TPWD 1960 F-4-R-7 #538: A Study of Crappie in Lake Whitney

--- Page 1 --- Report of Fisheries Investigations A Study of Crappie in Lake Whitney Dwane Smith Assistant Project Leader Dingell-Johnson Project F-4-R-7, Job E-} November 1, 1959 - October 31, 1960 H. D. Dodgen = Executive Secretary Texas Game and Fish Commission Austin, Texas Marion Toole Kenneth C. Jurgens and William H. Brown Coordinator Assistant Coordinators --- Page 2 --- ABSTRACT The study of crappie, Pomoxis annularis, in Lake Whitney was continued in an effort to learn something of the size of the crappie population, the reasons for the recent small harvest, the movement of tagged crappie, the ecological factors influencing their distri- bution and to develop satisfactory methods for sampling crappie fry. Fish to be tagged were taken primarily in wire traps and by hook and line and, beginning in July, small crappie entered the trap catch. This seemed to indicate a successful spawn during the previous year. Efforts to sample crappie fry during the present year's spawning season resulted in the capture of only a single specimen in seines. Most of the tagging occurred in the middle third of the lake, even though traps were used in all other areas of the lake. A total of 1,493 crappie were tagged during the year and 47, or 3.14 percent of these were recaptured. Five crappie from previous years' tagging were also recaptured. The greatest distances traveled by tagged crappie were 30 miles each by two specimens, however, over half the tagged crappie recaptured travelled less than 100 yards from the point of release. The greatest length of freedcm for a crappie re- caught this year was 1,030 days. This individual was recaptured within one mile of the original point of release. Another, free for hO5 days, was retaken within two miles of where it was released. Since the emphasis of the study thus far has been on tagging and recapture, and since it is indicated that tagged crappie tend to re- main near the original point of release, it is intended that future emphasis will be placed on the study of crappie fry and spawning success. --- Page 3 --- Job Completion Report State of TEXAS Project No. F-4-R-7 Names 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, 1959 = October 31, 1960 OBJECTIVES To determine the population of crappie in Lake Whitney and the reasons for the recent small harvest. To study the pattern and extent of travel of tagged or marked crappie and the ecological factors influencing their distribution. To develop satis- factory methods of sampling crappie fry. PROCEDURE The trapping of crappie, Pomoxis annularis, in Lake Whitney during the period covered by this report continued along the same general lines as in previous segments. Two changes, however, were the use of a gang net, in an effort to capture crappie fry, and the use of the size three, self-piercing, strap type, monel metal tag on the larger crappie taken in traps. Most of the traps used were constructed of Q-gauge concrete reinforcement wire, with a six-inch square mesh, covered with one-inch mesh poultry wire. All but one of the traps are five feet long and 29 inches in diameter, and all are of either single- and double-throat construction. The throat openings are from three to five inches in diameter. The one exception is a trap constructed with a throat extending from the top to the bottom of the trap; whereby the trap could be set in a vertical position (Figures 1 and 2). In addition to the described traps, three small traps were constructed with no frame using one-inch poultry wire. The gang net is made up of a series of hoop nets attached one to another by small mesh leads. It was used to capture crappie fry in shallow water during the spawning . season but was not as successful as anticipated. This was felt due to rapid water temperature fluctuations in the shallows brought about by sudden changes in the weather. All traps were placed at locations believed to be good crappie habitats. It was intended that these would be permanent locations. After several collections, however, it was decided that to catch more crappie for tagging, it would be necessary to meve the traps from time to time. Whenever a trap was set in a given location and the resulting take in crappie was considered good, this trap location was used until the crappie catch diminished. If a --- Page 4 --- aDe location was used for a period of approximately two weeks and few crappie were taken, the trap was moved to what was considered a better location. This procedure of moving traps from place to place was repeated in order to capture as many crappie as possible. Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 illustrate the wire traps used to take crappie from Lake Whitney. Figures 1 and 2 show an experimental trap which was constructed to catch crappie near the thermocline. The throat, which extends vertically from top to bottom, would extend through the thermocline. Baiting of the traps was not practiced although one trap was baited with a cake of pressed cotton seed meal. The trap was checked the following morning when it was found that only 13 carp were taken. Consequently no more traps were baited. No types of attractors were experimented with during this study period. , Trapping stations were established from Little Rocky Creek, near the dam, and ex~ tended to the Nolan River, near the head of the lake. This is a distance of from 20 to 30 miles of lake and river. Many of the stations used during the segment are new, although some were used during previous segments. The work of trapping was divided among five sections of the lake. The Brazos River Area extends upstream from the Santa Fe Railroad Bridge (Station No. 34). What has been called the Upper Lake Area extends downstream from the same bridge to the vicinity of the White Bluffs (Station No. 31). The Nolan River Area lies within this portion of the lake but the Nolan River arm extends from the lake proper. The Middle Lake Area includes that portion of the lake from White Bluffs downstream to the Katy Railroad Bridge (Station No. 17). The Lower Lake Area includes the remainder of the lake, downstream to the dam. Traps could be set in only three of the above mentioned areas at a time because of the lack of traps. No traps were set in the Brazos River Area because the Nolan River was utilized during this.segment. Not more than 25 traps were set an any one given time during the study period. The method of tagging crappie in past segments of the study was continued. Strap type, monel=-metal, jaw tags were placed on the left premaxillary of all fish tagged. The tag sizes used were either No. 1 or No. 3. Data recorded for each tagged specimen were: total length in millimeters, tag number, date and place of capture and release. Prior to release, tagged fish were cursorily examined for external parasites and for a bacterial type of infection noted in previous study periods. None of the fish tagged this year appeared to have this bacterial infection. . Posters were placed in conspicuous places around the lake and newspaper articles were published informing the public about the work being done. It was hoped that the public would cooperate by providing information concerning any tagged fish caught. Card forms, with blanks for the information desired, were given to camp operators on the lake, local stores, and cafes. These cards, when properly filled out either by individuals or by project personnel, provided needed information concerning the tagged fish. The information received on these cards was later transferred to a ledger for a permanent record. Gill net collections were made in the vicinity of the wire traps to provide come parative information concerning the relative abundance of crappie in the area. This --- Page 5 --- o Je also served as a check on the efficiency of the traps in taking crappie. Common sense minnow seines and small mesh wire traps were used along the shoreline in an attempt to sample crappie fry during and after the spawning season. In addition, two rotenone samples were taken from restricted areas to sample crappie fry. RESULTS Data concerning the number of each species taken in wire traps are given along with the percentages of the total trap catch represented by each species. The results of trapping are presented in Table 1. The data presented covers the period from November, 1959 through June, 1960. The data for the months of July, August, September, and October were omitted from Table 1 because they were inaccurately recorded by a summertime student employee. This employee attended the traps and tagged and released all crappie taken but failed to keep records of fish other than crappie caught in the traps. Therefore the data for the four months were discarded. It is interesting that white crappie, Pomoxis annularis, comprised 47.56 percent of the total catch in traps for the eight months represented in Table 1. Bluegiils, Lepomis macrochirus, comprised 26.43 percent. Compared to data from the previous study period, crappie increased slightly in the catch from 44.38 to 47.56 or 3.18 percent. Bluegills decreased from 44.78 to 26.43 or a total decrease of 18.35 percent. There were only 47 gizzard shad, Dorosoma Wegeeeee sl comprising 3.23 percent of the total trap catch. Yet, as shown in Table 2, 894 gizzard shad were taken in gilli nets set near the traps. Of the total catch in gill nets, shad comprised 61. 