TPWD 1960 F-5-R-7 #614: Resurvey and Appraisal of Several Public Waters in Region 3-B

--- Page 1 --- Report of Fisheries Investigations Resurvey and Appraisal of Several Public Waters in Region 3-B by Lawrence S. Campbell Project Leader and James Wilcox Assistant Project Leader Dingell-Johnson Project F-5-R-7, Job B-22 April 16, 1959 - April 1, 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 Lakes Trammell, Sweetwater, Abilene, and Fort Phantom Hill were resurveyed on the Clear Fork of the Brazos River Watershed. Lakes Brownwood, Scarbrough, Nasworthy, San Angelo, Moss Creek, and J. B. Thomas were resurveyed on the Colorado River Watershed. No resurvey was done on lakes on the Pecos River but netting collections were obtained from the river itself. Altogether, 116 netting and 36 seining collections were obtained. Although all the lakes resurveyed were found to have excessive populations of several undesirable species, the only lakes where management recommendations were deemed applicable and practical were Lakes Scarbrough and Sweetwater. The treatment of Lake Scarbrough was indefinitely postponed as this was the desire of the municipal officials of Coleman, Texas, who control the lake. The complete eradication of fish and a restock- ing program for Lake Sweetwater is scheduled for the fall of 1960. --- Page 3 --- Job Completion Report State of TEXAS Project No. F-5-R-7 Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 3-B Job No. B-22 Title: Resurvey and Appraisal of Several Public Waters in Region 3-B, Texas Period Covered: April L6; 1959 - April l, 1960 OBJECTIVES A. To study changes in abundance and in the physical condition of the principal fishery populations within the waters previously surveyed and as may occur. B. To determine the ecological succession of dominance of various species and to evaluate the conditions that influence and/or create such trends. C. To more accurately determine and define the extent and duration of conditions effecting the dominance and to determine what methods may be employed to bring about conditions favorable to the propagation and harvesting of game species. D. To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the various waters so that reliable and accurate data will be available in considering future management plans and rec- ommendations. PROCEDURE A total of 116 netting collections and 36 seining collections were obtained from ten lakes and one river location. All nets used were experimental type nylon gill nets, measuring 125 feet in length and eight feet in depth. They were made up in five 25- foot long sections with mesh sizes varying from one-inch square mesh to three-inch square mesh, increasing in d-inch intervals in each succeeding section. Various types of seines were employed including a l2-foot commonsense seine; a 30-foot, inch mesh, bag seine; a 50-foot, ¢-inch mesh, straight seine; and a 100-foot, 4-inch mesh, straight seine. An attempt was made to obtain netting and seining samples from the same locations used previously during the initial survey of the waters involved. When feasible to do so, data were collected concerning length, weight, sex, and stage of sexual devel- opment either on the complete netting collection obtained from a location, or on a representative sample of the individuals collected. --- Page 4 --- Physical and chemical conditions which might have a tendency to affect fishery populations, such as water level and fluctuation, turbidity, temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide content were noted. Hydrology data was obtained on those lakes where such data has been periodically recorded by the United States Geological Survey. FINDINGS Clear Fork of the Brazos River Watershed Lake Trammell - Four netting collections and two seining collections were obtained from this lake. The information gleaned from such limited sampling does not afford a substantial basis for a comparison of the fishery populations, as they now appear to be, with the fishery populations as they appeared during the initial inventory. However, in analyzing the data obtained it appears that black bullhead catfish (Ictalurus melas), which were the most abundant species in the initial inventory, are now even more numerous. Approximately 100 small flathead catfish (Pylodictus olivaris), have been stocked in this lake since the initial