TPWD 1959 F-4-R-6 #487: Inventory of Species in Possum Kingdom Lake, Job Completion Report, Project F-4-R-6

--- Page 1 --- Job Completion Report State of TEXAS Project No. F-4-R-6 Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 4-B. Job No. B-24 Title: Inventory of Species in Possum Kingdom Lake. Period Covered: November 1, 1958 - October 31, 1959 Abstracts Following an attempt to selectively control gizzard shad in Possum Kingdom Lake through the use of rotenone, a series of monthly net sets were made to determine the effectiveness of the shad control work. On the basis of these netting collections it was concluded that the shad population had been only partially reduced and that it had rapidly recovered from the effects of the chemical treatment. This recovery was due in part to a spawn of this species which occurred in October 1958, two months after the chemical had been applied. Because the rotenone application had failed to dras- tically reduce the numbers of gizzard shad, it was not necessary or possible to learn the time required by the surviving shad to re-establish a large population. Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of the selective kill of shad and the time required for re-establishment of the shad population. Procedure: Following the selective kill of shad on August 6, 1958, a series of net checks were made to determine the extent of the kill. These nets were set-in all parts of the lake. The data collected was to be used in evaluating the effectiveness of the chemical treatment. Monthly net checks were continued throughout the segment and the netting stations established during the previous segment were used in order that comparative data might be obtained. Data concerning length, weight, sex, and stage of sexual development were taken for each fish caught in the gill nets. Stomach analyses of food remains in the netted specimens were made to determine the food habits of the various species collected. Seining stations, used during preceeding segments, were rendered useless by changes in the water level. This, combined with submerged tree stumps and brush in shallow water, caused the abandonment of seine collections because comparative data could not be obtained. --- Page 2 --- Resultss The results of net checks made two weeks before the selective kill and again two weeks after the selective kill were included in the report for Job l6a-10, Project F-l4-D-3. These indicated little difference in the relative abundance of gizzard shad before and after the attempt to selectively control them. Netting collections obtained between December 1958 and October 1959 indicated that the gizzard shad continues to be the most numerous species in the catch. This species provided 47.85 percent of the total catch of the gill nets (Table 1). Gizzard shad taken were of such size as to allow this species to account for 28.49 percent of the total weight of all fish taken. This was exceeded only by the longnose gar with 33.85 percent (Table 2). During the period from December 1958 through October 1959 a total of 1,124 gizzard shad, weighing 559.43 pounds were taken in the netting collections. These averaged 230 millimeters in total length and 243 grams in weight. Their length ranged from 150 to 3390 millimeters and their weight varied from 70 to 510 grams. On the average 11.02 shad, weighing 5.84 pounds, were taken per 100 feet of gill net, set overnight (Table 3). A comparison of the data obtained during the 1955-1956 survey with that from the present segment shows that the gizzard shad population was somewhat reduced, probably by the selective kill attempted in August of 1958. Shad made up 78.91 percent of the total number and 61.97 of the weight in the 1955-1956 net