TPWD 1959 F-3-R-6 #442: Segment Completion Report: Basic Survey and Inventory of Fish Species in Striker Creek Reservoir, Project No. F-3-R-6

--- Page 1 --- Segment Completion Report Investigations Project State of | TEXAS Froject No. P=3-R-6 : Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 5-B. Job No. B-12 Titles Basic Survey and Inventory of Fish =BSit ourvey and inventory of Fish Species in Striker Creek Reservoir. Period Covered: June 1, 1958 through May 31, 1959 Abstract: This report covers the second year of Lake Striker's existence. During the second year the water quality improved somewhat and was less variable than the first year. The ratio of game fish and rough fish remained virtually the same although some populations of individual species changed considerably. The general physical condition of the fish has dropped off with the exception of largemouth bass and black crappie. Aquatic vegeta- tion has become very abundant in the upper end of the lake as well as in parts of the open water. Recommendations are made to continue this study on a quarterly basis for another year. Objectives: To determine the effects of the poor water quality which exists in the lake on the fish species present. To continue a study of growth rates of game species and certain rough species, to record continued chemical changes in the water. Procedure: This period covers the second year of Lake Striker's existence, Data was collected at bimonthly intervals, generally close to or on the l0th of each month, during this job. Water samples and temperatures were taken in the after- noons at about the same time of day each month. There were six net sets made each collection month at randomly selected locations. Seining collections were also made at randomly selected locations. 1. Limnological Data Limnological data was taken in the same manner as last year. Water samples were taken with a Foerst water sampler at five foot intervals from surface to bottom and at three locations:on the lake. The locations were near the dam, midway between TP&L power- house and Brown's Marina and toward the upper end of the open water. Temperatures were taken at the same locations as the water samples. A reversing thermometer was used to obtain this data. --- Page 2 --- Other limnological conditions recorded were turbidity (Secchi disk), color of water, sky, wind, time and air temperature. 2. Netting Collections Netting collections were made in the same manner as last year. Eight experimental type gill nets with mesh size ranging from 1 to 3 inches were set in six randomly select- ed locations. The nets were left out overnight. A total of 36 sets made up of 48 nets were made. A count was made of all rough fish as they were removed from the nets. They were then destroyed and returned to the lake. All game fish were saved and were then measured (both standard and total lengths) and weighed. Coefficients of condition ("K" factors) were determined from this data. The average lengths, weights and condition factors were calculated for each species each month. Spot checks were made on stomach contents and sexual development. 