survey was completed in an effort to help control the vast population of bullheads. These fish have not had time to develop sufficiently for reproduction or to become large enough to consume a significant number of bullheads. More and larger largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) were obtained in the netting collections while the number of bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus), collected by both seine and net decreased considerably. The fact that the resurvey collections were made in cold weather while most of the initial inventory was done in warm weather could account for the difference in the size of the samples obtained of these two Species. However, accepting the samples on their face value, the reason for the change in abundance of these species is suggested by an ecological relationship that is known to exist (by analysis of stomach contents). It appears that the largemouth bass have thinned down the numbers of bluegill sunfish during the fall and winter months in the absence of the more preferred gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), which appar- ently do not occur in Lake Trammell. In summary then, the results of these resurvey data indicate a favorable trend as far as largemouth bass and bluegill sunfish are concerned and an unfavorable trend in regards to bullheads. However, the flathead catfish stocked in the lake may eventually help remedy the bullhead problem. No new species were obtained and no new fisheries problems were observed. The lake is used as a reservoir for municipal water for the City of Sweetwater and water fluctuations have continued to be fairly common although not extremely abrupt. The extent that these fluctuations affect the game fish population is not known. No management effort is recommended for Lake Trammell at this time. --- Page 5 --- ‘gure 1. - Results of four nets set for the resurvey of Lake Trammell from April 16, 1959 - April 1, 19 Species Number Percent Total weight Average weight Percent Average of number lbs. ozs. Ibs. ozs. of weight "Kk" Golden shiner yy 20.87 7 8 2.72 27.57 2.13 Channel catfish 9 4.26 Channel catfish were released . . . «1... 2 e ee Largemouth bass 9 4.26 29 4 3 4.00 68.52 2.76 Black bullheads Lyk 68.25 5 2 0.57 12.00 2.48 Redear sunfish 1 0.48 2 2.00 0.29 3.67 Bluegill sunfish 2 0.94 5 2.50 0.74 3.62 White crappie 2 0.94 6 3.00 0.88 2.65 Total 211 100.00 ho 11 100.00 ER * Pigure 2. - A comparison of rough and/or forage species to game species in four netting collections for the resurvey of Lake Trammell. Type of fish Number Rough and/or forage species (golden shiners & black bullheads) 188 Game species (channel catfish, largemouth bass and white crappie) 23 Totals all Percent of number 89.10 10.90 100.00 --- Page 6 --- Lake Sweetwater - Twenty-one netting collections and eight seining collections were obtained from this lake. The results of these collections indicate that the fisheries problems in Lake Sweetwater are basically the same as they were during the inventory period. At the end of the initial inventory it was concluded that, if the trend towards extreme overdominance by undesirable fish continued, management work would be necessary. In resurvey data, the percentage of gizzard shad was not quite as high as in the initial inventory, but that condition can probably be attributed to water and temperature variables which produced different conditions during the two periods. River carpsucker (Carpiodes carpio), and carp (Cyprinus carpio), however, were found to have a higher percentage by number in the netting sample. Since the lake is much lower than it was during the inventory period and since the City of Sweetwater is willing to fully cooperate in any management effort, it is recommended that the fish populations of this lake and the watershed above be completely eradicated and restocked with fish from state fish hatcheries. This recommendation has already been submitted and the jobs have been approved under the Statewide Rough Fish Control Project, F-14-D-4. (Job number 16a-23 and 18a-11). --- Page 7 --- Figure 3. - Results of twenty-one nets set for the resurvey of Lake Sweetwater during the period from April 16, 1959 through April 1, 1960 Species Number Percent Total weight Average weight Percent Average of number lbs. OZS. lbs. OZS. of weight "Kn" Gizzard shad 261 