TPWD 1961 F-5-R-8 #696: Inventory of Species Present in Lake Leon near Eastland, Texas: Job Completion Report, Dingell-Johnson Project F-5-R-8, Job B-29

--- Page 1 --- Report of Fisheries Investigations “Inventory of Species Present in Lake Leon near Eastland, Texas by James F. Wilcox Assistant Project Leader Dingell-Johnson Project F-5-R-8, Job B-29 April 1, 1960 - February 28, 1961 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 Twenty-one species representing 13 genera and seven families of fish were collected from Lake Leon. Excessive numbers of forage species and large populations of smallmouth buffalo, Ictiobus bubalus, and river carpsuckers, Carpiodes carpio, were found to be the chief fishery problems. The smallmouth buffalo are considered to be less detrimental in Lake Leon, however, than many other rough fish species would be because of their utilization by the local fishermen for food as well as for sport. Largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, were found to still occur in Lake Leon in significant numbers but fewer bass are reportedly caught by anglers now than in past years. This can probably be attributed to the development of excessive forage. The percentage of rough and/or forage fish occurring in the netting sample (51.18%), while high, does not indicate that selective or total fish eradication treatment could be justified at this time. The possibility of protecting the present flathead catfish, Pylodictus olivaris, population by means of temporary regulations prohibiting the use of trotlines for taking them has been discussed and is being con- sidered by the Eastland County Water Board, who ow and control the lake. --- 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-29 Title: Inventory of Species Present in Lake ' Leon near Eastland, Texas. CRAG Period covered: April 1, 1960 - February 28, 1961 OBJECTIVES To determine the species present and their relative abundance as well as to determine the ecological factors influencing their distribution. PROCEDURE A total of 48 netting collections was obtained from Lake Leon during the survey period. 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 half-inch intervals in each succeeding section. Sixteen stations were employed in the setting of these 48 nets. Each station had one net set at it for one night during the months of May, July and November of 1960. All fish taken from the nets were weighed, measured, and their sex and condition determined. Individuals of some species were examined for stomach contents and for parasites. , Hoop and/or fyke nets were not employed for collection purposes as the collections being obtained from gill nets were apparently adequate and because there was insufficient time available for the effective use of these other types of collecting devices. Seining collections were obtained at three locations during the May and July trips to the lake. Each collection consisted of several seine drags with either a 12 or 206 foot #-inch mesh nylon straight seine. The fish collected in seines were counted by species and a sample of each species was preserved for further study in the laboratory. In addition to netting and seining, records were made during each trip of the surface water temperature, the pH, and the turbidity. Notations concerning the description and general ecological conditions of the lake and surrounding terrain were also recorded. Further hydrological and water analysis information was obtained from the Eastland County Water Board and the Texas State Department of Health. FINDINGS --- Page 4 --- -2- Location and Physical Conditions Lake Leon is located on the Leon River, between the towns of Eastland and Ranger and approximately six miles south of highway 80. Three small impoundments, Lake Olden, Old Eastland Lake and Ringland Lake, are on the Leon River watershed above Lake Leon (Figure 1). The contributing watershed covers 259 square miles. At spillway level the lake covers 1600 surface acres and contains 28,000 acre feet of water. The dam was completed in 1955 under the direction of the Eastland County Water Board with the firm of, Freeze and Nichols serving as engineers. The main dam is 87 feet high, 1,500 feet long, of earthen construction and riprapped with large rock approximately l- to 3-feet in diameter. The deepest place in the lake at spillway elevation is 67 feet. The bottom is varied, with bed rock, riprap, mud and silt being the main components. Limestone cliffs