3. Seining Collections Seining collections were also made in the same manner as last year. Seining collec- tions were made with a 26' by 6' by +" mesh bag seine. Seining locations in some areas were much easier to find than last year because lakeshore lot owners have kept the shoreline clean. Other areas are grown up in dense vegetation making seining impossible. A total of 46 seine hauls representing six collections were made. All specimens were preserved in 10% formalin solution and brought back to the laboratory for identificatior Findings: 1. Limnological Findings One of the primary objectives of this job was to record chemical changes in the waters. It was determined last year that chemically and physically the waters of Lake Striker varied greatly from month to month, area to area and even at different depths within an area. During the second year the waters stablized and the variance was little from time to time. It very seldom changed through the depths. A ll to 12-inch rain on the watershed during early May 1959, sent a ten foot wall of water through the lake which tended to change the chemical and physical characteristics of the water. Except for the flood, the lake level remained constant through the year. a. Methyl Orange Alkalinity and pH Table 1 gives the alkalinity and pH for each depth and location on the lake by months. As can be seen there was little variation through the depths and locations for each month. The range of pH this year was 6.0-7.0 and averaged 6.5 which indicated a favorable stabilization and slight improvement. The range last year was 5.0-7.1 and averaged 6.3 which was a wider range and lower average. The pH seems to drop off in the spring months. Methyl orange alkalinity over the year varied about on the same lines as pH. There was less range than last year and the average was slightly lower. The range this year was from 7 to 42 ppm and averaged 19 ppm. Last year the range was from 3 to 60 ppm and averaged 21 ppm. The alkalinity also dropped off during the spring months . --- Page 3 --- b. Chlorides The chlorides improved over last year in that they dropped considerably, but it is still high compared to other waters in East Texas. The chloride content gradually increased each month until the flood then it dropped sharply. The range this year was from 49.64 to 226.94 ppm and averaged 166.93 ppm. Last year the range was from 85.10 to 425.52 ppm and averaged 192.51 ppm. The readings each time were fairly stable and the same at all depths in January, March and May. Table 2 gives the chlorides for each depth and location for each month. ce. Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen Table 3 shows the temperatures and dissolved oxygen at the five foot intervals from surface to bottom and at the three locations on the lake for each month. Also, the air temperatures are given. The temperatures followed the usual pattern of being cooler as the depth increased. The widest differences in surface and bottom temperatures was in July and May. The other months the temperatures were fairly uniform. The range was 46.0-88.5°F. The only pattern dissolved oxygen followed was that it usually was less as the depth increased, The only time it was low was during the month of July and at the bottom levels on other occasions. The range was from 1.0 to 12.6 ppm which is pretty close to last year's range (0.8-12.6 ppm). Air temperatures at the time of taking water samples ranged from 63-91°F. No severe weather was encountered as it was last year. d. Turbidity As time went on from the spring rains of 1958, the lake became less turbid until the flood of May 1959. In July 1959, the turbidity was 36 to 39 inches Secchi and de- creased every month until it became 84 inches Secchi in March 1959. Then it abruptly came back up to the all time high of 8 inches Secchi after the May flood. Generally speaking the waters of Lake Striker have become more or less stablized the second year with less range in the extremes of the water analysis. The quality has improved a little but still is classed as being poor for biological productivity. 