TPWD 1962 F-4-R-9 #798: Fisheries Reconnaissance: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 2-A

--- Page 1 --- JOB COMPLETION REPORT As yequired by FEDERAL ALD IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT Federal Aid Project No. F-4-R-9 FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS AND SURVEYS OF THE WATERS OF REGION 2-A Job No. B-29 Fisheries Reconnaissance Project Leader: Leonard Lamb H. D. Dodgen Executive Secretary Texas Game and Fish Commission Austin, Texas Marion Toole Eugene A. Walker D-J Goordinator Director, Program Planning February 5, 1963 --- Page 2 --- ABSTRACT Six major Lakes of Region 2-A were rechecked during the period November 1, 1961 and October 31, 1962. These impoundments were; Benbrook (Tarrant County), Bridgeport (Wise County), Weatherford (Parker County), Eagle Mountain (Tarrant County), Carter (Montague County) and Worth (Tarrant County). The most significant change in the makeup of the fish population of these lakes appears to be in the gizzard shad in Lakes Benbrook, Eagle Mountain and Worth. Lake Benbrook showed a rise in the net collection of 14.16 per cent while Eagle Mountain and Lake Worth had a drop of 45.55 and 32.47 per cent respectively. Lakes Bridgeport, Weatherford and Worth provided an increase in the crappie percentage while Eagle Mountain showed an increase in the white bass catch to corre» spond with the decrease in gizzard shad. Lake Carter was quite murky and there were only two species taken. The channel catfish appeared to be average size and in good condition, but the white crappie were small and in poor condition. --- Page 3 --- JOB COMPLETION REPORT State of Texas Project No. F-4-R-9 Name: Fisheries Investigation and Surveys of the Waters of Region 2-A Job No, B-29 Title: Fisheries Reconnaissance Period Covered: November 1, 1961 - October 31, 1962 nee Objectives: To conduct limited investigations to obtain current information concerning gross changes in fishing conditions and factors influencing fish populations, Techniques Used: Certain major lakes in Region 2-A, that had been surveyed in previous segments, were revisited and net collections made. These data collected were recorded for comparison with the results of previous survey work to provide a basis for determin- ing any change that may have occurred, Lakes Benbrook, Bridgeport, Carter, Eagle Mountain, Weatherford and Worth were revisited, Findings: Lake Benbrook Lake Benbrook shows only Slight changes in population with the gain being in gizzard shad. This species provided 80.51 per cent of the 1960-1961 net catch but rose to 94.67 per cent in the 1961-62 catch (Tables 1 and 2). There was little change in the average length of the species taken but the number and