catch (Table 4). The 1958- 1959 net catch was also dominated by gizzard shad but not to such a great extent as previously observed. Only 47.85 percent of the total number and 28.49 percent of the total weight were shad (Tables 1 & 2}. The rate of catch of shad per 100 feet of gill net also indicates that the shad population was reduced by the chemical treatment in 1958, Each 100 feet of net set in 1955-1956 took 18.81 shad, compared with the 11.02 shad per 100 feet of net set in the 1958-1959 netting collections {Tables 3 & 4). Game fish showed an increase in the percentage of the fish taken in nets, both in numbers and in weight. They comprised 15.80 percent of the total number and 15.56 percent of the weight in the 1955=56 figures and they increased to 34.48 percent of the number and 24.95 percent of the weight in the 1958-59 netting figures. A comparison of the catch of game fish per 100 feet of gill net shows that 3.66 were taken in 1955-56, while 7.94 were caught during 1950-59. The pounds of game fish caught per 100 feet of net since the attempted selective kill is also higher with 2.32 pounds in 1955-56 and 5.02 pounds in 1958-59. The "K" factors of the fish taken during the two periods show little difference (Table 4}. Conclusions: The results of gill netting before and after the apolication of rotenone to Possum Kingdom Lake, during August of 1958, indicate that the attempted selective kill of shad was only partially successful. There was a definite reduction of the shad population but a successful spawn of the surviving, large shad during October 1958 --- Page 3 --- replaced many of the shad which had been killed. The decrease in average weight of shad caught after the rotenone treatment may be due in part to the fact that many of these were young-of-the-year shad which had been spawned in October 1958. Foliowing the chemical treatment of Possum Kingdom Lake, fishing success improved but was of short duration. Game fish, however, showed a definite increase in the per~ centages of both numbers and weights of fish taken in nets. It appears evident that the selective kill of shad had a desirable effect on the fish population of Possum Kingdom Lake. The overall value of the treatment, un- fortunately, was reduced by the fact that the shad were not destroyed in sufficient numbers to prevent their continued doninance of the fish population. Because gizzard shad remained well established throughout the attempt to selec- tively control them, there could be no determination of the time required for the shad population to re-establish itself. The need for selective control of shad in Possum Kingdom Lake is still present and further experimental work is needed to determine an effective means of reducing this population. | LY Prepared by | Leona:d D. Lamb _ Aperoved by Adio _/ “a Project Leader Director Inland Fisheries Division Date ___ January 21, 1960 --- Page 4 --- Table 1. Number 100! Nets Month Species Spotted gar Longnose gar Gizzard shad Smallmouth buffalo River carpsucker Carp Channel catfish White bass Largemouth bass Spotted bass Warmouth Redear sunfish Bluegill sunfish Yellowbkelly sunfish Longear sunfish White crappie Black crappie Drum Totals Number and Percentage of Each Species Taken by Gill Nets from Possum Kingdom Lake Between December 1958 and October 1959. k December No. 43 Percent ON ° ° t 2 Mm OO MO — hM Cad AD NO W OVA W Ww O- Wn OOo ° 100.00 11 February No. Percent 130 55.31 14 5.96 3 1.28 65 27.66 13 5°53 3 1.28 7 2.98 235 100.00 8 March No. te en) fe SOF moO AWwRreH-A i Percent 0.61 0.31 26.61 20.62 6.31 0.31 28.62 5.23 100.00 6 April No. Fercent 12 11.32 5S. 48.11 6 5.66 9 8.49 5 4.72 li 10.37 9 8.49 3 2,84 106 100.00 No. 647 LO May Percent 0.61 23.04 4S .60 No. ON RAO LO un ho % FT ON i. r 11 136 ky gune Percent 3.67 2.95 50.74 6.62 15.44 100.00 --- Page 5 --- Table 1. Number 100! Nets Month Species Spotted gar Longnose gar Gizzard shad Smallmouth buffalo River carpsucker Carp Channel catfish White bass Largemouth bass Spotted bass Warmnouth Redear sunfish Bluegill sunfish Yellowbelly sunfish Longear sunfish White crappie Black crappie Drum Totals (Conti nued) Possum Kingdom Lake Between December 1958 and October 1959. 