2. Fish Findings Both netting and seining collections yielded 36 species of fish representing 12 families. This includes 4 species not found last year but excludes 6 species collected last year but not this year. Combining the list and assuming that all species are still present there are 42 species of fish that have been found in Lake Striker, It is doubtful that these six species are now present. Table 4 lists each species phylogenetically for both years. The names are from Hubb's A CHECKLIST OF TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHES, dated December 1958. a. Netting Results Table 5 gives the tabulation of the bimonthly netting on Lake Striker. This table lists the number of fish of each species caught by nets each collection month, the total for the year, percent of each species both for this year and last year and the change in percentage from last year. Also the game fish and rough fish are totaled and percentage --- Page 4 --- of each is given and compared to last year. There were 23 species collected by gill nets, 12 rough species and 11 game species, which includes eight species collected every trip. The rough fish catch predominated the game fish catch every month. The average percentage of rough fish and game fish was roughly 74% and 26% respectively, which is what it was last year. Again, as last year, it was found that the rough fish were more active in the winter months as concluded by the high percentage of those caught then. A total of 1,534 fish were caught by gill nets over the year (1,918 last year for eleven months). This includes 1,130 rough fish (1,426 last year) and 404 game fish (492 last year). Gizzard shad again had the highest numbers with 532 (574 last year) being caught. Spotted suckers were next with 227 (91 last year) followed by bluegills with 154, yellow bullheads with 116, black bullheads with 102 and largemouth bass in sixth place with 93 being caught. The number of species caught each month ranged from 12 to 17 and averaged about 14. Concerning the fish populations in the lake, there were two major changes but they tend to offset each other. The black bullhead population fell about 10% but the spotted sucker population rose about 10%. Other appreciable changes were gizzard shad up nearly 5% and bluegills up 3%. Both crappies were up but the bass went down. Overall there was little change since the total game fish population came up 0.69% and the rough fish population fell 0.69%. These figures are taken from the actual fish netted and the figures for the individual species probably aren't as accurate as they are for the total of all species combined. b. Seining Results Table 6 gives the numbers of fish collected by the bag seine each month. Seining yielded 23 species (28 last year} and a total of 3,099 specimens. Again the most abundant species collected was the brook silversides. The spottail shiner and the red shiner are very abundant also. These three species and the bluegill were the only ones collected every time. There were comparatively few game fish collected by seining, with cyprinids (minnows) making up about 56% of the fish numbers collected by seining. This is a good indication of the food, not including shad, available for bass and other predator species. The number of species collected each month ranged from 7 to 18 and averaged about 13. ec. Growth Rates An attempt was made to record growth of some game species. Only two species (large- mouth bass and channel catfish) made definite gains each time. There were so many spawns or age groups involved in the other species that no trend could be seen. Table 7 shows the growths of these species as indicated by standard lengths. dad, Condition of Fish Generally speaking, the physical condition of the largemouth bass and black crappie