pounds per hundred feet of net showed a definite drop on the part of the game species together with a sharp rise for the gizzard shad, A comparison of the "K" factor averages show slight change, Gizzard shad, channel catfish and bluegill sunfish appear to be in slightly better condition while largemouth bass and white crappie have a smaller condition factor than last year. This difference is light and may be the result of an insufficient sample. Lake Bridgeport The netting of Lake Bridgeport in 1960-1961 was made with experimental gill nets that had mesh sizes from one inch to three inches while the 1961-1962 netting used only nets with 14 inch mesh. There were no significant changes in the population as represented by the gill net catches except for the increase in white crappie and the decrease in white bass (Tables 3 and 4), The most significant change is to be noted in the number and pounds of fish taken per 100 feet of net and this is believed to be due to the greater efficiency of the 1% inch mesh net over the graduated mesh size used in the experimental nets, --- Page 4 --- Qe Lake Carter The results of the 1961-1962 netting in Lake Carter were far from satisfactory. Weather conditions were not conducive to obtaining a proper sample as winds were extremely high. Only channel catfish and white crappie were taken which made a rather poor sample when compared to the seven species taken in the 1960-1961 (Tables 5 and 6).. Lake Carter has been very murky for about two years and the wave action caused by rather high winds tends to keep the colloidal clay suspension at a high level which results in a condition that should be more favorable to crappie and catfish production than for bass and other sunfish. Eagle Mountain Lake The most significant changes in the net catch in Eagle Mountain Lake concerned the drop in gizzard shad from 55.55 per cent in 1960-1961 to 10 per cent in 1961- 1962 and the rise of white bass from 6.35 per cent to 26.25 per cent (Tables 7 and 8). This is not an accurate reflection as the shad population has not been depleated to this extent but there is usually a drop in the number of shad taken when the white bass catch increases. The only other significant change in the net catch was the reappearance of smallmouth buffalo, river carpsuckers and carp. These species appear in cycles and periods of scarcity seem to be followed by periods of abundance. Small- mouth buffalo made up 31.88 per cent of the net catch during the 1961-1962 netting after failing to appear during the previous year. Lake Weatherford The netting results from Lake Weatherford indicate that gizzard shad and carp are increasing in relative abundance while channel catfish and white crappie show a decrease (Tables9 