41.82 48 14 3 12.61 1.47 River carpsucker 76 12.18 102 2 1 5.5 26.37 2.20 Carp 43 6.89 34 5 12.8 8.85 2.68 Channel catfish Lhyy 23.08 158 5 1 1.6 40.87 2.67 Black bullheads 10 1.60 3 6 5.4 0.87 1.96 Largemouth bass 20 3.21 21 12 1 1.4 5.62 1.47 Bluegill sunfish 7 1.12 13 1.9 0.21 3.26 White crappie 63 10.10 i7 13 4.52 4.60 2.38 Totals 624 100.00 387 6 100.00 --- Page 8 --- Figure 4, - A comparison of rough and/or forage species to game species obtained in twenty-one nets set for the resurvey of Lake Sweetwater Type of fish Number Rough and/or forage species (gizzard shad, river carp- suckers, carp and black bullheads ) 390 Game species (channel catfish, large- mouth bass, bluegill sunfish and white crappie) 234 Totals 62h Percent of number 62.50 37-50 100.00 Total weight lbs. ozs. 188 11 198 ll 387 6 Percent of weight 48.71 51.29 100.00 --- Page 9 --- Lake Abilene - Four netting collections and two seining collections were obtained from this lake. The outstanding difference in the limited resurvey netting sample was that river carpsuckers had increased from less than 5 percent of the initial sample to over 35 percent of the resurvey sample, and that gizzard shad had increased from less than 4 percent by number to nearly 11 percent. The average size of white crappie (Pomoxis annularis) taken in the netting collections had decreased to slightly over three ounces. The seining sample further substantiated this trend. No management recommendation is made at this time because the populations of rough fish have not as yet reached the critical stage, because fishing is still relatively good in Lake Abilene, and because a high level of water has been maintained in the lake and management work at this timé would be relatively expensive. However, the fishery trends, as indicated by the inadequate fish collections made during the re- survey, are towards dominance by undesirable species and the lake should continue to be checked periodically as some management work could become necessary in the near future. , é --- Page 10 --- April 16, 1959 through April 1, 1960 Species Number Percent Total weight Average weight Percent Average of Number lbs. O28» lbs. OZS. of weight "K" Gizzard shad 6 10.71 8 1.33 2.15 1.58 River carpsucker 20 35.72 16 - 12.80 69.00 1.92 Golden shiner 2 3.57 4 Lou 2.00 1.08 1.42 Black bullhead 3 5.36 10 3.33 2.70 2.10 Channel catfish a 19.64 2 13 4.09 12.13 1.54 Bluegill sunfish L 1.79 4 4.00 1.08 3.25 White crappie 13 23.21 2 12 3.38 11.86 2.21 Total 56 100.00 23 3 100.00 --- Page 11 --- Figure 6. - A comparison of rough and/or forage species to game species obtained in four nets set for the resurvey of Lake Abilene Type of fish Number Percent Total weight Percent of number lbs. OZSs. of weight Rough and/or forage species (gizzard shad, river carp- sucker, golden shiner and black bullhead) 31 55-36 17 6 74.93 Game species (channel catfish, bluegill sunfish and white crappie) 25 44.64 5 13 25.07 Totals os 56 100.00 23 3 100.00 --- Page 12 --- 10. Lake Fort Phantom Hill - Six netting collections and two seining collections were obtained from this lake. The limited samples obtained indicated no drastic changes in the fish populations have occurred since the initial inventory. The lake still has an abundance of gizzard shad, river carpsucker, smallmough buffalo (Iectiobus bubalus), carp and stunted white crappie, and the dominant game fish still appear to be white bass (Roccus chrysops), and channel catfish (Ictalurus’ punctatus). The lake level has remained relatively high and some good fishing is still reported from the lake. No management measures are planned at this time, but this lake should be kept under resurvey during the coming segments as the fishery populations appear to be slowly becoming dominated by rough fish’ each year. --- Page 13 --- ll. Figure 7. - Results of six nets set for the resurvey of Fort Phantom Hill Lake during the period from a 16, 1959 through April 1, 1960 Species Number Percent Total weight Average weight Percent of number lbs. OZS. lbs. ozs. of weight Gizzard shad 38 11.87 5 2 2.16 1.78 Smallmouth buffalo 37 11.56 99 2 10.8 34.42 River carpsucker 10 3.13 10 14 1 1.4 3.78 Carp 8 2,50 14 6 1 12.8 5.00 Channel catfish 125 39.06 134 6 1 1.2 46.71 White bass 10 3.13 5 8 1.74 Largemouth bass 2 0.62 6 15 3 5 2.41 Bluegill sunfish 15 4.69 2 9 2.73 0.90 White crappie 7h 23.12 8 