TPWD 1960 F-2-R-7 #617: Resurvey of the Waters of Region 6-B

--- Page 1 --- EILE Report of Fisheries Investigations Resurvey of the Waters of Region 6-B by John E. Tilton Project Leader Gary Wood Assistant Project Leader Dingell-Johnson Project F-2-R-7, Job B-20 February 1, 1959 - January 31, 1960 H. D. Dodgen - Executive Secretary Texas Game and Fish Commission Austin, Texas Marion Toole Kenneth C. Jurgens & William H. Brown Coordinator Assistant Coordinators --- Page 2 --- ABSTRACT £ A resurvey of Lake Inks, Granite Shoals, Buchanan, Belton, . Marble Falls, and Austin, as well as the Brazos and San Gabriel Rivers, was carried out during 1959. Seventeen seine, 84 experimental gill net, and two rotenone collections were made on Inks Lake. The fish population was found to be similar to previous surveys, although some changes were noted in the rough fish complex. Gizzard shad showed a substantial drop in relative abundance in the netting results but rotenone samples revealed much higher population figures. Catfish and white bass dominated the game fish catch. The important largemouth bass is presumably still at a minimal population level as net and seine collections produced very few individuals. The results of 23 net sets on Lake Granite Shoals reveal very high rough fish population, but low population figures for gizzard shad. Smallmouth buffalo were the most abundant species taken, accounting for 33 percent of total numbers and 56 percent of total weight. The game fish population is con- sidered adequate and fishing remains good. The vegetation problem remains acute, but no control measures are considered economically feasible at this time. Fifty-two net sets were made on Lake Buchanan. Rough fish accounted for over 72 percent of total numbers and 78 percent of total weight. Gizzard shad made up 54 percent of total fish taken. Game fish, including channel catfish, white bass, largemouth bass and white crappie, support heavy fishing pressure on the lake. No management practices are recommended at this time. Seine collections on the Brazos River produced 5 species not taken in the original survey of the river including Notropis venustus, Notimogus crysoleucas, Ictalurus melas, Lepomis punctatus and Lepomis microlophus. Thirty-eight net sets and nine seine collections showed substantially the same fish population as had been taken in previous surveys. A limited creel census was undertaken in an effort to check the catch of white crappie from Lake Belton. The census showed 1,581 anglers fished a total of 6,872.5 hours and caught 4,944 fish, for a fish/man hour total of 0.72. The crappie were small and few fishermen utilized the in- creased bag limit on this species. Gizzard shad showed a definite decrease in relative abundance, but no reason for the decrease could be ascertained. Work on the San Gabriel River and Lakes Austin and Marble Falls was too limited for comparison with previous collections and the data gathered will be included in later reports. --- Page 3 --- Segment Completion Report State of TEXAS na Project No. P-2-R-7 Name: Pisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 6-3. Job No, B-20 Title: Resurvey of the Waters of Region 6-B. SS Period Covered: February 1, 1959 ~ January 31, 1960 OBJECTIVES To determine the present status of waters and fish Populations which have been previously Surveyed in Project F-2- - PROCEDURE Fish collections were made principally through the use of standard experimental Sill nets and Small-mesh seines, All fish Collections were taken from random locations with the exception of those from Inks Lake, which were made at Stations selected in An eight-month creel census was undertaken on Lake Belton to check the crappie size and to determine if the more liberal crappie bag limit was being utilized by fishermen on the lake, census began at 12 noon and ran until the majority of fishermen left the dock at night. The census started the following morning when fishermen returned to the docks and was discontinued at noon. In this way the majority of dock fishermen were contacted in the 24-hour noon to noon census period, The census was conducted on a 13-day cycle to achieve rotation in days of the week, In addition to fish collections and the creel census, physical changes which might influence fish Population, were noted on the Surveyed waters, OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS Inks Lake --- Page 4 --- Another interesting observation is the utilization of carp in the lake. A total of 1,565 carp were counted during the census, almost all taken for food, as well as for sport. Prepared by John E. Tilton Approved by = GA Project Leader Director Inland Fisheries Division Gary Wood Assistant Project Leader Date April 8, 1960 Su --- Page 5 --- Common Name Gar Gizzard shad Smallmouth