improved over last year but other game fishes (warmouth, bluegill, spotted sunfish, yellowbelly and white crappie) fell off greatly (Table 8). Though the average weights were up on some species their condition factor (length-weight relationship) was down. This is a direct result of the poor water quality and increase in numbers. The black crappie is more adaptable to clear acid waters than the white crappie and is thus making gains. Last year, when the lake was impounded, there was a large fauna of invertebrates which has decreased sharply as the lake has developed. --- Page 5 --- e. Food Habits As before, no intensive study was made of the food habits of the fish in Lake Striker. Spot checks were made on some of the game fish to get an idea of the main diets of these fish. The majority of the stomachs checked were empty. The bass fed on crawfish and fish, consisting mainly of shad and sunfish, and also including spotted sucker, chub sucker and unidentified fish remains. Some bass had as many as five shad in their stomachs. Warmouths ate crayfish and unidentified fish. Crappie ate shad, unidentified fish, and insects. Channel catfish showed signs of feeding on the bottom since they quite often had mud and gravel in their stomachs, along with vegetation, crustaceans, shad and unidentified fish. £. Sexual Development and Spawning Activity Some of the bass checked in July were spent and bass with immature eggs began showing up in September. By March they were very ripe and in May they were flowing and some were spent. The channel catfish checked in May were gravid and were nearing a spawn. The sunfish were gravid at most any time of the year. Several of the suckers were flowing in March. The flood of early May might have interrupted or delayed some spawning activity. g- Annotated Checklist of Fish Species. 1. Lepisosteus productus ~- spotted gar - this is the only fish population that didn't change percentagewise from last year, according to netted numbers. This fish is probably beneficial to the lake in its present numbers. 2. Amia calva - bowfin - this fish doubled in numbers caught from last year but overall it increased only 0.25% of the total population. 3. Dorosoma cepedianum - gizzard shad - this is the most commonly collected fish in the lake and increased over last year. 4, Esox americanus - grass pickeral - only one of this species was collected. 5. Carpiodes carpio - river carpsucker = only one of this species was collected which is new for the lake. 6. Moxostoma poecilurum - blacktail redhorse - this species is not too common. 7. Minytrema melanops ~ spotted sucker - this is the second most commonly collected species and its numbers increased 10% over last year. 8. Erimyzon sucetta - chubsucker - this is one of the more common species in the lake even though their numbers decreased from last year. 9. Cyprinus carpio - carp - only four specimens were collected this year and they again were of a large size. 10. Notemigonus crysoleucas = golden shiner - collected in large numbers by seining and once by netting. They appeared mostly during the winter months. ll. Notropis fumeus - ribbon shiner ~- this shiner is very common, though collected on only four occasions. --- Page 6 --- 12. Notropis umbratilis - redfin shiner - a total of three were found twice. 13. Notropis brazosensis ~ Brazos River shiner - not collected this year. Probably is gone from the lake. ie. Notropis roseus - weed shiner - not collected this year. Probably is gone from the lake. 15- Notropis blennius - river shiner - not collected this year. Probably is gone from the lake. 16, Notropis venustus - spottail shiner - the fourth most commonly collected species. It appeared every month and in good numbers. 