13 1.9 3.07 Freshwater drum 1 0.32 9 9 0.19 Totals 320 100.00 287 10 100.00 --- Page 14 --- le. Figure 8. - A comparison of rough and/or forage species to game species obtained in six nets set for the resurvey of Fort Phantom Hill Lake Type of fish Number Rough and/or forage species (gizzard shad, smallmouth buffalo, river carpsucker, carp, and freshwater drum) 94 Game species (channel catfish, white bass, largemouth bass, bluegill sunfish, and white crappie ) 226 Totals 320 Percent of number 29.38 70.62 100.00 Total weight lbs. 129 157 287 OZS. 15 ll 10 Percent of weight 45.18 54.82 100.00 --- Page 15 --- 13. Colorado River Watershed Lake Brownwood - Ten netting collections and three seining collections were obtained from this lake. Missing from the netting sample was the river carpsucker. This is not particularly indicative that this species has reduced in numbers in Lake Brownwood, but is more likely a sampling error. In general, the netting col- lections indicated relatively stable fish populations. Gizzard shad were still the dominant rough and/or forage fish and white bass continued to be the primary game fish. The average white crappie in Lake Brownwood appear to be fairly small but not nearly as small as could be expected for a lake of its age and these fish still support a relatively good fishery. The principal ecological change in the fish population reflected itself in the seining results. Redhorse shiners (Notropis lutrensis), no longer appear to be the dominant minnow in the lake, but a species not previously reported from the lake has taken this distinction. This new species is the tidewater Ssilverside (Menidia beryllina). None of these silversides were found in the stomachs of any of the game fish examined. However, not a large enough sample of game fish was obtained to examine enough stomachs to make any definite statements concerning the inter-relationships of the tidewater silverside and the other fish in the lake. --- Page 16 --- Figure 9. - Results of ten nets set for the resurvey of Lake Brownwood during the period from April 16, 1959 through April 1, 1960 Species Number Percent Total weight Average weight Percent Average of number lbs. OZS. lbs. OZS. of weight "K" Longnose gar 6 2.95 29 2 4 13.66 19.28 40 Gizzard shad 83 40.89 36 6 7-01 2h 07 1.83 Smallmouth buffalo 7 3.45 14 10 2 1.43 9.69 3.00 Channel catfish 18 8.86 18 14 ‘4 0.77 12.49 1.48 White bass WL 20.20 33 13 13.19 22.38 2.46 Largemouth bass 6 2.95 1 12 4.66 1.16 2.01 Sunfish 3 LAT 15 5.00 0.62 2.84 White crappie 39 19.23 15 9 6.38 10.31 2 ke Totals 203 100.00 151 1 100.00 --- Page 17 --- 15. Figure 10. - A comparison of rough and/or forage species to game species obtained in ten nets set of the resurvey of Lake Brownwood Type of fish Number Percent Total weight Percent of number lbs. OZS. of weight Rough and/or forage species (longnose gar, gizzard shad, and smallmouth buffalo ) 96 47.29 80 2 53.04 Game species (channel catfish, white bass, largemouth bass, sunfish, and white crappie) 107 52.71 70 15 46.96 Totals 203 100.00 151 1 100.00 --- Page 18 --- 16. Lake Scarbrough - Twenty netting collections were obtained but no seining collections were made due to the absence of seining beaches and the steep shoreline of the lake which make effective seining virtually impossible. White crappie continued to be the dominant game fish in the lake according to the resurvey sample but these fish were, for the most part, not considered to be highly desirable due to the small size of the majority of the individuals collected. Gizzard shad were still indicated as the principal undesirable species with freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens ), in second position. A fairly high percentage of drum in a netting col- lection from West Texas waters is rare and actually only 3.22 percent of the fish netted during the resurvey were of this species. During the initial survey, drum accounted for over 45 percent of the fish collected and Lake Scarbrough is still believed to have a very high population of this species. One drum obtained in the resurvey sample weighed 18 pounds. Out of the same net this large drum came from, a smallmouth buffalo was captured that weighed 29 pounds. Both fish had several pounds of ripe eggs in them when examined and were caught in water not over 5 feet deep during the month of November. Although