are prevalent in the upper reaches of the lake along the river bed. Turbidity values ranged between 31 and 47 inches as observed by means of a Secchi disk. The recorded pH values ranged between 7.1 and 8.1. Recorded water temperatures ranged between 46 degrees and 79 degrees F. The lake level dropped during the project period from an elev@tion of 1374.8 in April to 1372.5 in November. The highest water elevation was 1375.3 in May. At this level the lake contains 25,000 acre-feet of water. More complete hydrological information is given in Tables 1 and 2. Vegetation Mesquites, button willows, post oaks, hackberries, elms, pecans and cottonwoods are abundant along the shore line. The upper two-thirds of the lake are littered with dead trees of these species that were left standing when the dam was closed (Figures 2 and 3). There are also a few large, dead, fruit trees in the lake, the remnants of former orchards. Native grasses are abundant along the shores. Besides various types of algae, muskgrass, Chara, pondweed, Potamogeton, and cattails, Typha, are principal genera of aquatic vetetation present. None of these species presently constitutes a problem, however, the dead trees that congest the upper end of the lake are thick enough to make access difficult to some areas of the lake. History and Administration Lake Leon is owned and operated by the Eastland County Water Board. It was con-~ structed in 1955 for use as a municipal water supply for the towns of Ranger and Eastland, Texas. A water treatment plant and pumping station is located near the Lake ¢ Only a slight amount of siltation appears to have occurred since the dam was com- pleted. This light silt load can probably be attributed to the three small lakes above Lake Leon which tend to serve as settling basins. Excellent catches of largemouth bass, white crappie, and channel catfish were made the first few years after the lake was opened to public fishing. In the spring of 1959 the fishing was not as good as it had been previously and the Eastland County Water Board made an official request for the Texas Game and Fish Commission to make a survey and inventory of species present. This investigation indicates that the --- Page 5 --- -3- lake is still providing a large number of desirable bass and catfish but that these species are not as easy to catch in Lake Leon as they once were. A charge of fifty cents per person, per day is collected by the water board for the use of the lake. ‘The money is used to pay the lake patrolman and for maintenance of the roads and facilities around the lake. Water skiers use the lower end of the lake where there are no trees during all but the colder months of the year. The upper reaches of the lake are not as accessible to the skiers due to the innundated trees, therefore fishermen utilize this area. Netting Tables 3 through 8 present the data obtained by the use of gill nets and Figure 4 shows the locations of the netting stations. A total of 549 specimens representing 15 species were collected by netting. Of this number 48.82 percent were game species. However, part of this 48.82 percent game fish were small sunfish and stunted crappie. Description of Netting Stations Station 1: One end of the net was tied to a large rock on the south end of the dam while the other end was stretched perpendicular to the dam, out into the open water. The water depth was 6-feet at the dam and became increasingly deeper so that the extended end of the net was in 32-feet of water. The bottom was covered with the dam's course rock riprap. Station 2: This station was approximately 200 yards w&st of Station 1, at the entrance to a small slough. One end of the net was tied to a small oak tree and the other end was anchored in open water. Water depth ranged from 3-feet at the shoreline to 25-feet deep. The bottom was composed of large limestone rocks, boulders, and silt. Station 3: The net was tied to a water pump dock on a rocky ledge, up the main body of the lake, and approximately 150-yards west of Station 2. The water ranged in depth from the bank to the extended end of the net from 5- to 22-feet, The bottom was covered with silt and avalanched rocks toward the shore. Station 4: This station was approximately 200 yards west of Station 3, up the main lake channel. One end of the net was tied to a willow tree in three feet of water 20-feet from shore. The other end was anchored in open water 19-feet deep. The gradually sloping beach was