TPWD 1961 F-5-R-8 #695: Inventory of Species Present in Lake Daniel near Breckenridge, Texas

--- Page 1 --- Report of Fisheries Investigations Inventory of Species Present in Lake Daniel near Breckenridge, Texas by Lawrence S. Campbell Project Leader Dingell-Johnson Project F-5-R-8, Job B-30 April 1, 1960 - March 31, 1961 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 --- ABSTRACE lake Daniel, a 11,400 acre feet lake near Breckenridge, Texas, was surveyed by taking gill net and seining samples of the fish populations. Of 626 individuals captured by gill nets » 57-18 percent were game species. Although there was some evidence of "stunting" in white crappie and sunfish, the high degree of over all condition and the relative abundance of usuable game fish were regarded as far above average, and no management recommendations are made. It is recommended that the lake be resurveyed within the next five years. --- Page 3 --- Job Completion Report State of Texas Project No. F-5-R-8 Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 3-B. Job No. B-30 Title: Inventory of Species Present in Lake Daniel near Breckenridge, Texas Period covered: April 1, 1960 - March 31, 1961 OBJECTIVES To determine the species present and their relative abundance as well as to deter- mine the ecological factors influencing distribution. PROCEDURE A. Netting Collections 1. 20 gill nets were set at random locations in the lake to secure a sample of the fish population. 2. Ten sites were netted on two occasions. 3. Gill net collections were made with experimental gill nets composed of 25 foot sections of varying size mesh, including 3/4 inch, l-inch, 13-inch, 2-inch, and 3-inch mesh. 4, Data for a sample number of individuals taken in nets consisted of length, weight, sex, stage of sexual development. 5. Ecological data for each collection included: a. Temperature - air and surface water b. pH c. Depth of water d. Depth of net set e. Direction and strength of wind f. Dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide content of water g- Main cover types, if any, including dominant aquatic vegetation, brush, rock ledges, etc. h. Bottom type at point of collection (mud, silt, rock, gravel, etc.) B. Seining Collections 1. Collections were made with 25 foot, 3-inch seines and/or 12 foot, 43-inch common seines. 2. Collections were made at locations selected in such a manner as to provide data on the fish populations in more than one type of habitat. 3. Seine specimens were tallied in a sample number of collections and in- dividuals were preserved for laboratory identification and measurement. 4, Ecological data for each collection of Specimens included the same items listed under Item 5 above. --- Page 4 --- wifi Certain details that were included in the original work procedure for this job were not completed because they were obviously unnecessary. Gill nets provided an adequate means of sampling of the fish populations and hoop nets were not used for that reason. To provide useful data, fyke or hoop nets must usually be set for several consecutive days. Gill nets usually provide a significant catch within the first 24 hours. Hoop type nets are also more selective in the species captured and sampling by that method is considerably more expensive than by gill nets. Age was not accurately determined for any of the fish since presently accepted methods are known to be fallible in fish of this area. The data that is required for computing K and that pertaining to sexual development were not taken for all fish netted. However, that information was taken for a sample number of fish for each species present. In all instances where the total number of fish captured of a particular species was less than twenty-five, K data was taken for all of the fish available. For other species of fish where the total number of fish caught exceeded 100 indi- viduals, 25 percent of the total catch were weighed, measured, and sexed. RESULTS Lake Description Lake Daniel is located approximately eight miles southeast of the City of Breckenridge is Stephens County, Texas. The reservoir is city-owned and is impounded by a compacted earth fill dam that was completed in 1947. ‘The approximate capacity of the lake is 11,400 acres and the surface area covered at that elevation is about 583 acres. The reservoir impounds Gumsolus Creek, Big Creek, and East Gumsolus Creek and has a contributing watershed of about 20,000 acres. The shoreline of about 19 miles is irregular and the average depth of the lake is about 20 feet. Recreational Usage Although there is no factual information available on the amount of recreation the lake provides, the lake is obviously very popular with sportsmen and the fishing reputation of the lake is good. Fish Populations The distribution of the various species and information on some other aspects of the fish populations are included in the following annotated checklist of species. This data resulted from seining collections and from observations of workers while the work was being done at the