the rough fish populations as reflected in the netting data are not exceedingly large, the lake does not produce many channel catfish. Most of the crappie caught are small and the abundance of forage in the lake apparently keeps the largemouth (Micropterus salmoides), from hitting the fishermen's baits. For these reasons and the fact that the lake would be relatively inexpensive to treat, a complete fish eradication and restocking program was rec- ommended to the City of Coleman, which has control over the lake, but after much deliberation city officials decided that they preferred to not have the eradication conducted at that time. Another fisheries resurvey and subsequent discussion of the findings with the city officials and people of Coleman and surrounding area will be undertaken at sometime in the future when conditions for future management are considered to be more favorable. --- Page 19 --- Figure ll. = Results of twenty nets set for the resurve 1959 through April 1, 1960 Species Gizzard shad Smallmouth buffalo River carpsucker Carp Channel catfish Flathead catfish Largemouth bass Redear sunfish Bluegill sunfish White crappie Freshwater drum Totals Number 115 2h 13 49 2h0 15 466 Percent of number 24.67 0.22 1.07 0.22 5015 0.22 2.78 0.43 10.51 51.51 3.22 100.00 Total weight lbs. 27 ag 16 8 45 2 18 60 22 2he OZS. LL 10 LO 14 Average weight lbs. 29 OZS o 3.85 4.02 10 14 5 6.23 2.90 4.01 8.46 Percent of weight 11.44 11.99 6.75 3.56 18.61 2.06 748 0.26 3.67 2,88 9.30 100.00 y of Lake Scarbrough during the period from April 16, Average wn 1.64 2.70 2.22 1.67 2.05 1.23 4.70 4.18 2259 2.31 --- Page 20 --- 18. Figure 12. ~ A comparison of rough and/or forage species to game species obtained in twenty nets set for the resurvey of Lake Scarbrough Type of fish Number Percent Total weight Percent by number lbs. OZs. by weight Rough and/or forage species (gizzard shad, smallmouth buffalo, river carpsucker, carp, and freshwater drum) 137 29.40 104 2 ~ 4e.99 Game species (channel catfish, largemouth bass, redear sunfish, bluegill sunfish, and white crappie) 329 70.60 138 1 57.01 Totals 466 100.00 242 3 100.00 --- Page 21 --- 19. Lake Nasworthy - Ten netting collections and four seining collections were obtained from this lake. Sampling is regarded as adequate to establish its basic purposes of (1) establishing the relative changes in the populations since the last sampling was done and, (2) to ascertain a normal, or relatively normal, distribution of the species in the spring and winter months, or under what may be deemed normal conditions. It was found that the bulk of the fish captured were found in depths of less than 15 feet. Apparently there has been a numerical increase in gizzard shad from 39.0 percent to 53.79 percent and a reduction of the sub-dominance of river carpsuckers from 26.90 percent to about 16.02 percent. This latter species continues to dominate the collections by weight by being 38.27 percent of the current total as compared to 42.20 percent of the previous inventory collections. Other ratio changes are regarded as being of a lesser importance with the possible exception of the increase in largemouth bass. These populations changes are believed to be the result of the more stable hydrological conditions that occurred during the past 18 months and these findings are regarded as a further indication of the aptitude of river carpsuckers to dominate a fishery population under extremely fluctuating conditions or during the "drough" cycle in Region 3-B. These findings are also regarded as possible supplementary evidence that the previously expressed concept that these suckers were not used as food was erroneous, and that the basic idea of utilizable size may be nearer to the actual circumstance than the previously expressed con- demnation of the species. Approximately 1,000 blue catfish were introduced into this reservoir as part of the experimental introduction program described under Job E-2. --- Page 22 --- fan oO Figure 13. - Results of ten nets set for the resurvey of Lake Nasworthy during the period from April 16, 1959 through April 1, 1960 Species Longnose gar Gizzard shad River carpsucker Carp Channel catfish Flathead catfish White bass Largemouth bass Sunfishes White crappie Freshwater drum Totals Number 29 376 112 36 34 22 17 31 699 Percent by number 84k 53-78 16.02 9015 4,86 1.01 