covered with native grasses and rubble. The bottom, below the net, was rubble, sand and silt. Numerous oak stumpse protruded from the water. Station 5: This area was located on the opposite side of the lake from Station 2. This was a small slough by the north corner of the dam. One end of the net was tied to a liveoak tree and the other end was stretched parallel with the shoreline and anchored. The water was 6-feet deep at both ends of the net and the bottom was sandy. There were small patches of pondweed growing in the water near the shore. Station 6: This station was about one-third of the way up the lake from the dam. One end of the net was tied to a boat dock in 5-foot water. The other end was anchored in open water. 13-feet deep. The shallow sloping shore was covered with --- Page 6 --- -h Russian thistle and native grasses. The bottom was silt. Station 7: This area was over the site on an old lake which had been in existence before the construction of Lake Leon. The old earthen dam still protruded from the water. One end of the net was tied in a willow grove on the old dam and the other end was anchored straight out from the dam in 4-feet of water. The bottom was deep silt. Pondweeds were abundant and there was scattered patches of cattails in the area. Station 8: This station was at the end of a dirt road that entered the water. One end of the net was tied to a partly innundated oak tree located 75-yards from the shore. The other end was anchored in 12-feet of water. The net was stretched over the old road bed and was parallel to the shoreline. The bottom was hard packed clay and caliche. There were numerous oaks and elms nearby. Station 9: This station was 400-yards out in the lake from Station 8 and was over the same road bed. One end of the net was tied to a large, dead pecan tree and the other end was tied to a large, dead. cottonwood tree. The water was 30-feet deep but the net was. left floating. Station 10: This station was directly across the lake from Station 8 and on the south shore. The net was tied to a barbed-wire fence at one end in three feet of water and was anchored out into the lake at the other end in 10 feet of water. There *were numerous green button willows along the fence line. The bottom was once culti- vated land and was composed of mud and silt. Station ll: The net set at this station was tied to an innundated oak tree located 50 feet from the south shore of the lake. The water was 10 feet deep. Green willow trees and native grasses were abundant along: the shore. The bottom was mud and silt. Station 12: This station was also at the end of a road that entered the water. One end of the net was tied 30 feet from shore to a fence post which was adjacent to a large pear tree. The other end was anchored on the road. The water was 4-feet deep. There were willow trees, cattails, and pondweed growing along the shoreline. Station 13: This station was near a farm road bridge which crosses the lake. One of the nets was attached to a dead pear tree in the lake approximately 50 feet from shore. The other end was stretched parallel to the farm road and anchored, The bottom was rocky as the bar ditch and sides of the farm road were riprapped on each end of the bridge. The water ranged in depth from 4- to 8-feet. Station 14: This location was across the farm road bridge in the extreme upper end of the lake. One end of the net was tied to a dead hackberry tree 75 feet from shore and the other end was stretched out perpendicularly from the shore and anchored in the river channel. The depth at the tree was 4-feet and at the: other end of the net the depth was 16-feet. Large dead trees protruded from the water over this entire area. The bottom was mud and silt. : Station 15: This station was in the river channel in the upper end of the lake. One end of the net was tied to a pecan tree and the other end was tied to a cottonwood tree which had previously grown along the edge of the river. The water was 16-feet deep and the bottom was covered with silt. Thick groves of dead inundated trees surrounded the station. --- Page 7 --- =5- Station 16: This was the station furtherest up the lake. One end of the net was tied to an electric pole and the other end was anchored, The water was 6-feet deep. The bottom was formerly cultivated land and was muddy. Seining There were only three small areas in Lake Leon where seining was possible. These were all located over dirt roads entering the water. These roads