17. Notropis lutrensis - redhorse shiner - this is the third most commonly collected species in the lake. It also appeared every month and in good numbers. 18. Notropis stramineus - sand shiner ~ very common, was collected every month except one. 19. Notropis atrocaudalis - blackspot shiner - not collected this year. Possibly is gone from the lake. 20. Notropis volucellus - mimic shiner - not collected this year. Possibly is gone from the lake. 21. Pimephales vigilax - parrot minnow = collected every month except one and in good numbers. 22. Hybognathus nuchalis - silvery minnow ~ only one was collected which is a new species for the lake, 23. Ictalurus punctatus ~ channel catfish - the channel cat began showing up in pretty good numbers which is encouraging. 24, Ictalurus melas - black bullhead - even though this fish was collected every month, and in large numbers, it still declined 10% from'last year. 25. Ictalurus natalis - yellow bullhead ~ this fish also was collected every time, and in large numbers, but declined only 1.56% from last year. Was not collected by seining. 26. Fundulus chrysotus ~ redspot topminnow - not collected this year. May be present in the upper end. 27. Fundulus notatus - blackstripe topminnow - fairly common. 28. Gambusia affinis - common mosquitofish = quite numerous in the summer. 29. Labidesthes sicculus - brook silversides - the most commonly collected fish species by seining. They were very abundant during the winter. --- Page 7 --- 30. Micropterus salmoides - largemouth bass - though this species fell slightly from last year it is still quite abundant and many nice ones are caught by fishermen. 31. Micropterus punctulatus - spotted bass - this is a new species to the list. They are not too common. 32. Chaenobryttus gulosus - warmouth - both numbers and condition of this species dropped considerably from last year. 33. Lepomis cyanellus - green sunfish - only two small specimens were collected by seining. 34, Lepomis punctatus - spotted sunfish ~ second only to bluegill in the sunfish group in numbers, by seining. Only nine collected by netting. 35. Lepomis microlophus - redear - there were three taken by netting, which is new to the netting list, and only two by seining. 36. Lepomis macrochirus - bluegill - the third most common fish by netting and also high on the seining list. Their condition is down from last year. 37. Lepomis auritus - yellowbelly - rarely caught by nets. 38. Lepomis megalotis - longear ~- frequently collected by netting and rarely by seining. 39. Pomoxis annularis - white crappie - their numbers are up slightly but their condition is down greatly. hO. Pomoxis nigromaculatus - black crappie - both numbers and condition are up. They are becoming fairly common. 41. Ammocrypta vivax - Arkansas sand darter - a new species to the list, four were collected. 42, Etheostoma gracile - slough darter - only two were collected by seining. 3. Vegetation Aquatic vegetation has become quite a problem during the latter months of this segment. The clear waters are very conducive for vegetation growths. Also the fallen timber and submerged underbrush in the upper end makes access for control almost im- possible. The principal aquatic vegetation encountered were as follows: Parrot feather Myriophyllum brasiliense Very abundant Coontail Ceratophyllum sp. Very abundant Sawgrass Zizaniopsis miliacea ¢ Very abundant Cattail Typha sp. Common --- Page 8 --- The May flood swept out a lot of the vegetation (Figure 3) but was hardly noticeable. It is highly desirable to keep boat roads open and the open water clear of vegetation if at all