5 percent. The data given in Table 2 is a consolidation of data which served as the basis for locating or relocating the wire traps. In Table 3 consolidated gill net collection data are broken down to show ares of netting and the ratio of crappie to all other species caught. The number and percentages of crappie tagged are given by area in Table 4. In all, a total of 1,493 crappie were tagged during the eight months covered by this report. In the Nolan River Area, 144 crappie were caught in the wire traps. These repree sent 9.64 percent of the total tagged during the year. Of these, five were recaptured in the same area and represent 0.03 percent of the total crappie tagged or 10.62 percent of the 47 tags recovered during the study period. In the Upper Lake Area, 238 crappie, or 15.94 percent of the total, were tagged during this segment. Seventeen tagged fish were recovered, which accounted for 9.96 percent of the total tagged fish released, or 34.05 percent of the total tagged fish recovered during the year. One fish that had been tagged the previous year was also recovered. There were 1,109 crappie tagged in the Middle Lake Area, which amounted te 74.28 percent of the yearly total of marked fish. In this same area 25, or 0.02 percent of the total fish tagged this year, were recovered along with four crappie that had been tagged and released in earlier study periods. The 29 returns comprised 53.19 percent --- Page 6 --- who of the total tagged fish recovered during the year. Four traps were used in the Lower Lake Area, but only during the months of November, 1959 through January, 1960. Two crappie were caught and tagged during that period. A fisherman later recovered one of these and it comprised 2.13 percent of the total tagged fish recovered during the year. , Information concerning all tagged crappie recaptured by either fishermen, gill nets, or traps is listed in Table 5. Two crappie traveled 30 miles, one traveled three miles and four traveled two miles each. The remaining tagged crappie either traveled shorter distances or had no travel at all. With the exception of the few fish mene= tioned, the movement of crappie based on tagged fish recaptured during periods other than the spawning season is indistinct. No pattern or trend of movement is indicated. As a matter of fact 33 tagged crappie, recaptured during the year, traveled less than 100 yards, and are shown in the distance traveled column of Table 5 as "none". It seems apparent that tagged crappie do not tend to move very far from the place where they were released. For example, Tag Number 287 was placed on a crappie on June 12, 1957. This fish was recaptured on April 6, 1960, after a period of almost three years, within one mile of the place where it was originally tagged and released. A fish, with Tag Number 2,264, was recaptured after being free for 405 days within two miles of the place of tagging. Another, with Tag Number 1,028, remained free for 280 days and was recaptured at the original point of tagging and release. Still another fish, carrying Tag Number 2,974 and free for 258 days, was recaught within two miles from where it was released. The only other fish to remain free more than 100 days was recaptured within 100 yards of the point of release. Weekly lake level elevation readings are presented in Table 6. The lake maintaine an almost constant level throughout the year, varying only 3.2 feet from its lowest level to its highest. Week to week changes in lake level were slight, and so far as is known had little or no effect upon the crappie in Lake Whitney. As a matter of record, Table 7 includes temperatures taken at the mouth of Cedar Creek on Lake Whitney for the months of June, July, and August. Comparable temperatures are given for June 1957; July 1957 and 1959; and August 1957. As shown in Table 8, only one crappie was taken in seine samples and this was a crappie fry. Gizzard shad were predominant in the catch, comprising 84.28 percent of the fish seined. The sharpnose shiner, Notropis oxyrhynchus, was next in abundance with 4.90 percent of the seined specimens, and