3.14 0.29 2.43 Wh 0.44 100.00 Total weight lbs. 21 83 176 9 26 46 30 1 2 18 460 OZS 12 13 10 13 14 14 Average weight lbs. OZS& o DoT 3.6 1 9.2 i 5.8 12.4 6 11.0 1 6.3 14.5 2.0 9.7 1 4.7 Percent by weight 4.57 18.17 38.27 10.68 5.71 10.16 6.64 0.40 0.46 4.09 0.85 100.00 Average wy 0.47 --- Page 23 --- el. igure 14. - A comparison of rough and/or forage species to game species obtained in ten nets set for the resurvey of Lake Nasworthy Type of fish Number Percent Total weight Percent of number lbs. OZS. of weight Rough and/or forage species (longnose gar, gizzard shad, river carpsucker, carp, and freshwater drum) 586 83.84 334 4 72.53 Game species (channel catfish, flathead catfish, white bass, large- mouth bass, sunfishes, and white crappie) 113 16.16 126 9 27.47 Totals 699 100.00 460 13 100.00 --- Page 24 --- 22.6 San Angelo Reservoir - Twelve netting collections and five seining collections were obtained from this lake. Gizzard shad have increased from 20.36 percent of the netting sample during the initial survey ending in 1956 to 59.04 percent of the resurvey netting sample. River carpsuckers did not constitute as high a per- centage of the fish in the netting sample as they had previously, but the decrease was not great enough to be highly significant as a sampling error could easily account for a variation of the magnitude encountered. White bass and white crappie still account for the bulk of the game fish procured in the netting collection, but the average crappie has diminished in size until these fish are no longer desirable ig, San Angelo Reservoir. Channel catfish are still abundant and provide one of the chief fisheries resources in the lake. Recently a 49 pound catfish was caught by a local angler. It is hoped that this fishery will continue to develop. The seining sample indicates a change in dominance from redhorse shiners to spottail shiners (Notropis venustus). However, redhorse shiners apparently are still abundant and both types of minnows are desirable forage species. No management procedure would be practical at this time on this large body of water in the opinion of the Region 3-B aquatic biologists. However, in case of a drouth and subsequent sub- stantial decrease in water volume, a management effort might be advisable. --- Page 25 --- 23. Figure 15. - Results of twelve nets set for the resurvey of the San Angelo Reservoir during the period from April 16, 1959 through April 1, 1960 Species Number Percent Total weight Average weight Percent Average of number lbs. OZS. lbs. OZS . of weight "Ku Longnose gar 1 0.16 1 2 1 2 0.31 0.03 Gizzard shad 369 59.04 71 1h 3.2 20.33 1.38 River carpsucker 77 12.32 139 9 1 13 39 46 2.54 Carp 8 1.28 7) 1:5 0.22 2.32 Channel catfish 33 5.28 55 11 1 11 15374 2.17 Black bullheads 1 0.16 7 7 0.13 2.23 White bass 66 10.56 71 3 1 1.3 20.13 2.46 Sunfish 4 0.64 9 2.25 0.16 2.82 White crappie 59 9.44 9 13 BT 2.77 1.81 Freshwater drum 7 1.12 2 10 6 0.75 1.66 Totals 625 100.00 353 10 100.00 --- Page 26 --- Figure 16. - A comparison of rough and/or forage species to game species obtained in twelve nets set for the resurvey of San Angelo Type of fish Number Rough and/or forage species (longnose gar, gizzard shad, river carpsucker, carp, black bullheads, and fresh- water drum) 463 Game species (channel catfish, white bass, sunfish, and white crappie) 162 Totals 625 Percent of number 74.08 25.92 100.00 Reservoir Total weight lbs. OZSe 216 6 137 h 353 10 Percent of weight 61.19 38.81 100.00 --- Page 27 --- eb Moss Creek Lake - Fourteen netting collections and four seining collections were obtained from this lake. On March 24 of 1959, during the initial survey period, a selective kill of gizzard shad was performed. A tremendous number of shad were killed. However, very few shad were observed dying or dead that weighed over 7 ounces and the netting collections collected before the kill had indicated that no shad over a weight of 7% ounces were present in the lake. The result of five netting collections made a few days after the selective kill produced no shad. On May 12, 1959, 13 months after the shad kill, 14 shad were obtained from six nets and all of these shad weighed between 9 and 14 ounces. On October 1, 1959, five months later, three nets were set and 69 shad were captured. This sample of shad was made up of two sizes. One size had an average weight of about six