buffalo River carpsucker Carp Channel catfish Yellow catfish White bass Largemouth black bass Texas spotted bass Warmouth Sunfish (all) White crappie Freshwater drum Totals T. Table 1. Lake Inks Netting Results, 1959. Number 106 739 115 275 2h 361 128 22 96 74 1,952 Percent of Number 5 43 37.85 5.89 14.09 1.23 18.49 0.10 6.56 ‘Lag 0.25 0.21 4.92 3-79 0.06 100.00 Weight (Lbs. ) 471.22 98.07 364.99 54h 66 55.63 342 44 12.99 105.06 34.11 3.32 1.19 7.98 36.20 0.56 2,078.42 Percent of Weight 22.68 4.72 17.56 26.20 2.68 16.47 0.63 9.05 1.64 0.16 0.05 0.39 1.74 0.03 100.00 --- Page 6 --- Table 2. Common Name Gizzard shad Carp Cyprinids (minnows) Channel catfish White crappie Largemouth black bass Warmouth Sunfish (all) Logperch Freshwater drum Totals Lake Inks Rotenone Results, July 22, 1959. Number 1,980 (approx) 1 460 (approx) ho | 6 53 1 671 (approx) 2 1 3,195 Percent of Number 61.98 0.03 14.39 1.25 0.19 1.03 0.03 21.00 0.06 0.04 100.00 --- Page 7 --- Common Name Gizzard shad Spottail shiner Redhorse shiner Parrot minnow Gambusia Largemouth black bass Texas spotted bass Green sunfish Bluegill sunfish Totals Table 3. 9. Lake Inks Seining Results, 1959. Scientific Name Dorosoma cepedianum Notropis venustus Notropis lutrensis Pimephales vigilax Gambusia affinis Micropterus salmoides Micropterus treculi Lepomis cyanellus Lepomis macrochirus Number 1? 92h 259 15 1,296 Percent of Number 6.10 71.29 19.99 0.23 0.08 0.23 0.23 dele 0.69 100.00 --- Page 8 --- Table 4. Common Name Longnose gar Gizzard shad Smallmouth buffalo River carpsucker Carp Gray redhorse sucker Channel catfish Yellow catfish White bass Largemouth black bass Texas spotted bass Sunfish (all) White crappie Freshwater drum Totals Lake Granite Shoals Netting Results, 1959. Number 19 176 120 56 32 12 34 22 544 Percent of Number 0.74 13.79 32.35 22.06 0.92 0.37 10.29 0.55 5.88 2.21 0.18 6.25 4.05 0.36 100.00 Weight (Lbs. ) 23.25 15.50 437.24 104.38 12.96 19.63 82.21 21.38 28.45 13.82 1.75 3.69 11.89 1.38 TTT -53 Percent of Weight 2.99 2.00 56.23 13.43 1.66 2.53 10.57 2.75 3.66 1.78 0.22 0.47 1.53 0.18 100.00 --- Page 9 --- Common Name Gar Gizzard shad Smallmouth buffalo River carpsucker Carp Channel catfish Yellow catfish White bass Largemouth black bass Texas spotted bass Warmouth Sunfish (all) White crappie Totals ll. Table 5. Lake Buchanan Netting Results, 1959. Percent Number of Number 12 0.60 1,069 53-91 D9 2.78 302 15.23 1 0.05 184 9.27 5 0.26 266 13.42 25 1.26 13 0.65 1 0.05 28 1.41 22 pe Be 1,983 100.00 Weight (Lbs.) 35.51 485.86 182.49 589.03 D625 108.27 16.87 186.38 27.38 8.06 0.38 2.69 16.53 1,664.70 Percent of Weight 2.14 29.19 10.96 35.38 0.32 6.50 1.01 11.20 1.65 0.48 0.02 0 1G 0.99 100.00 --- Page 10 --- Common Name Gar Gizzard shad Smallmouth buffalo River carpsucker Carp Gray redhorse sucker Channel catfish White bass Largemouth black bass Sunfish (all) White crappie Freshwater drum Totals Table 6. Lake Belton Netting Results, 1959. Number 114 186 22 51 28 25 83 14 ah 102 TT 51 TTT Percent of Number 14.68 23.9h 2.83 6.57 3.61 3.21 10.68 1.80 3.09 13.12 9.91 6.56 100.00 Weight (Lbs. ) 162.85 43.32 26.89 96.81 31.77 54.13 172.18 15.54 40.48 11.51 43.87 16.69 716.04 Percent of Weight 22.75 6.05 3.76 13.52 4A3 7.56 2h ok 2.17 5.65 1.61 6.13 2.33 100.00 --- Page 11 --- Common Name Spotted gar Longnose gar Gizzard shad Spottail shiner Redhorse shiner Largemouth black bass Warmouth Green sunfish Spotted sunfish Redear sunfish Bluegill sunfish Longear sunfish Totals 13. Table 7. Lake Belton Seining Results, 1959. Scientific Name Lepisosteus productus Lepisosteus osseus Dorosoma cepedianum Notropis venustus Notropis lutrensis Micropterus salmoides Chaenobryttus gulosus Lepomis cyanellus Lepomis punctatus Lepomis microlophus Lepomis macrochirus Lepomis megalotis Number 23 271 TT 2h eT 436 Percent of Number 0.23 0.23 5.28 62.15 17.66 5.50 0,23 0.46 0.68 0.46 6.20 0.92 100.00 --- Page 12 --- 14, Table 8. Lake Belton Creel Census Results, February 5 throngh September 28, 1959. Species Caught Length in inches Length in inches Length in inches Ka A a id ed Ga a ad Gd al le Gel ld Largemouth black bass - 1 2 il1 23 1% @. 329 @& 2? S$ &§ 3ST 6&6 FY 6 Ah ede Spnottec oass — oo. = 5 1 4 2 5 2 mma ia ia a cs White creppie | 6 293 625 558 519 305 218 8&3 45 | J Channel catfish - - - - 3 21 21 12 9 W115 hk 3 2 2 3 1 Ys. 2 2. White bass - - - iL 2 iH 1 27 25 a a rr Drum : - - - - 3 10 5 2 2 3B = = Ll = © © = =» = = = = o Warmouth 2 4 3 - - ~ = - = - - -« ~~ mw ea eo o-_ = Green sunfish |3 7 13 6 3 - - - = mee i i i i ks Bluegills 28 €2 Oo 7 2 - - - - mmm mmm am Redear sunfish] - 2 9 2 - - - a ~ — =o ee maw os - -« - “i i} i i} a) 1 L] 1 i i 1 a i i} i} i 1 i} 1 t I t t i Longear sunfish Carp Buffalo Gar Totals totel fishermen 1,581 totel fish Ly 9hh totel hours fished 6,872.5 totel fish/man-hour