are also popular boat launching areas. Their frequent use in this capacity tended to impair the effectiveness of these areas for seining. This factor, plus the clearness of the water, the particular water temperatures at the times seining was done, and the limited space in the areas available for seining account for the poor results ob- tained by this sampling method. Only 64 specimens, representing 10 species, were collected by use of seines in Lake Leon. Description of Seining Stations Station 1: The end of a dirt road entering the water with a barrow on each side, The barrow ditch was bounded by a barbed wire fence on one side and pondweed on the other. The bottom had a fairly steep gradient with water too deep for seining approxi- mately 20 feet from shore. Station 2: The end of a dirt road entering the water by a former fruit orchard. A large pear tree was nearest the road. The remains of a barbed wire fence were near the orchard. There were willow trees, cattails and pondweed growing along the shore- line. The bottom was firm and had a gently sloping gradient with water too deep for seining approximately 60 feet from shore. Station 3: This station was also at the end of a dirt road that entered the water in a large slough. Dead mesquite trees were numerous on each side of the road. ‘The bottom was firm and had a gently sloping gradient with water too deep to seine approxi- mately 5C feet from shore. Annotated Species List Lepisosteidae (gars) lepisosteidae productus (spotted gar): Only a few small individuals were cape tured. These fish appear to primarily confine themselves to the upper reaches of the lake in the river channel. L. osseus (longnose gar): Only a few specimens were collected. Their average size was large enough for them to serve as predators but there is apparently not enough gar in the lake to be effective in controlling the forage populations. Clupeidae (herrings) Dorosoma cepedianum (gizzard shad): This species has not thus far become domi- nant in Lake Leon as it has in many other reservoirs. However, netting samples in- dicate that these fish are abundant composing 9.66 percent of the total number of fish netted. Most shad captured were still small enough to be used by game fishes for forage. According to the lake patrolman it was not possible to observe as many shad in the clear shallow waters during the survey period as it had been in previous --- Page 8 --- b= years. From this observation and considering the relatively small size of nearly all shad captured it is possible that natural control or die-off of shad occurred prior to the inventory. Catostomidae (suckers and buffalofishes) Icticbus bubalus (smallmouth buffalo): Lake Leon contains an exceptionally large number of these fish. They constituted 23.50 percent of the netting sample. The reason for their abundance in this lake when in many other West Texas lakes they are not nearly so plentiful can possibly be attributed to the large number of trees innundated in the upper two-thirds of the lake. Lake Fort Phantom Hill has a great many trees in the upper end and it too has a high percentage of smallmouth buffalo. These are the only two lakes in this area, to the author's knowledge, that support these populations. Whether the simultaneous existence of innundated trees and smallmouth buffalo is merely a coincidence or whether the trees help support this species by increased area for growth of food and/or the provision of additional Spawning areas cannot be concluded from the scanty knowledge of this species life history that is recorded in the literature. Dalquest, in an unpublished report to the Texas Game and Fish Commission, states that the diet of this species consists mostly of animal life. The large area of innundated forest and the debris created by it no doubt supports a high population of small animal organisms in Lake Leon. Carpiodes carpio (river carpsucker): This problem species has become firmly established in Lake Leon composing 10.74 percent of the netting sample by number and 20.65 percent by weight. Cyprinidae (shiners and minnows) Cyprinus carpio (carp): This species was fairly evenly distributed in the shal- lower netting areas but was not abundant in any collection. More were taken at Station 7, an old silted-in lake bed, than at any other station. Some anglers fish for carp at Lake Leon with reportedly fair success. Due to this fact and their relatively low occurrence in the netting sample (4.01 percent by