106 6 July Percent 1.90 1.90 99 205 0.95 20.96 5.72 5°72 3.80 100.00 3 August No. FrW kh 14 Percent 14.28 21.44 7.14 7.14 7.14 7.14 14.28 21.44 100.00 ho September No. Percent 5 0.99 45 8.90 235 46.53 5 0.99 12 2.38 2 0.40 66 13.07 17 3637 14 2.77 2 0.40 3 0.59 22 4.36 75 14.85 2 0.40 505 100.00 10 October No. Percent g 0.86 13 5.60 132 56.91 1 0.43 1 0.43 15 6.46 27 2-11.64 2 0.86 7 3.02 31 =: 13.36 1 0.43 232 100.00 Number and Percentage of Each Species Taken by Gill Nets From 102 Totals No. 20 229 1,124 21 134 129 236 59 67 168 142 Ont 2,349 Percent 0.85 9.75 47.85 0.89 5.70 0,22 5.49 10.05 2.51 0.09 0.13 2.85 (215 0.04 0.04 6.04 0.09 0.26 100.00 --- Page 6 --- Table 2. Number 100' Nets Month Species Spotted gar Longnose gar Gizzard shad Smallmouth buffalo River carpsucker Carp Channel catfish White bass Largemouth bass Spotted bass Warmouth bass Redear sunfish Bluegill sunfish Yellowbelly sunfish Longear sunfish White crappie Black crappie Brum Totals h December Pounds Percent 3.00 8.08 14.70 39.62 11.50 31.00 2.00 5.39 1.70 4.58 3.40 9.17 0.60 1.62 0.20 0.54 37-10 100.00 11 February Pounds Percent 19.33 57.15 10.58 7.62 3.92 2.83 i and 23.59 9.12 6.57 0.43 0.31 0.23 0.17 24h 1.76 138.80 100.00 8 March Pounds Percent 4.75 2.14 1.31 0.59 72.50 32.67 73-09 32.94 3.44 1.55 0.70 0.31 48.51 21.86 11.15 5.03 0.50 0.22 2.74 1.24 2.65 1.19 0.56 0.26 221.96 100.00 Weight and Percentage of Each Species Taken by Gill Nets From Possum Kingdom Lake From December 1958 - October 1959. 6 April Pounds Percent 63.20 57-TT 26.20 23.95 5.80 5.30 4.50 4.11 3.50 3.20 3.10 2.83 2.10 1.92 1.00 0.92 109.40 100.00 --- Page 7 --- Table 2. (Continued) Weight and Percentage of Each Species Taken by Gill Nets From Possum Kingdom Lake From December 1958 - October 1959. Number 100' Nets 10 4 6 3 Month May June July August Species Pounds Percent Pounds Percent Pounds Percent Pounds Percent Spotted gar 9.94 1.59 8.12 6.25 3.19 3.96 Longnose gar 338.22 54.23 8.68 6.69 10.87 13.52 8.80 57.70 Gizzard shad 180.53 28.95 35.86 27.64 28.61 35.58 1.49 9.77 Smallmouth buffalo 9.98 1.60 36.51 28.14 0.97 1.21 0.50 3.28 River carpsucker 11.06 1.77 21.57 16.62 2.18 14.29 Carp 4,12 3.18 Channel catfish 20.00 3.21 7.89 6.08 30.66 38.12 0.32 2.10 White bass 3.58 0.57 2.32 1.79 3.26 4.05 Largemouth bass 7.01 1.13 0.71 0.56 Spotted bass Warmouth Redear sunfish 14.07 2.25 0.28 1.84 Bluegill sunfish 2h .38 3.91 2.63 2.02 1.34 1.67 0.47 3.08 Yellowbelly sunfish Longear sunfish 0.35 0.06 White crappie 3.47 0.56 0.80 0.61 1.51 1.88 1.21 7.94 Black crappie Drum 1.06 0.17 0.54 0.42 Totals 623.65 100.00 129.75 100.00 80.41 100.00 15.25 100.00 --- Page 8 --- Tabie 2. (Continued) Number 100: Nets Month Species Spotted gar Longnose gar Gizzard shad Smallmouth buffalo River carpsucker Carp Channel catfish White bass Largemouth bass Spotted bass Warmouth bass Redear sunfish Bluegill sunfish Yellowbelly sunfish Longear sunfish White crappie Black crappie Drum Totals Weight and Percentage of Each Species Taken by Gill Nets From Possum Kingdom Lake From December 1958 - October 1959. ho September Pounds Percent 16.80 3.11 203.37 37.77 101.49 18.85 5.27 0.98 15.75 2.92 1.01 0.19 139.42 25.89 10.14 1.88 12.13 2.25 1.19 0.22 0.88 0.17 4.25 0.79 23.60 4.38 3.21 0.60 538.51 100.00 10 October