lake. Annotated Checklist of Species of Fish Taken from Lake Daniel LEPISOSTEIDAE - Gars Lepisosteus osseus = longnose gar. Not actually taken in either seining or netting in the lake but observed in stream areas of the region. CLUPEIDAE - Herrings Dorosoma cepedianum - gizzard shad. Abundant but not indicated as being exces- --- Page 5 --- =3- sively numerous. Apparently concentrated to some extent during the winter in the upper lake areas. : CATASTOMIDAE = Suckers Carpiodes carpio - river carpsucker. Common but not as yet overly abundant. A dormant threat to the game fish populations. Ripe in sexual development in mid-winter. CYPRINIDAE - Minnows Cyprinus carpio - carp. Common but not numerous in the sense of a concentrated population. Notropis lutrensis - redhorse shiner. Common and numerous in specific localities. Pimephales vigilax - parrot minnow. Common and abundant. Note: Although extensive seining was attempted only the above species were actually captured. For a more detailed report on the species of fish present in this locality refer to completion reports for Jobs B-16 and B-29. AMEIURIDAE - Catfishes Ictalurus punctatus - channel catfish. Common and very abundant throughout the reservoir. Pylodictus olivaris - flathead catfish. These fish are almost never found in abundance; however, the population in this lake is greater than is normally found in other lakes of the area. CYPRINODONTIDAE - Killifishes and topminnows Fundulus kansaw - plains killifish. Rare. Gambusia affinis - mosquitofish. Common but not abundant. SERRANIDAE - Basses Roccus chrysops - white bass. Not actually taken but so common in the adjacent waters that almost certain to occur in Lake Daniel. CENTRARCHIDAE - Black basses and sunfish Micropterus salmoides - largemouth bass. Common and fairly numerous. Successful reproduction and consecutive age groups obvious. Lepomis cyanellus - green sunfish. The most common sunfish present in the reservoir. Lepomis macrochirus - bluegill. About as common but possibly less numerous than green sunfish. Pomoxis annularis - white crappie. Common and numerous in aggregations. SCAENIDAE - Drum Aplodinotus grunniens - freshwater drum. Common but not numerous, evenly dis- tributed. --- Page 6 --- DISCUSSION Total figures for netting collections indicated that channel catfish were the second most abundant game species (20.61 percent) and were the most important pro- ducers of a usuable resource. Although white crappie (23.80 percent of the total catch), were abundant, only two of 149 individuals captured were large enough to provide sport. There is a fishery problem present in the rough fish populations that make up 42.82 percent of all fish in this lake. Although this problem is not regarded as being severe at this time, since 34.02 percent of the above figure are gizzard shad, the ability of suckers and carp to expand to dominating proportions is too well demonstrated in the past survey work of lakes of this region to permit a very optimistic appraisal of the lake's future recreational potentialities. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS There is no need for any management effort in Lake Daniel at this time. Game fishing in the lake is apparently satisfactory and all survey work indicates a favorable abundance of game fish. This reservoir should be resurveyed within the next five years. 4 Prepared by Lawrence S. Campbell Approved by Z Lagoon Zach. Project Leader Director Inland Fisheries Division Date July 31, 1961 --- Page 7 --- -5= Figure 1. A comparison of rough and/or forage species to game fish species. = | Total weight — Percent Number by Siactar a Weight Rough and/or forage species (Gizzard shad, river carpsucker, carp, freshwater drum, golden shiner) Game species (Channel catfish, flathead cat- fish, largemouth bass, redear sunfish, bluegill, white crappie.) he,82 (358 57.18 Totals aye --- Page 8 --- -6= Figure 2. Results of gill net collections taken from Lake Daniels during the period of October 27, 1960 through February 24, 1961. Percent] Total weight [ Average weight [Percent] Average Number by | " umber 213 Species 18.08 Gizzard shad River carpsucker Carp Golden shiner Channel catfish 1.16 Flathead catfish Largemouth bass Redear sunfish Bluegill sunfish White crappie Freshwater drum Totals --- Page 9 --- =T- Figure 3. Results of gill net collections taken from Lake Daniels on October 2T 5 1960. Percent | Average by nen Weight | Species Number Percent | Total weight] Average weight Numb by a : ws. | oz.| ms | oz. | h er S. | 7 8 Gizzard shad 6 1.70 River carpsucker 18 9 2.28 Carp 26 7 | 2.39 Golden shiner 1 S 1.58 Channel catfish 91 10 .89 Flathead catfish 3 eeae Largemouth bass 23 2.31 Redear sunfish 3 2.14 Bluegill sunfish KL 2.69 White crappie 1.20 Freshwater drum --- Page 10 --- -8- Figure 4. Results of gill net collections taken from Lake Daniels on February 2h, 1961. Total weight | Average weight | Species ey Number Hotter Gizzard shad River carpsucker Channel catfish Largemouth bass Bluegill sunfish White crappie Totals