Gambusia affinis followed with 3.10 percent. Bluegills, easily caught in the wire traps, comprised only 2.58 percent of the 388 specimens seined. The study thus far has been primarily concerned with the tagging and recapture of adult crappie and this work has indicated that, barring exceptions, tagged crappie tend to remain relatively near the original point of capture and release. With this in mind, it seems apparent that the emphasis of the study should be shifted to the study of crappie fry and spawning success. This will be the major part of the work during the i ' t a e coming year's study “be Prepared by Dwane Q. Smith Approved by f é aptore Assistant Project Leader Director Inland Fisheries Division Date February 14, 1961 --- Page 7 --- Table 1. Fish caught in wire traps in Lake Whitney, November 1959 through June, 1960. Species Lepisosteus oculatus L. osseus Spotted gar Longnose gar Gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum Ictiobus bubalus Smallmouth buffalo River carpsucker Carpiodes carpio. Carp Cyprinus carpio Ictalurus punctatus Channel catfish White bass Roccus chrysops Pylodictus olivaris Micropterus salmoides Flathead catfish Largemouth bass Warmouth Chaenobryttus gulosus Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus White crappie Pomoxis annularis Aplodinotus grunniens a Freshwater drum Totals --- Page 8 --- abe Table 2. Results of gill net collections, Lake Whitney, November 1, 1959 through October 31, 1960. Percent of | Weight Percent of Average weight] Fish per 100 [Weight (lbs. Species ex Total number in pounds Total weight in pounds feet of net per 100 feet : of net Spotted gar 2h. 74 0.41 Longnose gar 261.62 4,29 Gizzard shad 342.53 5.62 Smallmouth buffalo 23.84 0.39 River carpsucker 45.76 . 0.75 Carp | 15.74 0.26 Channel catfish 122.68 . 2.01 White bass 4h 20 0.72 Spotted bass os 0.77 0.01 Largemouth bass 38.56 0.63 Warmouth bass 0.30 0.05 Bluegill sunfish 2.85 0.05 White crappie 37.17 0.61 Freshwater drum 8.86 0.15 Totals 1862 | 100.00 969.62 100.00 --- Page 9 --- Table 3. Crappie and other species caught in gill nets in Lake Whitney, November 1959 through October 1960. | Average weight | Fish caught in grams other than o cra pris. Percent of total crappie J caught Average length Feet of in millimeters netting _j|._used. Period Brazos River July 1960 113 Upper Lake November 1959 120 Area thru October 1960 Middle Lake November 1959 TT Area thru October 1960 100.00 1,360 Totals --- Page 10 --- oB= Table 4. Summary of crappie tagging and recapture data, Lake Whitney, November 1959 through. October 1960. Nolan River Upper Lake Area Middle Lake Area Lower Lake Area Totals Trapping and Tagging Number [ Number | Number Period [traps used taken on Percent of | total tagged erappie recaptured March thru June November thru October November thru October November thru January *Includes five crappie tagged during previous segments. Percent of total tagged fish recap- tured in area 10.63 34.05 53-19 Geld 100.00 --- Page 11 --- Table 5. Tag No. 287 1024 1028 1073 1108 1112 1116 1132 a 1150 1160 1165 1173 1199 1202 1221 1235 1237 1259 1276 1277 1283 1291 1292 1292 1303 1315 1329 1339 1341 1355 1390 1he9 ~ Ta fe Date 6-12-57 8-27-59 9= 3-59 1-18-60 1-27-60 1-27-60 2= 3-60 2=- 8-60 2-18-60 2-18-60 3- 3-60 3= 4-60 3= 4-60 3-17-60 3-17-60 3-21-60 3-22-60 3-22-60 3+25-60 3-28-60 3-28-60 3-28-60 3-28-60 3-28-60 3-28-60 3-28-60 3-29-60 3-29-60 3-29-60 he 5-60 = 5=60 he 5-60 he 7=60 Information ___Location _ Juniper Cove Near Herringtons Near Herringtons Deep Canyon Mesquite Creek Lakeside Village Juniper Cove Juniper Cove Mesquite Creek Mesquite Creek Deep Canyon Nolan River Nolan River Nolan River Mesquite Creek Mesquite Creek Juniper Cove Juniper Cove Deep Canyon Mesquite Creek Mesquite Creek Near Herringtons Juniper Cove Juniper Cove Juniper Cove Cedar Creek Wann Canyon Mesquite Creek Juniper Cove Nolan River Nolan River Juniper Cove Wann Canyon he 7-60 4-23-60 Air Force Base Hillcrest Dock Near Herringtons Hillcrest Dock Mesquite Creek Greer's Barge Juniper Cove Juniper Cove Mesquite Creek Mesquite Creek Air Force Base Nolan River Nolan River Nolan River Mesquite Creek Mesquite Creek Juniper Cove Wann Canyon Deep Canyon Greer's Barge Mesquite. Creek Near Herringtons Air Force Base Juniper Cove Juniper Cove Air Force Base Wann Canyon Mesquite Creek Wann Canyon Nolan River Nolan River Juniper Cove Wann Canyon Tagged crappie recaptures in Lake Whitney, November 1, 1959 through October 1030 80 Distance Traveled _ 1 mile upstream 2 miles downstream none £ mile none WF W + mile none 2 miles none iii 4 mile none Lia 2 5 mile none i 1 . 