and 10). The 1960-1961 netting produced 2.15 per cent gizzard shad and 3.76 per cent crappie but the 1961-1962 netting showed percentages of 29.16 and 13.33 for these species respectively. In the case of the channel catfish and white crappie the percentages were 17.21 and 58.60 for the 1960-1961 netting and 6.67 and 26.67 for the 1961-1962 collections. Other species showed slight changes. The "K" factor comparison shows that length-weight relationships indicate that all species have enjoyed better growth in 1961-1962 than was observed in 1960- 1961, The "K" factor average was considerably higher in each species than in the previous year. Lake Worth Net collections from Lake Worth during 1961-1962 were dominated by white crappie with 48,28 per cent of the total (Tables 11 and 12). This represents an increase of 17 per cent over the previous year. Gizzard shad was the most numerous species in 1960-1961 collections with 41.67 per cent but dropped to 9.2 per cent in the 1961- 1962 collections. The average length of all species taken in the 1961-1962 netting showed an increase over that of the previous year except longnose gar and largemouth bass. The average "K" factor for channel catfish and white crappie was slightly tess --- Page 5 --- ~3- for the 1961-1962 netting but was higher for the other species taken, Smallmouth buffalo, river carpsucker and carp were taken in the 1961-1962 collection but were absent from the previous collection. “ Vl aerand A te oordinator Prepared by Leonard D. Lamb Approved by Project Leader Date: February 5, 1963 __ Regional’ Supervisor --- Page 6 --- sotoods ysty y8noxr saqeoTput x a - = 07°72 Ge°9S - O0°O00T- 89°L6 00°OOT GSC STRIOL OT°% 09°%-96°O ov" Sec 88T S9°T 19°T Ge°z S etddez> 93TUM G6°E OL°7-O08°e 60° Os° O€T 6€° Be* 88° é ystjuns [T[ Ten Tg 00° 00°%-00°%S 07° - Go° Ove SO°T 19°T yh I sseq Yjnowes1e7 o9°T OL°T-0S*T 7° 0S* 092 BErT Ce°T 88° Zz ystyqeo Touueyy 09°C 09%2-09°% 61° T Gc° OfY 98° YL? 77° T xdaeg og’? 08°c-08°*? CLT Go° Ol? 6S° 64°” by? I yaeyonsdivs 40ATY SO°T = S8°T-S2rT 98°07 Go°ES Q91¢ 87°SS . 0S °E8 19°76 ET? x¥PBYUS PAeZZIN Jou jo Jou Fo (uur) 345 TOM (sq) Tequny aselroay esury 32°F OO 1223 OOT yqsuey jo 3Y3TOM Fo jequny sotoveds wl wdlas aed spunog sad 2zequny eSelIAy qus9 10g que) tog eee ZOGI-196T “S3TNSei SuTZJEU Yoorqueg eyeYT “7 sTqeL sotoeds ystTy y8notl soq,eoTpuT »x - - T6°1T 05°62 - 00°001T 09°L% 00°00T + 8iII STeIOL Z1°S 08°7-SL°T 7S°O OS°T S61 9G°” 91°? 