number) they are not presently considered to be detrimental in this lake. Notropis venustus (spottail shiner): These shiners may be more abundant than the seining sample indicated. Schools of either these or redhorse shiners were observed swimming in clear water but could not be captured. Notropis lutrensis (redhorse shiner): These are probably the most common shiners in Lake Leon. Pimephales vigilax (parrot minnow): Only one large individual of this species was captured. Ameiuridae (freshwater catfishes) Iictalurus punctatus (channel catfish): The netting collections indicated a large population of channel catfish occur in Lake Leon, representing 20.40 percent of the total catch. The lake is usually laced with trotlines in the upper end and some good catches of channel catfish are often reported. The average size collected by netting was only 7.71 ounces. i Daiquest, Walter W., 1960. Natural history of four species of rough fishes in Laze Diversion. Second annual report to Texas Game and Fish Commission. 2 pages. --- Page 9 --- I. melas (biack bullhead):; A few small Specimens were collected in the upper end of the lake. These fish apparently do not constitute a major problem at this time. I. natalis (yellow bullhead): One yellow bullhead was collected. This species are not as common as the biack bullheads in most area lakes. Pylodictus olivaris (flathead catfish): Only two small specimens of this desirable species were captured. Anglers occasionally take them on trotlines. Some individuais weighing over 20 pounds have been reported caught in this manner. This species may, by predation, serve as a partial control on overpopulations of bullheads and small game species, Poeciliidae (mosquitofishes) Gambusia affinis (mosquitofish): A few specimens were collected by seining and many wore were observed in the shallow back water areas of the sloughs. Centrarchidae (black basses and sunfishes) Micropterus salmoides (largemouth bass): Considering the fact that this species is often not easily captured by netting, Lake Leon appears to have a relatively good ropulation of this species. They composed 4.74 percent by number of the netting Sample... Lake catches of this species have been made in the past. Recentiy these fish have been more difficult to catch. This can probably be explained, in part, by the abundance of forage species which has developed due to the overpopulation of small sunfish, crappie, and shad. The average size of largemouth bass caught in nets was L.pound 10.4 ounces. This Species is probably still reproducing in Lake Leon. There are large areas of good spawming habitat and several small bass were collected by Seining. However, this is not conclusive evidence of their reproduction as the State ish Hateheries frequently stock this species. lepomis cyanellus (green sunfish): A few small green sunfish were collected by seining. None were captured in nets. L. microlophus (redear sunfish): Only one fish, weighing five ounces, was netted and none were taken by seining. During the first few years of the lake's existence strings of large redear were reported caught by anglers. These fish were stocked in the lake, when it was new, by the State Fish Hatcheries and may have also been native to the stream. They have apparently lost their place in Lake Leon to other members of the Centrarchid family during the last few years. i. macrochirus (bluegill): This is probably the dominant sunfish in Lake Leon, it is in most other waters of the area. Relatively significant numbers were cape ured both by netting and seining. The average size was only 1.22 ounces. Sunfish this size are not large enough to be desirable to anglers for food or Sport and, nee they add to the already over abundant supply of forage fish existing in the lake, they are also not desirable to anglers from the standpoint that they make the larger fish harder to catch. L. humilis (orangespotted sunfish); Two of these small, relatively unimportant sunfish were obtained by seining. L. megalotis (longear sunfish): This is probably the second most abundant sun- fish in Lake Leon. These were in both the netting and seining samples. Most of the longears in Lake Leon appear to be stunted as no individuals large enough to keep by fishermen were captured but some fish only three inches in total length were found to contain ovaries full of ripe eggs. Pomoxis annularis (white crappie): Many white crappie were caught in the nets ct oy Me Rh o. Sg --- Page 10 --- -8- but due to the limited and inadequate seining areas available none were taken by seining. Most of the white crappie captured in nets were too small for angler value, but a few individuals of desirable size were obtained. Most of these small fish were no doubt stunted as many of them were sexually mature. The average weight of individuals of this species was 3.34 ounces. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Lake Leon appears to be following the general trend of most West Texas lakes as they grow older. Rough and forage fish are becoming more numerous each year and large-~ mouth bass are becoming less numerous and harder to catch because of the crowded con- ditions. A high percentage (27.5 percent) of the total fish populations, as indicated by netting, are composed of smallmouth buffalo and carp. This is a more desirable situation than it would be if most of the rough fish were shad and suckers because buffalo and carp are sometimes caught by anglers and often used for food whereas shad and suckers are hardly ever caught and seldom eaten. Since the shad population was not found to be extremely excessive and since there are still some good catches of bass and catfish taken from the lake, a selective con- trol treatment for shad or a complete eradication of fish species and consequent re- stocking program is not practical or justifiable at this time. Nearly the only effort that could be considered would be an attempt to increase the population of flathead eatfish occuring in Lake Leon so that more predation of forage fish might result. Moving flathead catfish from other lakes is not economically feasible and probably would not be permissible. A restriction on taking flatheads by means of trotlines could be enacted by the Eastland County Water Board to protect the existing numbers. However, trotlines should not be prohibited since channel catfish taken by this means constitute a large percentage of the anglers' catch. Enforcement by the lake patrol- man would be difficult if channel catfish could be trotlined and flathead catfish could not. Two nearby lakes that do not allow trotlining at all have large populations of flathead catfish. This fact cannot be interpreted to mean that if Lake Leon allowed no trotlining it too would have a large population because there are many other variables and factors which are different between the three lakes. However, as a short term experiment, for possibly two or three years, a restriction on taking flatheads by trotline could be attempted and netting surveys could be conducted at the end of this period to determine the practicality of the restrictions. The present lake patrol- man is willing to attempt enforcement of this restriction. This possibility was suggested to the Eastland County Water Board for their con- sideration. Any decision to enact such a restriction would be their responsibility. Prepared by James F. Wilcox Approved by Z2 Jato Ligole- Assistant Project Leader Dire¢tor Inland Fisheries Division Date July 21, 1961 --- Page 11 --- -9- Checklist of fish species, Lake Leon, April 1, 1960 through February 28, 1960. Scientific name Common name Lepisosteidae (gars) Lepisosteidae productus spotted gar Lepisosteidae osseus longnose gar Clupeidae (herrings ) Dorosoma cepedianum gizzard shad Catosomidae (suckers and buffalofishes) Ictiobus bubalus smallmouth buffalo Carpiodes carpio river carpsucker Cyprinidae (shiners and minnows) Cyprinus carpio carp Notropis venustus spottail shiner Notropis lutrensis redhorse shiner Pimephales vigilax . - parrot minnow Ameiuridae (freshwater catfish) ictalurus punctatus channel catfish Ictalurus melas black bullhead Ictalurus natalis yellow bullhead Pylodictus olivaris flathead catfish Peociliidae (mosquitofishes) } Gambusia affinis mosquitofish Centrarchidae (black bass and sunfishes) Micropterus salmoides largemouth bass Lepomis cyanellus green sunfish Lepomis microlophus redear sunfish Lepomis macrochirus bluegill Lepomis humilis .. "3 OVrangespotted sunfish Lepomis megalotis longear sunfish Pomoxis annularis white crappie --- Page 12 --- “1O= Table 1. Lake Leon, lake level elevations and water. storage data. Elevation Elevation | feore [ Elevation Acre Feet 1, 313 e) 1,339 1,100 1,365 12,400 1,314 5 1,340 1,120 1,366 13, 450 1,315 10 1,341 ip 1.360 1,367 14,570 1,316 15 1,342 1,500 1,368 15,750 1,317 20 1, 343 1,660 -|} . 