ounces and the other size had an average weight of approximately 1 pound and 12 ounces. These fish were probably from the same age group shad that had weighed 7 ounces at the time of the shad kill and between 9 and 14 ounces one and a half months later. The small shad were probably their progeny. On January 14, 1960, five nets were set that produced 24 shad ranging in size from as ounces to 2 pounds and 1 ounce. The largest size shad that had weighed 1 pound 12 ounces months earlier, had apparently grown to approximately 2 pounds and during the January netting there were at least three age groups and more likely four age groups of shad in the lake. Fishing was improved for a short time after the management effort, but a noticeable improvement in fishing for an extended time did not occur. The only conclusions that can be drawn are that the selective kill did eradicate a great many shad but that a few were left and that the management technique was in effect responsible for raising the average size of the shad in Moss Creek Lake from 3.34 ounces to 8.23 ounces without helping the fisherman catch a great many more fish and without raising the average size of game fish. Other rough fish besides gizzard shad and black bullheads are still very scarce and not considered a fisheries problem in Moss Creek Lake. The populations of game fish apparently remained relatively stable and the seining indicated that there were a great number of fingerling largemouth bass in the lake. White crappie are even smaller than they were in the initial survey, averaging only 2.48 ounces even though redhorse shiners were successfully reestablished in the lake by the lake patrolman after they had become rare during the last few years. It was heped that the redhorse shiners would provide ample food for the white crappie and help the crappie increase their average size. All types of sunfish including the redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus), appear to be stunted, although the redear is still the largest s species of sunfish in the lake. No farther management effort is recommended at this time. --- Page 28 --- 26. Figure 17. - Results of fourteen nets set for the resurvey of Moss Creek Lake during the pericd from April 16, 1959 through April 1, 1960 Species Number Percent Total weight Average weight Percent Average of number lbs. OZS. lbs. OZS. of weight "KN Gizzard shad 107 39.48 55 1 8.23 25.64 2.29 Carp 1 0.37 1 13 1 13 0.83 2.75 Golden shiner 1 0.37 2 2 0.05 1.58 Channel catfish 79 29.15 118 5 1 7.96 54.93 1.69 Black bullhead 2h 8.85 9 15 6.63 4,61 1.56 White bass 4 1.48 6 8 1 10 3.01 2.72 Largemouth bass 12 443 16 15 1 6.60 7.85 2.45 Warmouth bass J 0.37 1 1 0.03 3.00 Green sunfish 1 0.37 2 2 0.05 3.35 Orangespotted sunfish 1 0.37 2 2 0.05 1.96 Redear sunfish 12 443 2 12 3.67 1.27 3.39 Bluegill sunfish 18 6.64 2 1 1.83 0.95 3.2h White crappie 10 3.69 1 9 2.50 0.73 2.62 Totals 271 100.00 215 6 100.00 --- Page 29 --- 27. Figure 18. = A comparison of rough and/or forage species to game species obtained in fourteen nets set for the resurvey of Moss Creek Lake Type of fish Number Percent Total weight Percent of number lbs. OZS . of weight Rough and/or forage species (gizzard shad, carp, golden shiner, and black bullheads) 133 49.08 66 15 31.08 Game species (channel catfish, white bass, largemouth bass, warmouth bass, sunfish, and white crappie) 138 50.92 148 7 68.92 Totals 271 100.00 215 6 100.00 --- Page 30 --- 28. Lake J. B. Thomas - Ten netting collections and six seining collections were obtained from this lake. The data obtained from ten nets set does not give a totally representative picture of the true abundance of the different fish populations occurring in Lake Thomas in the opinion of the aquatic biologists for Region 3-B. It is felt that the results of previous resurveys made on this lake give a more accurate depiction of the rough fish populations. For instance, in 1958, river carpsucker composed nearly 15 percent of the total fish caught in the 48 netting collections obtained, and in the present resurvey river carpsucker accounts for only 6.23 percent. Gizzard shad, river carpsucker and to a lesser extent carp, still constitute a major fishery problem in this lake in the opinion of these observers. Largemouth bass are conspicuous by their absence in the netting and seining samples. The fluctuation