5s mile none wt "W w --- Page 12 --- =1O0@8 Table 5. Tagged crappie recaptures in Lake Whitney, November 1, 1959 through October 31, 1960. (continued ) Taggi Information Recapture Information Tag No. Date Location Date Location Days of Freedom Distance Traveled 1436 he 7-60 Wann Canyon 4=16=60 Air Force Base 9 $ mile 140 he 7-60 Wann Canyon 4-22-60 Wann Canyon a6 none 1463 he 8-60 Mesquite Creek 4-21-60 Mesquite Creek 13 on 1472 4-11-60 Nolan River July Little Rocky 9O** 30 miles downstream 1487 4-12-60 Mesquite Creek 7-23-60 Mesquite Creek 102... none 1h9h 4-12-60 Lakeside Village 5-22-60 Near Brazos Point ho 30 miles upstream L495 4-12-60 Lakeside Village 5-17-60 Lakeside Village 35 none 1514 4-13-60 Near Herringtons 4-31-60 Cedar Creek area 19 a 1563 4-18-60 Mesquite Creek 5-11-60 Mesquite Creek 23 a 1619 4-21-60 Juniper Cove 4-22-60 Cedar Creek Dock 1 + mile 1651 5=- 3-60 Mesquite Creek 5-14-60 Near Circle "D" 11 3 miles 1665 5- 4-60 Lakeside Village 5-17-60 Lakeside Village 13 none 1726 5-19-60 Juniper Cove 6= 4-60 Cedar Creek 16 ¢ mile 226) 2-24-59 Lakeside Village he 3-60 Mesquite Creek 4.05 2 miles 2974 7-21-59 Near Herringtons he he60 Juniper Cove 258 2 miles 720 9-19-60 Bluff #8 Marker 9=27-60 Bluff #8 Marker 8 none 920 9-14-60 Bluff #8 Marker 10-13-60 Bluff #8 Marker 29 i 928 9-14-60 Bluff #8 Marker 10-13-60 Bluff #8 Marker 29 « 936 9-14-60 Bluff #8 Marker 10-13-60 Bluff #8 Marker 29 " * ‘These fish were recaptured more than once. ** Approximate --- Page 13 --- -ll- Table 6. Lake Whitney water level elevations, November, 1959 through October, 1960.* Date Lake Elevation (m.s.1.) November 4, 1959 519.94 November 11, 1959 519.88 November 18, 1959 519.65 November 25, 1959 519.98 December 2, 1959 520.00 December 9, 1959 519.66 December 16, 1959 520.16 December 23, 1959 519.89 December 30, 1959 519.86 ‘January 6, 1960 521.415 January 13, 1960 520. 34 January 20, 1960 520.00 January 27, 1960 519.76 February 3, 1960 520.00 February 10, 1960 519.05 February 17, 1960 519.36 February 24, 1960 , 520.16 March 2, 1960 519.90 March 9, 1960 519.97 March 16, 1960 519.82 March 23, 1960 519.92 March 30, 1960 519.69 April 6, 1960 519.48 -April 13, 1960 519.03 April 20, 1960 518.76 April 27, 1960 519.63 May 4, 1960 519.76 May 11, 1960 519.97 May 18, 1960 519.75 May 25, 1960 519.85 June 1, 1960 520.02 June 8, 1960 519.76 June 15, 1960 519.70 June 22, 1960 519.20 June 29, 1960 519.10 July 6, 1960 518.80 July 13, 1960 518.67 July 20, 1960 520.17 July 27, 1960 519.94 August 3, 1960 520.00 August 10, 1960 519.96 August 17, 1960 519.82 August 24, 1960 519.75 August 31, 1960 519.60 September 7, 1960 519.28 September 14, 1960 518.92 September 21, 1960 518.50 September 28, 1960 518.71 October 5, 1960 518.36 October 12, 1960 517.98 October 19, 1960 518.03 October 26, 1960 520.22 *Normal surface elevation is 520 m.s.l. --- Page 14 --- 1D» Table 7. Lake Whitney water temperatures .* *Temperatures recorded at regular station located at mouth of Cedar Creek ugust 13, 1960 __ --- Page 15 --- «13~ Table 8. Results of seine collections, Lake Whitney, November 1959 through October, 1960. Scientific name Species Percent of Total Spotted gar Lepisosteus oculatus 0.26 Gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum 84.28 River carpsucker Carpiodes carpio | 0.26 Sharpnose shiner Notropis oxyrhynchus 4.90 Brazos shiner Notropis brazosensis 1.54 Blacktail shiner Notropis venustus 0.51 Red shiner Notropis lutrensis 0.51 Gambusia Gambusia affinis 2.10 Largemouth bass Micropterus estes 1.80 Bluegills Lepomis macrochirus 2.58 White crappie Pomoxis annularis 0.26 --- Page 16 --- Figure 1. Side of an ex- perimental trap which was designed to extend through the thermocline, showing throat extending vertically from top to bottom. --- Page 17 --- Figure 3. Two type capture crappic. of traps used to Figure 4. Trap with a funnel throat at either end. type -cT- --- Page 18 --- 0. 1. pe RIVER mee 33, 3 ) LP Um 32. 3el h, : " om Kimball Bend Kimball Rec. Area Indian Lodge Plowman Creek 7c Raymond Creek Mesquite Creek Lakeside Village Circle "D" Dock Steel Creek Cedron Creek King Creek Nob Hill Rocky Creek Lodge Little Rocky Lodge Sportsman's Park Towash Creek Whitney Creek State Park Katy Railroad Bridge Elm Canyon Lodge Hillcrest Camp Redwood Lodge \ MIDDLE 8 os Deep Canyon 7a ea Wann Resort LAKE Cherokee Lodge Waldock's Lodge AREA T&L Boat Dock Gav's Juniner Cawa Add gum y NOLAN RIVER