possible. Conclusions and Recommendations: During Lake Striker's second year of existence the growth of game fish has slowed down. The game fish-rough fish ratios have remained virtually unchanged but the numbers are up. However, the condition of the fish has dropped off due to the poor water quality and increased numbers. Sports fishing as a whole has remained good. Aquatic vegetation has become a problem in the upper end. Considering the above conclusions it is therefore recommended that: 1. Sport fishing pressure be kept high. 2. Efforts should be made to keep all boat roads and channels as well as the open water areas clear of vegetation. 3. Studies of the fish populations should be continued but only on a quarterly basis. 4. Continued studies should be conducted on the water to see if time will improve the quality. Peeve. L00be Prepared by John N. Dorchester Approved by —4 - Assistant Project Leader Director Inland Fisheries Division Date August 24, 1959 --- Page 9 --- ocoada at N Wt W900 8 2°9 add tg azeak qyseT AQTUTTeYyTe eBeroay g 29 mdd 6T 180k STyq AqTUTTeyTe eBereay 8 29 mdd o9-€ 1eak qSBT aBuer AQTUTTeYTY g 2°9 wdd gy-), reat STYyY eSuer AYTUTTeYyTY 8 nO ° Q week 4seT Ad aBeroay g aeef sty, Wd aBeroay 0°S aeek 4yseT aBuear yd OmMaonoad NNNOO 90 10 10 € G° TL O°L- sytemeay ATy Hd Tt AoW 6S6T 8 39 g@ S°9 g@ 4°9 @ S°9 8 39 8 4°9 8 hg g@ S°9 OT 2°9 Lh 39 OT 4°9 OT S°9 OT S°9 OT S°9 XIV Hd OT yorey 6S6T we L°9 92 L°9 92 L°9 92 L°9 92 L°9 92 L°9 92 L°9 92 Lg gz L°9 gz Lg o€ Lg o€ L°9 o€ L°g o€ L°9 XIv Hd ZT Azenuepr 6S6T GT tT lz 9 gt 9° tT 9 gt 9°9 et 9°9 gt L°9 gt g°9 oz L°9 Hl 29 gt 9°9 6t 9°9 gt L°9 gt 9°9 XIV Hd QS6T *UOTTTTMm ted sqaed ut pessoidxg » Geo ot ge ok Be Q° o€ O SZ 9°9 0€ 9°9 TE 9°9 62 L°g ce Leg g9€ S°9 €€ 9°9 ge 9°9 €€ Lg €€ Lg %Tv Hd OT teqmeaoy OT araqmeqdag QS6T te Te 0g ~-ao mM \O 0 \O on 9 SZ 49 GZ 9°9 €2 9°9 Tz L°9 eh 9°9 zz £°9 te oo €Z 9°9 Le 9°9 #iTV Hd ot Atne gS6T 02 ST OT 02 ST OT yadeq a7eq *TOAETGS SYST UO suoTyeoo] pue syqdeg quetezstq ye Hd pue AyTUTTeXTY eBuer9 TAWIOW “TT eTaeE z34emM uado jo pua saddq axeT PTW wep .geu pus 1aMo7 --- Page 10 --- TS°26T aeek 4seT e8ertoay €6°99T aqeak styy aeseroay 25° S2H-OT ° SQ aeok yselT oBuey 6° 9%2-119° 6H zeek stug esuey syreuey 19° 64 49° 6H 19° 6% 19° 6H 79° 6 49° 6H 19°64 49° 6 49° 6H 49° 6H 19° 6H 49° 6H 49° 6 mdd 19°6t fey °LayTILS eyey uo suotyesoT pue sygqdeq yuetzezsyiq 1e septuoTug 16 °922 46° 922 46° 922 46° 922 46° 922 16°92 46 °9¢2 46° 922 6°92 ET° THe 16° 92e2 6° 922 46° 9% mdd 46°9¢2 qorey 6S6T add 9L° 212 9L°2T2 QL? 212 9L°2Tz2 94° 2TZ 9L°2T2 9L°2t2 9L°2etz 91°21 91°22 91° 2T2 9l°et2 9L°2et2 gL°et2 Azenuep “OT *& T2°OLT T2°OLT Te" OLT ZT €9T of °LLT of °LLT eT eot of °° LLT T2°oLt Te°OLT 6£° HQT O€° LLT 6E° HQT udd Tg°oLt TSQUSAON gy’ T6T Qu T6T Qu’ T6T ZO0°9ST 19° S0z Qt T6T Qt’? T6T Qh° T6T Qt ° T6T 9S °96T 9S °Q6T 6E° HQT of LLT mdd et°€oT azequeydeg QS6T add “ef STABL 29°9ST 2Q°9ST 2Q°9ST 02°26 29° 9ST 29°9ST 29°9ST ZQ°9ST 28°9ST 29°9ST 29°9ST €6° gut HQ ° THT Aqne 0g ST OT yadeq SABTPIW za zen uedo wep oy} e.8u pus IaKoyT yo pue reddy --- Page 11 --- amyetedmey, Ity od, €9 Te T6 T6 06 Upper end of open water 0 Co Ww NnMw 1 ON OD OOO FY ON OO MDM AO WT DAV OOono Midlake 0g ST OT S 6) 6°LL q°eg G°€g 2° tt 2°98 Prawn www ON —~ © © © oO COnMmw ond FOrOO En NF OD - AAADAGA FREDO FFOUO Lower end near the duay, uydaq od tne dmay, Od taqneydag duay, Taqueaoy od dmoy, Arenuepe od dmay, Od duwaz, Gorey Od °€ aTaqer “TaATIIS SYST UO suoTyeo0y pue syydeg quezesstq 4e UuaeBkxQ paaTOSsTq pue seamyecsodusy, “TT --- Page 12 --- 12. Table 4. A Checklist of Lake Striker Fish Species. 