60°S 9 atddez> 87 TUM GL°E 09°7-0L°% 79°O 00°€ SET Bers 96°% LT°o1 Z1 ystTjuns |] Tsen Tg €0°z 07°7-S8°T ZE°O 0s‘o G2Z LO°E 947°T 69°T Zz sseq Ynowesiey] GS°T GO°T-SH°T Z9°O 0S°0 OEE €7°S 67°Z 69°T Zz ystyqyeo JTouueyg 00°Z 00°% 91°0 GZ°O OvZ O€°T Z9°0O Gg:o T yaieyons peqjods 19°T 06°1-07°T 8S°6 GL°ES L1Z 87°08 TE “SE TS°08 G6 xPeBYS PAeZZTO Jeu jo Jeu Fo (wr) qySTOM (ST) 3099 aeseisay osuey 22923 OOL 12°F OOT yq8ue'7y jo 143 19M jJeq dtequny setoede wt wl zed spunog Jed ssquny aseloAy que) 33g een 1961-0961 *S3INSer BuTZJEU Yoorqueg eyeT °T e1qeL --- Page 7 --- satoeds ysty y8nox soqvotputy eee - - LL°OT 08° TT ~ 00*OOT S*STZ OO0°OOT 9E7 ST#IOL eee €9°S 9° E-SH°S 80° 09°O €€T SL°O 9°T 60°S (al unig 86°C TL°€-0S°Z €L°O GG*T Ol LL°9 Q°vT bHL°ET TE etddez. 9331YM CCS CESS-STS £0°0O ST°O COS OL*O C°T LO°T & sseq YInouses1e7 89°C = 06°C-6T°% O° 4 GL*E 9S¢ cO*6E 1°78 SL°TE GL sseq e1TYM €6°T €6°T-€6°T 9T°O SO0°O 7C7 7S" T Cre cv °O T YsTy}eO proyIeT” LS°T €8°T-02*T 09°0O SL°O 802 cS°S 6° TT 9€°9 ST. Ystj}eo Touuey) OL*? 96°C-EG°S 08°O Of *O TSE Berl 6°ST 79°C 9 xdieg LL°Z LI°7-17°C vL°O G9°O C9 98°9 S° rT 1S°S eT ydeyonsdies TeATy VET’ 00° 7-7L°S BS°T Sy T LLZ L9°?T 9°TE Be° CT 6¢ xOTeFINq YANoWy [ euUg 92°C 19°?-00°% 96°O ST*°? SO¢ T6°8 c°6T €e°ST ev ¥xPPYUS PIPZZTO T7°O = E”*O-SE*O Ly°O 0Z°0 079 On'+ C°6 69°T 7 xie3 esousuoy 89°O 64£°0-19°O 8e°O 02°O S67 87° € G°L 69°T 7) ¥%1e3 esoujs10Yg yeu jo Jou Fo (wut) FUSTOM = (ST) Toquny aseisvy os8ury 22°F OOL 1923 QOT yqsuet yo 1YU3 TOM jo Jequny setoeds las wl jod spunog aed azsquny aselsaAy que) Jeg que) 338g OS 1961-0961 “s3[nsea BSutzqeu JsodeSptag oyey °¢ eTqeRL --- Page 8 --- sotoeds ysty ysnor so eoTputy 66°C? 67° EY 00° OOT 86°LET 00°OOT 192 STeIOL T7°S OW? -SS*T BL°L €8° CS cOT 78 °Ce 89°97 OS°CS LET etddeszo 97 TUM So°? Of °S-SH°T oS *T €8°T 09Z 7S°9 €0°6 T° TI sseq YInowesie So°? SL°?-09°T 6S°% L9O°L CES 76°6T TS*LZ2 COPLT 94 sseq o3 TUM c8°T Of °S-S2°T 69° 99°T L1é TO°e 91°? 8 7B°e oT ystyqeo TeuueypD OS°Z 08*Z-02°Z 02 °Z yE* S67 SS°6 LT°ET 9L°0 z ¥die9 Ov°Z = =09°Z-08°T 79° €8° ZSZ 62 *Z cg°e = Z6*T S yxloyonsdies JeATY €8°? S7°E-Ov°S 68° ceeT 61? gee CE°S = =90°E 8 x¥OTeFING YINowyTTeus S9°T 06°T-O€°T 7G°E £9°9 vES T7°ST 9S° TS =CECST Ov ¥PeBYS PA~eZzTO 62°O =—6 BE 0- TZ °O 91° T €e* OTL 90°S 66°9 9L°O é xie3 asousuo'y yeu jo you jo (wr) qystem =6(SqyT) tequny asei0ay asasuey 12°73 OOT 22923 OOT yqsue'yT jo 1YySToM jo zequny setoeds iii wes ized spunog aed: adsquny a3eisay que) 190g quay teg ZO6T-196T SSINseaA BuTJZeU YsodeSptsag eyeT °H STqeL --- Page 9 --- setoeds ysty ysnox soleotputy ee EE ee SAPO TPUL 6£°O 00°2 OO*OOT <ce°9 00° 00T 9S TRqIOL rere 8T°S $6°?-0S°T 0£°O SL°9 €6 L8°9E = EES €7°96 9S etddeis eqTYyM L£8°T 06°T-S8°T 67°O Gc°O LGE ET°EO 66°F Lo"t c YsTy}eO Touuey9 Jou jo Jou jo (wur) qUSTOM Tequny eseisay adury 29°35 OOT 2223 QOL yqsuey, jo 1YStOM jo iequny setoeds wl wile ized spunog ied zequmy o8ereAy juan stag queg tog me ee ae cS Z96T-1961 ‘SaTNsea BuTJeU JeqJIeD OyeT *9g eTqGe] sotoeds ysty ysnori soqeotputy a ; ee 96°? Sv°L 00°*OOT €°6S 00°OOT 671 TeIOL eee €9°% 8 LE*E=8z°Z 6S°O 00°S T71 06*6T 8° TT Z1°L9 OOT etdders 937yM EG°E O2*7~-2OrE 90°O SS°O COL Oc °S? €*T Bers It ystjuns [[Tentg 7S°S 6¢°£-66°T ce°O 02°*O 062 6L°OT 7°9 69°S 7] sseq YJnousesie7y €6°T LE°S-9H°T S0°O 07°O TEL S8°T TT LE TG 8 xPPOUTING Aorig T9°T CL°S-OE PT 60°T SO*T L6é LL°9€ 8°? 