Pounds Percent 2.74 1.40 70.12 35.87 54.72 27.99 6.18 3.16 2.06 1.05 27.58 14.11 15.98 8.17 2.06 1.05 1.58 0.81 12.11 6.20 0.37 0.19 195.50 100.00 102 Tota Pounds 45.54 707.57 595.43 70.91 144.09 oof 232.19 12h Wk 46.28 1.62 0.88 17 +95 39.72 0.20 0.35 48.79 0.56 5.18 2,090.27 ls Percent 2.17 33.85 28.49 3.39 6.90 0.41 --- Page 9 --- Table 3. Species Spotted gar Longnose gar Gizzard shad Smallmouth buffalo River carpsucker Carp Channel catfish White bass Largemouth bass Spotted bass Warmouth bass Redear sunfish Bluegill sunfish Yellowbelly sunfish Longear sunfish White crappie Black crappie Drum Totals Possum Kingdom Lake Netting Data, December 1958 - October 1959. Total Number 20 229 1,124 134 % of Total 0.85 9.75 47.85 0.89 5.70 0.22 5.49 10.05 2.51 0.09 0.13 2.85 7.15 0.04 0.04 6.04 0.09 0.26 100.00 Total Lbs. Weight 45.54 TOT-3T 595.43 70.91 144.09 8.57 232.19 124.44 46.28 1.62 0.88 17.95 39.72 0.20 0.35 48.79 0.56 5.18 2,090.27 Average Length MM 546 690 230 323 263 282 350 219 288 240 150 156 131 130 160 180 172 228 Average Weight Grams 1,088.6 1,399.3 243.0 2,009.4 498.7 771.6 817.4 236.3 352.0 270.0 130.0 121.0 111.3 85.0 123.0 148.4 126.0 397.0 --- Page 10 --- Table 3. Species Spotted gar Longnose gar Gizzard shad Smallmouth buffalo River carpsucker Carp Channel catfish White bass Largemouth bass Spotted bass Warmouth bass Redear sunfish Bluegill sunfish Yellowbelly sunfish Longear sunfish White crappie Black crappie Drum Totals Length Range MM 430-1000 250-1150 150-330 170-510 145-380 210-410 210-520 170-280 160-430 230-250 110-170 140-180 100-150 130-130 160-160 130-220 170-175 190-345 Weight Range Grams 454-4678 140-8853 70-510 230-4167 190-1418 200-1559 145-2892 90-567 80-1616 260-280 100-145 95-155 39-130 85-85 123-123 50-320 118-135 165-1247 10. No. Per 100 Ft. of Net ee e eo e@ © ° e Re SEV RSZERES WNOrFAMUEFONFO DOWOOD OOFODOOFODOONFOFOHNO NNMOrFPRFM . 23.02 Lbs. Per 100 Ft. of Net e . eo Py WOMOrFPKPUN ODOFRPU FFU 4 | cd OOVDODOOFNOFOUMANO IWRPOOFNNOFAOMON & {o) im © 0.05 20.48 (Continued) Possum Kingdom Lake Netting Data, December 1958 - October 1959. men Range ot tof | ' W 2° Oo Nie oe io) i] Sb FEW a ? yyw e ° oOoO000 ' WWW NW FW MW WwW FIOMOOOF t . CDODPONOP ° ° toto DHWO MOO FH OOO0O0O00 VM RFNWWEREWHEEFEFRFNERPNE be SSSOS Own oR) ° ° " Kk" Average 2.43 Fr FOO DONA MVNNM MW FWWw ° AMF OONOO --- Page 11 --- Table ). Species Spotted gar Longnose gar Gizzard shad Smallmouth buffalo River carpsucker Carp Channel catfish Flathead catfish White bass Largemouth bass Warmouth Redear sunfish Bluegill sunfish Yellowbelly sunfish White crappie Black crappie Drum Totals Possum Kingdom Lake Netting Data, November 1, 1955 through October 31, 1956. Total Number % of Total 0.91 1.72 78.91 0.29 2.58 0.14 OONOFO HMI OO ed OF ON F © 100.00 li. Total Lbs. Weight 36.12 143.96 812.20 16.06 95.12 2.2h 75.48 1.13 23.02 53.97 1.13 3.83 23.46 2.57 18.47 0.88 1.05 1,310.69 Average Length MM 518 769 235 300 275 ehe 293 320 2ho 284 173 152 130 139 192 175 230 Average Weight Grams 680 1,918 321 1,030 655 338 43 510 51 678 171 118 80 101 235 134 238 --- Page 12 --- oS°S adetoay nla G6°T-S6°T 06°2-02°2 €g°2-0S°2 09° H-EZ°E Gy’ E-00°E 06°€-06°2 On’ E-Es°€ On E-SS°T 0S°€-09°2 LG°T-LS°T €T°S-0£ °T 0S°2-04°S 09°2-0S°2 On €-09°S o1.°2-06°T esuey ul a 96° qT ONWODONONDO ° So o2 S528 Aste Nd’ A t\ONHOO e ° 9 @ ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° s SCANDOFAOOOCOCOOOOO00 ° 42N JO "44 OOT Jad say 49° ZO°O OS-SEZ €0°0 6ET-QeT 4S°0 STH-SS +T°O 9ZT-2Q OT°T OkT-02 9T°O OgT-S9 €0°0 LLT-6ST +4°O 6QeE-ZOT HE°O 601-002 To°O OTS-OTS 19°0 €HQT-STT €0°o oge-S92 29°0 90TT-S0Z2 10°0 OneZ-082 Te°sTt egy-O9T Tt"O 6929-259 22°O TEST-74Z9 JeN Fo sme.) 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