ll 2.17 L. microlophus 7 13.46 L. macrochirus 1 2.17 1 1.92 4 21.05 1 0.96 2 3.85 P. annularis 1 28.17 5 9.62 L . 5687 2 1.92 9 21.43 3 5677 Total 46 99.99 52 100.00 19 100.00 104 100.00 42 100.00 52 100.00 --- Page 13 --- 9. Table 5, (Continued) Species Distribution in Nat Catches, by Number and Percentage, in Lake Weatherford, August 15, 1957 to October 31, 1958. Month April May July September Total Species No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % D. cepedianum 17 24.29 12 12.25 19 59.38 2 5.88 151 27.5 Carpiodes carpio 6 8.57 4 4,08 2 6.25 | ah uy Cyprinus carpio 16 2.9 I. punctatus 1 1.02 1 3.12 4 «11.77 8 1.5 I. melas 12 «17.14 7 7.14 122 22.2 I. natalis 4 11.77 7 153 M. salmoides 23 32.86 3 3.06 1 3.12 3 8.82 70 12.7 L. cyanellus 1 0.2 L. microlophus 8 8.16 15 2.7 L. macrochirus 5 7.14 57 58.16 2 5.88 73 4013.3 P. annularis 7 10.00 6 6.12 9 28.13 19 55.88 62 11.3 Total 70 100.00 98 99.99 32 100.00 34 100.00 549 100.00 --- Page 14 --- LO. Table o, Species Distribution, in Net Catch, by Weight anu Parcentage, Lake Weatherford, August 15, 1957 t. October 31, 1958. Month August September October December February March April Species Wt. % Wt. % Wt. % Wt. % Wt. % Wt. % % D. cepedianum 1.10 7-86 3.40 17.82 2.30 27.45 7.30 15.05 5.28 30.30 9.53 44,85 5.56 16.91 Carpiodes carpio 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.60 3.71 4.31 24.73 1.25 5.88 3.00 9.00 Cyprinus carpio 5.19 37.07 2.00 10.48 0.51 6.09 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.75 §8.2h 0.00 0.00 I. punctatus 0.00 0.00 3.00 15.72 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0,00 0.00 0.00 I. melas 4.48 32.00 0.90 4.72 2.20 26.25 30.40 62.80 3.03 17.38 4.94 = 23.25 7.25 21.76 I. natalis 0.50 3.57 0.66 3.46 0.00 0.00 0.64 1.30 0.00: 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 M. salmoides 1.91 13.64 4.70 24.63 2.00 23.87 7.80 16.05 2.31 13.25 2.50 11.76 13.91 41.74 L. cyanellus 0.27 1.93 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 L. wicrolophus 0.00 0.00 2.40 12.58 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 L. macrochirus 0.28 2.00 0.27 1.42 1.10 13.12 0.22 0.43 #20.00 0.00 0.48 2.26 1.00 3.00 P. annularis 0.27 1.93 1.75 9.17 0.27 3.22 0.33 0.66 2.50 14.34 0.80 3.76 2.60 7.80 I Totals 14.00 100 19.08 100 8.38 100 48.49 100 17.43 100 21.25 100 33.32 100 --- Page 15 --- il. Table 6. (Continued) Species Distribution, in Net Catch, by Weight and Percentage, Lake Weatherford, . August 15, 1957 to October 31, 1958. Month May July September Totals eee Species Wt. % Wt. % Wt. % Wt. % D. cepedianum 2.75 10.12 7.00 55.64 ae 5.64 Wh 93 21.0 Carpiodes carpio 1.50 5.52 1.50 11.92 0.00 0.00 13.36 6.2 Cyprinus carpio 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 9.45 od I. punctatus 0.57 2.10 0.72 5.57 1.65 13.11 5.92 2.7 I. melas 2.08 7.65 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 55.28 25.8 I. natalis 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.20 17.48 4.00 1.9 M. salmoides 2.56 9.42 0.63 5.01 1.90 15.09 4O,22 18.8 L. cyanellus 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.27 O.1 L. microlophus 2.47 9.10 0.00 0.00 0,00 0.00 4.87 2.3 ‘f£. macrochirus 13.18 48.51 0.00 0.00 O.41 3.25 16.94 7.9 P. annularis 2.06 7.58 2.75 21.86 5.72 = 4543 19.05 8.9 Totals 27.17 100 12.58 100 12.59 100 214,29 100