of the lake level and possibly to some extent the competition with white bass and general overcrowded condition of the lake created by large populations of rough fish are the most probable reasons for the sparseness of this species. On the other hand, the white bass in this lake have provided a great deal of recreation for sportsmen from all over West Texas. Channel catfish and flathead catfish also support a substantial fishery. An experimental introduction of 4,500 blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus), was accomplished in the fall of 1959. These fish were 6- to 10-inches long at that time. It is hoped that this added species will help create better fishing for more people and that if they do adapt to the ecological conditions found in Lake Thomas that they will serve as an added partial control on undesirable species as flathead catfish and channel catfish sometimes appear to do. Resurvey will be continued on this lake during the coming segments in order to keep informed on the status of these fish and in order to make management recommendations at the earliest possible date that a management technique would be applicable and practical. --- Page 31 --- 29. Figure 19. ~ Results of ten nets set for the resurvey of Lake Thomas during the period from April 16, 1959 through April 1, 1960 * Species Number Percent of number Gizzard shad ou 32.52 River carpsucker 18 6.23 Carp 6 2.08 Channel catfish 72 24.91 White bass 67 23.18 Bluegill sunfish 2 0.69 White crappie 30 10.39 Totals 289 100.00 * No weights or measurements were obtained on these fish --- Page 32 --- 30. Figure 20. - A comparison of rough and/or forage species to game species obtained in ten nets set for the resurvey of Lake J. B. Thomas Type of fish Number Percent of number Rough and/or forage species (gizzard shad, river carp- sucker, and carp) 118 40.83 Game species (channel catfish, white bass, bluegill sunfish, and white crappie ) 171 59.17 Totals 289 100.00 --- Page 33 --- 31. Pecos River Watershed The Mouth of the Pecos River on King Ranch - Five netting collections were obtained from the Pecos River itself primarily in an attempt to procure Rio Grande blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus), for Job E-2. However, the data gathered from the setting of these nets is the only data obtained for the Pecos River or its watershed as no lakes on its drainage were resurveyed during the segment and is therefore included. Three species of gar and gizzard shad appear to constitute the primary rough and/or forage species for the area netted while blue catfish is the principal game species. Four small largemouth bass were captured. These were the same size fish and are believed to be part of a transplant of this species this area from the state fish hatchery that occurred a few months prior to the If so, this stocking appears to have been a success as the bass apparently had very fast and were in good condition. The middle and upper areas of the Pecos and Lake Imperial and Red Bluff Reservoir will be resurveyed during the coming in order to keep informed on the current status of the fishery populations and all to netting. grown River segment to find out the degree of success or failure of recent introductions of marine species in those areas. Prepared by _ Lawrence S. Campbell Approved by Project Leader Director Inland Fisheries Division James Wilcox Assistant Project Leader Date August 5, 1960 --- Page 34 --- 32. Figure 21. - Results of five nets set for the resurvey of the Pecos River during the period from April 16, 1959 through April 1, 1960 * Species Number Percent of number Alligator gar 5 4.71 Spotted gar 1 0.95 Longnose gar 32 30.18 Gizzard shad he 39.63 Blue sucker 2 1.88 Smallmouth buffalo Ba 0.95 River carpsucker 1 0.95 Carp 1 0.95 Blue catfish 14 13.21 Flathead catfish 1 0.95 White bass 2 1.88 Largemouth bass h 3.76 Totals 106 100.00 *% No weights or measurements were obtained on these fish --- Page 35 --- Figure 22. ~ A comparison of rough and/or forage species to game species obtained in five nets River. , Type of fish Rough and/or forage species (gars, gizzard shad, blue suckers, smallmouth buffalo, river carpsucker, and carp) Game species (blue catfish, flathead catfish, white bass, and largemouth bass) Totals set for the resurvey of the Pecos Number Percent of number 85 80.19 el 19.81 106 100.00