60°7T 1é ystyqeo Teuueyy 79°C OL’ C=Le*? 8£°O 0¢*O cOv €1T°9Z G°ST 89°S 7 xdieg L6°¢ = L6°S~L6°% £0°O SO0°O O08 9E°S 7°T £9°O T xieyonsdies 7aATy Jou jo jeu jo (wu) 3USTOM (SqT) 2equing eseioay a8ury 19°F OOL 1°25 OOT yqsue7y jo Stem Fo iequny satoeds wa iW zed spunog ized sequny aseroay quey tog que) ieg eS ES T96T-O96T ‘S3][NSer BuTJJeU AZeYIeD OYeYT °C aTqRI --- Page 10 --- sotoeds ysty ysnoi so eoTpury IL°8 09°cT 00 *OOT 6S °EV 00°OOT £9 TeqIOL eg ep cp BI i i a Ly°? O€°€-OT°? 6Z°O 00°T 9LT COTE cyl 76°L G etddez> a7TyM c9°% 06°7-O08°% 9T°O 08°O 9CT 98°T 18°O GE°9 7] ystjuns [TTsenTg 90°Z OL°7-09°1 0£°O 08°0 Z0Z LEE Lye ce°g ” sseq o7TUM 00°? GE°S-GLPT G2°O 0v7*°O SC 16°C Le°T LT°e 4 sseq Yynquedzey OS°T OS°T-0G6°T ST°O 02°O G82 OL°T yL°O 6S°T I ystjyqeo peouqelg” 19°T 06° 1T-SE°T LL°O 08°0O €6% 18°s HB°'e CE°9 7 ystxqeo JTouueyUy 68°T 09°7-OFTT 08°s 00°zL OTe OT °SE 1o°7T GG°SS GE xPpeys preZzty ST°Z 09°0 E18 G9°H77Z 7L°O QL*4 € ¥ie3 esousuoy 78°1 00°T 97S 12°? 97°6 v6°L G yie3 peqjods 7eu you FO (wu) TySToM (SAT) qua e8er0ay e8uPy 22923 OOT 1923 OO1 yqsue7q yo U3 TOM ieq <iequny sotoeds wos PP OT) aed spunog zed szoquny aesSeioay que) Jeg “TQO61-0961 ‘S}INSer BuTqJou eyeYT uTeJUNOW eTSey °/ sTqGeL --- Page 11 --- setoeds ysty ysnor seqeotputy SSS H8°Se 98°C? OO°OOT T6°TZZ O00°OOT O9T TeIOL See TE*Z 08°%-99°0 68° 00°% 602 Of °? Sz*9 GL°8 val etddeis eqTyM ces OT*E-00°S 6T°€ 00°9 Of? 02°83 Of °7Z Go°97 cv sseq 37 1T4M 06°C 06°2-06°% OT° 71° SoS 9Z°O 0L°O €9°O I sseq YInoues ie] €9°T 06° T-07°T CET 67° T 90€ 6£°E 72 °6 79°C 6 ystyqeo Teuuey) OS °*? OS°?-0S°% SL°T 8c° o8y 6S°# 87° CT Ge°T é xdieg BE°S O8°?-O1°?S CECT 98° 80E Ov’°e 7 °6 GL°E fe) xieyonsdies T3sATY c8°S OL°E-OL°T €S° VT Bork CE T° Le TL°TOT (88°TEe TS y¥OTPFING YINoWy] Teug OL°T 00°2-0S°T cO°T 62°S Te? €9°S LT°L 00°OT OT ¥PPYS PpAleZzTD 80°7T 62°Z 778 92°9€ 66°86 OO°OT OT x1e3 esousuoy 19° €7°O OLY 9S°T St°4 L8°T 3 x1e3 peqiods Jeu jo Jeu jo (uur) JysteM (SqT) aequny aser9Ay asuey 12°F OOL 12°F OOT yqsuey] jo 1YyStToM jo aequny setoedgs > was jed spunoqg aed xequny e8eaeay ua Jag que) 390g a SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSEEO J96T-T96T SITNseaA BuTIJeU UTeJUNOW e{[8eqy syeT °g sTqeyL --- Page 12 --- «0- sotoeds ysty ysnoxi soeqeoTpuly SO°OT L£9°0% = 00°OOT 87°06 OO*OOT 8 98T STBIOL ET°? 00°€-09°T L0°% L1°CT T6T TS°Ov S9°9E 09°8S 601 etddez> o3TYyM LT°€ 00°7-0S°? 