1958 1259 I. Family LEPISOSTEIDAE - Gars 1. Lepisosteus productus - spotted gar x x il. Family AMIIDAE - Bowfins 2. Amia calva - bowfin x x IIT. Family CLUPEIDAE - Herrings 3. Dorosoma cepedianum - gizzard shad x x Iv. Family ESOCIDAE - Pickerals 4, Esox americanus - grass pickeral x x et ie V. Family CATOSTOMIDAE - Suckers 5. Carpiodes carpio - river carpsucker x 6. Moxostoma poecilurum - blacktail redhorse x x To Minytrema melanops - spotted sucker x x 8. Erimyzon sucetta - lake chubsucker x x VI. Family CYPRINIDAE - Shiners and minnows 9. Cyprinus carpio - carp x x 10. Notemigonus crysoleucas - golden shiner x x ll. poops eee fumeus - ribbon shiner x x le. N. umbratilis - redfin shiner x x 13. N. brazosensis - Brazos River shiner x 14. N. roseus - weed shiner x 15. WN. blennius - river shiner x 16. N. venustus - spottail shiner x x 17. N. lutrensis - redhorse shiner x x 18. N. stramineus - sand shiner x x 19. WN. atrocaudalis - blackspot shiner x 20. N. volucellus - mimic shiner x 21. Pimephales vigilax - parrot minnow x x 22. Hybognathus nuchalis - silvery minnow x --- Page 13 --- VIII. XI. XII. Table 4, 13.0 Family AMEIURIDAE - Freshwater catfishes 23. Ictalurus punctatus = channel catfish 24, I. melas ~ black bullhead 25. I. natalis - yellow bullhead _— Family CYPRINODONTIDAE = Topminnows 26. Fundulus chrysotus - redspot topminnow 27. F. notatus = blackstripe topminnow Family POECILIIDAE - Mosquitofish 28. Gambusia affinis - common mosquitofish Family ATHERINIDAE - Silversides 29. Labidesthes sicculus - brook silversides Family CENTRARCHIDAE - Basses and sunfishes 30. Micropterus salmoides - largemouth bass 31. M. punctulatus - spotted bass 32. Chaenobryttus gulosus - warmouth 33. Lepomis cyanellus - green sunfish 34. L. punctatus ~ spotted sunfish 35% L. microlophus - redear sunfish 36. L. macrochirus - bluegill 37. L. auritus - yellowbelly sunfish 38. L. megalotis - longear sunfish 39. Pomoxis annularis - white crappie 4hO. P. nigromaculatus - black crappie Family PERCIDAE - Darters i. Ammocrypta vivax - Arkansas sand darter 42, Etheostoma gracile - slough darter (Continued) A Checklist of Lake Striker Fish Species 1958 ta ba i. i 1959 a MMM MM MM OM Ow Oe OM --- Page 14 --- 1h. Table 5. Tabulation of Bimonthly Netting on Lake Striker. r onge last om No. Species Jul Sept Nov Jan Mar May Total % year last yer 1. Lepisosteus productus 6 8 2 1 aT 4h 2.87 2.87 0.0 2. Amia calva 1 5 6 0.39 0.16 # 0.25 3. Dorosoma cepedianum 69 131 12h 51 97 60 532 34.68 29.93 44.75. 4, Esox americanus cd 1 0.07 0.16 - 0.09. 5. Carpiodes carpio 1 1 0.07 0.0 ?# 0.07 6. Moxostoma poecilurum 2 7 9 0.59 0.31 #7 0.29 7. Minytrema melanops 6 7 15 85 83 31 227 14.79 4.74 410.05 8, Erimyzon sucetta 4 3 20 13 36 11 87 5.67 7.82 =- 2.15 9. Cyprinus carpio 1 2 1 4 0.26 2.87 - 2.61 10. Notemigonus crysoleucas 1 1 0.07 0.0 # 0.07 11. Ictalurus punctatus 4 11 7 2 9 33 2.15 0.26 # 1.89. 12. I. melas 9 17 38 9 8 21 102 6.65 16.89 -10.24 13. I. natalis 34 27 20 6 12 17 116 7.56 9.12 - 1.56 14. Micropterus salmoides 5 22 15 22 13 16 93 6.06 7.77 - 1.71 15. M. punctulatus 6 1 1 8 0.52 0.0 # 0.52 16. Chaenobryttus gulosus 6 5 1 2 9 23 1.50 3.02 - 1.52 17. Lepomis punctatus 9 9 0.59 eo.(l - 2.12 18. L. microlophus 1 1 1 3 0.20 0.0 # 0.20 19. L. macrochirus 73 25 15 10 10 21. 154 10.03 6.83 # 3.20 20. L. auritus 2 6 0.39 1.82 - 1.43 21. L. megalotis 5 5 2 12 0.78 0.21 # 0.57 22. Pomoxis annularis 6 1 2 rf 13 0.85 0.16 7 0.69 23. P. nigromaculatus 1 6 23 3 5 12 50 3.26 2.35 91 Total 229 276 298 205 271 255 1,534 100.00 100.00 Game fish number 98 83 71 39 32 81 Lol, Rough fish number 131 193 227 166 239 174 1,130 Game fish percent 42.79 30.07 23.83 19.02 11.81 31.76 26.34 # 0.69 Rough fish percent 57.21 69.93 76.17 80.98 88.19 68.24 73.66 - 0.69 Game fish percent last year 44,83 21.64 9.82 7.27 25.31 25.65 Rough fish percent last year 55.17 78.36 90.81 92.73 74.69 74.35 --- Page 15 --- No. ° e al wal NF OW ON WY wn w ui 16. TFs 18. 