1,369 17,000 1,318 30 1, 344 1,840 1,370 18,300 1,319 Xe) 1,345 2,030 1,371 19,600 1, 320 50 1, 346 2,2h0 1,372 20,920 1,321 65 1,347 BR; 460 1,373 22,260 1,322 80 1,348 2,690 1,374 23,620 1,323 100 1,349 2,940 1,375 25,000 1,324 125 i. 1350-6. : 3,220 1,376 26,440 1,325 155 1,351 3,520 1,377 28,000 1,326 190 = 1,352 3,850 1,378 29,640 1,327 230 1,353 4,200 1,379 31, 380 1,328 275 1,354 4,600 1,380 33,200 1,329 325 1,355 5,040 1,381 35, 100 1,330 375 1,356 9930 1,382 37,050 1,331 4as5 1,357 - 6,060 1, 383 39,050 1, 332 4.80 1,358 6,650 1, 384 41,100 1,333 540 - 1,359 7,300 1,385 43,200 1,334 610 1,360 8,000 1, 386 45,400 1,335 690 _ 1,361 ~ 8,780 1,387 47,650 1,336 780 1,362 9,600 1,388 49,950 1,337 880 1,363 10,480 1,389 52,300 1,338 990 . 1,364 | 11,400 1,390 54,700 --- Page 13 --- Table 2. Results of water analyses, Lake Leon. Analysis Calcium (Ca) Magnesium (Mg) Iron (Fe) Manganese (Mn) Sodium (Na) Carbonate (Co3) Bicarbonate (HCO3) Sulphate (SO) Chloride (CL) Flouride (F) Nitrate (NO,) Specific conductance micromhs/cm Dissolved residue (T.S.) calculated Phenolphthlein alkalinity as Caco3 Total alkalinity as Caco; Total hardness as Caco, pH 1 | | Analyses made by Texas State Department of Health. -ll- ps Sampling date | Feb. 12,1958] May 19,1958 [Sune 29, 1959 | Oct. 26 27.00 3.00 °95 05 5.00 0.00 78.00 11.00 14.00 286.00 274.00 . 172.00 164.00 0.00 0.00 80.00 64.00 8.0 Tel 1960 --- Page 14 --- n= Table 3. Results of netting, Lake Leon, May 1960. . Species Longnose: gar . Spotted ber Gizzard shad Smallmouth buffalo River. carpsuckers Carp Channel catfish Black pullheads Flathead catfish Largemouth bass Bluegill sunfish Longear sunfish White crappie --- Page 15 --- =19- Table 4, Results of netting, Lake Leon, July 1960. Average | Number ar | Total weight| Average weight] Percent| _ by | ed by Number | lbs. | oz.| lbs. | oz.| weight | _ Spec ies nye Gizzard shad Smallmouth buffalo 2.02 River carpsuckers 2.09 Carp 1.72 Channel catfish 1.53 Black bullheads 1.98 Yellow bullheads 1.86 Largemouth bass 1.88 Redear sunfish 3.39 Bluegill sunfish 3.40 Lo jeer sunfish 3 bk White crappie --- Page 16 --- oj[he Table 5. Results of netting, Lake Leon, November, 1960. | Number Percent Total weight | Average weight | ee by Number | pe Pae fie Ton weight Average _ ny Species Longnose gar Gizzard shad 1.67 Smallmouth buffalo 2.89 River carpsuckers 2.56 Channel catfish 1.39 Largemouth bass 2.04 Bluegill sunfish 2.69 Longear sunfish 2.59 White crappie 2.38 --- Page 17 --- T6°E-9E°T T2°2t atddezo aqtum qT 19 OS°4-TE’? 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Results Species Longnose gar Spotted gar Gizgzard shad Smalimouth buffalo River carpsucker Carp Channel catfish Black bullhead Yellow bullhead Flathead catfish Largemouth bass Redear sunfish Bluegill sunfish Longear sunfish White crappie __ __ ‘Totals : Species Longnose gar Spotted gar Gizzard shad Smallmouth buffalo River carpsgucker Carp Channel catfish Black bullhead Yellow bullhead Flathead catfish Largemouth bass Redear sunfish Bluegill sunfish Longear sunfish White crappie of netting by stations, Lake Leon, April 1, 1960 to February 28, 1961 __Stations WIN COW) fH No Pan ph po i a B | Totais lov. May [Suiy [Nov] May| Juiy| Nov. sug | --- Page 19 --- Table 8. ~17- A comparison of rough and/or forage species to game species obtained in forty-eight netting collections from Lake Leon during the period from April 1, 1960 to February 28, 1961. Type of fish Rough and/or forage species (Longnose gar, gizzard shad, smallmouth buffalo, river carpsucker, carp, black bull- head, yellow bullhead, spotted gar ) Game species (Channel catfish, flathead catfish, largemouth bass, red- ear sunfish, bluegill sunfish, longear sunfish, white crappie) Total 7 Ea [Fish [Percent | __ ibs. | ete 100.00 Weights Percent 79.34 20.66 100.00 --- Page 20 --- -18- Table 9. Results of seining collections made at Lake Leon during the period from April 1, 1960 to February 28, 1961. May 11, 1960 co 12, 1960 mee Species Totals Gizzard shad Spottail shiner 2 Redhorse shiner el Parrot minnow 1 Mosquitofish 3 Largemouth bass 3 Green sunfish 3 Bluegill sunfish 18 Orangespotted sunfish 2 Longear sunfish --- Page 21 --- Old uake Ringland FIGURE Ile LAKE LEON ak staan AND ITS WATERSHED % 2 fe) 1 2 3 4 Scale of miles --- Page 22 --- Ficure 4, LAKE LEON O SEINING STATIONS A\ NETTING STATIONS --- Page 23 --- Figure 2. Running gill nets in clearing in timber at Station 14 near the upper end of Lake Leon. Figure 3. Running nets set in timbered area at Station 16 in upper end of Lake Leon.