19. 29, = Mi 22. 23. 2h. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. Table 6. Species (includes last year species) Dorosoma cepedianum Esox americanus Notemigonus crysoleucas peteoels fumeus umbratilis brazosensis roseus blennius » Vvenustus - lutrensis stramineus atrocaudalis - volucellus Pimephales vigilax Ictalurus melas i. natalis Fundulus chrysotus F. notatus Gambusia affinis Labidesthes sicculus Micropterus salmoides Chaenobryttus gulosus Lepomis cyanellus L. punctatus L. microlophus - macrochirus - megalotis Stheos tone gracile New species to the list Lepomis auritus Pomoxis annularis Hybognathus nuchalis Amnocrypta vivax Totals SHY tt tt ty a Tei Total last year Number of species Tabulation of Bimonthly Seining on Lake Striker. Jul ae 20 32 37 10 16 101 51 Ww 373 219 12 Number of species last year 1h 15. Sept eT eT 68 162 47 105 22 10 56 iL 22 623 980 18 le Nov 180 232 73 37 PAH OV 937 14 Jan Mar h 73 29 138 22 194 48 1 6 10 1 327 89 1 3 2 1 1 TTT 173 430 11 7 6 May 22 34 14 13 47 20 216 228 15 13 Total 107 113 158 FH ew 3,099 Meaningless --- Page 16 --- Largemouth bass Warmouth Bluegill White crappie Black crappie Channel catfish Table 7. (last segment) May 1958 Number 13 Range 158-00 Average 260.9 Number 9 Range 110-175 Average 150.9 Number 20 Range 95-144 Average 127.2 Number Range Average Number Range Average Number 5 Range 163-210 Average 185.6 July 240-290 273.20 107-164 142.66 20 94-138 104.10 1 190 190.00 3 200-240 220.00 16. Standard Lengths in Millimeters September 18 153-308 22h , 33% 6 105-162 126.33 18 90-108 100.72 6 183-212 199.16 11 200-305 250.63 of Some Species Showing Growth. November 14 215-340 277.40 100-195 116.66 190-258 232.00 18 160-233 210.50 7 230-480 300.28 * Average brought down by the spring hatch of bass. January 22 213-395 278.54. 10 95-195 110.60 106-233 151,33 1 1h0 140.00 2 225-286 255.50 March 13 225-375 296.76 2 114-154 134.00 10 100.70 2 134-227 180.50 5 115-235 186.20 gh-107 May L959 16 195-352 260.12 150-174 160.14 92-140 116.60 95-130 Lid.25 96-22 128.12 255-310 274 4h --- Page 17 --- Species Largemouth bass Warmouth Bluegill Channel catfish White crappie Black crappie Spotted bass Spotted sunfish Yellowbelly sunfish Number 12 37 8 a 2 Number last year Table Range standard length 142 153-375 58 105-174 65 90-195 O 200-480 3 95-256 41 96-235 O 224-274 hl 97-128 29 124-127 8. Average standard length Average 266.31 143.00 106.12 265.62 163.00 186.41 240.12 106.40 125.50 last year 225.6 127.5 119.2 17. Weight range 86-1985 42=255 20-132 118-2268 187.00 16-624 159.4 69.8 Le7.1 13-595 278-567 32-108 81-88 Range last year 15-1814 606.23 332.8 1.81-4.00 1.84-4..00 Ahoy 32-143 120-434 40-765 32-66 40-123 Average weight 124.47 99.8 3.24-4. 8h 3.71-6.07 47.18 92.3 3.00-6.00 3.40-7.00 335.40 210.16 235.7 1.46-4.26 2.50-4.00 300.94 155.4 1.70-6.59 2.66-4.73 367.25 56.40 46.7 3.02-5.15 3.91-6.47 eke 84.50 100.7 4.2h-4.30 4.55-7.01 4.27 Average last year Data on Condition of Netted Fish from Lake Striker. range uh 1.26-2.05 2.29-2.98 Range last year a oO oOo Ww tol) QO PS fan} oO oe ob Ep 2S 2.78 2.69 3.90 4.73 4.12 4.81 1.51 - 2.76 3.29 3.76 3.49 2.61 - 4.69 5.83 --- Page 18 --- 18. Figure 1. Results of a few hours fishing. Area just above US 79 on Lake Striker showing sawgrass and moss. Figure 2. --- Page 19 --- Figure 3. Sawgrass and moss Caught in the trees after a flash spring flood. Figure 4. Some more sawgrass and moss in the trees in the upper end of Lake Striker.