17°0O Ce°S 08 L0°% B9°e 6° TT 12 ystjuns [1 TsenTg os*t 08° T=08°T 9T°O f6°O 09 8S°T Ev°t 80°T Z sseq YNowssse7 O8°T 02*c-0S°T 70°O €€*O 6ST T7*°0O LE°O 19°T € ¥PPO4TTING Aoerd 07° T So°?-SO°T 79°C GS°Ee C67 9¢°9¢ QL°ES 1e°LT (43 ystyizeo Touuey9 cE NS 02°€-08°T €8°O 08°O OLE 97°8 By7°L OL°E L xdie9 OL°? 02° E-0€°S LET 68° 0 (ans LS°LT 06°ST Of ° + 8 xreyonsdreo teaty 89°T 06°T-0S°T €1°O 77°O £02 vert Te°T c1°?¢ 7 ¥PeYsS przezzty jeu jo yeu jo (uur) aqstem (SqT) que9 aeseisAy esury 19°35 OOT 292% OOT yqsue7y jo 1Yy3TOM jeq dJequny sotoeds Pr OF wh jJed spunog aed sequny aSelsAy que) 10g LO6T-O96T “S3TNSeA BSuTJ}OU PAOFASYIVOM OYeYT °6 STWET --- Page 13 --- -11- €L°? 67°17 O°? G6 °C 09°? IL°T 09°C 16°C COS oseroAYy rrp, | i Ov°€ -S9°T 00°S-OL°E Ov S-SC°S OT*E-08°S 09°?-09°S S0°?-0S°T 06°2-0£°S OVE ~-SS°S 08°Z-S9°T asuey soln you jo 4993 OOT aed spunog cL*ot TS°e 7o°T 817° 7o°O $0°O e8°T €S°S 18° 7O°E Jou jo 39°F OOL jed sequny 00°0€ 00°83 Gers SL* 0s*O Sé°O 00°? 00*% os° GL°8 (uur) yqsuey aSeroAy Lot EEL nord Sot o9T 062 18S S8é 96T 00*OOT 9L° SS 77° Lk L8°¢ 67° T Se° £8°OT Le°Te S8°% LT°8t Jo que9 teg 7qSTOM 86°99 eC °ST 86°7 c6°T S6* €° LO°L €6°OS 7o°E 9T°cT (sq1) 1WYst3M Zequny sotoeds ystjy ysnoi sajeoTpuly 00°OOT L9°9% OS *LT OS*? £9°T 78°O £9°9 Cec et L9°T 9T°6? yo que) jog OcT cE 1d OT GE 2equny STeIOL etddeis ayTuM ystjuns [1 1entg sseq Y nowssi1Ve7 xPBSYUTING MOTTOA ¥PPOUTING AoPld ystyqeo Touuey) ¥diey yteyonsdies 290ATY xpeys piezzt9 satoeds ZO6UT-1L9O6T SSATNser SuTqjou pAoFAoyReomM OyeYT “OT PTGeL --- Page 14 --- -12- sotoeds ysty ysnori saqvotputy a TL°% 09°6 00°O00OT GG°E? 00°OOT 8h sT BIO] a LG°? €c°v S6°T 02°? oS°T c6°T aseIIAY alas OS*e-OT°? 09°7-09°E S6°T-S6°T OC *c-02°S G8°T-GE°T 00°E-SO"T esuey wl 68°O LE°O €T°O OT°O £Z°O Te*T O7°T 7€°O yeu jo 3995 OO1 aod spunog 00°€ oz °T 02°O 0z*0 09°0 00°%7 0z°0 0¢°0 Jeu Fo 39°F OOT jed Zsequny cLt CEL OSZ2 Oc? 9ES 86T 0S6 OSV hae yqsuey aseivay T8°sT 69°S 08°? €T°S? EL°S LL*L@ 89°6S 6E°L JO queg 10g TqSTOM 7°? nee T 99°*O 0S*o GET 7S°9 66°9 143 Tom 97° TE OS*cT 80°? 80°? GZ°9 L9°1 80°? 80°C leg ST etddeso o3yTyM 9 ystjuns [1 Tseng 1 sseq YInouss1e%4 T sseq 37 TUM € ystTy}eo Teuueyg Og xpeus PAiezzty T yie8 ssousuoy T yies peqjodsg aequny sotoeds _ 1961-0961 ‘S9TMsez SuT}JOU YIIOM SYST “IT eTqeL --- Page 15 --- -13- cee LT OS *#T 00° OOT 96°L9 setoeds ysty ysnox soeqeotpuy x EEE 00‘°OOT £8 T®IOL Eee oGS°S 08° 8l*? 6£ °C 97° T GL°? O¢°S eT°'e G6°T osexoay soles OL°€-00°S OT*S-09°% S7°S~-06°T 06°?-OT°? Os T-ST°T O8°c-0L°? OL°?-OL°T SO°E-SO°? OZ °S~SL°T asuey ule T?°e oe ce° TTT 19° cv* TE°S 91° T 87° OS* 6L* jeu Fo 39°F OOL sed spunog 0o°e 80¢ OS* TvT Os° SV 78° T Sc? 99° SOE ce c9¢ 7E PT CCE €e° OLE VE oT €0¢ 9T* 089 OS* TTS TL°0€ ce*T LOE LL°6 o7°S 00°47 6£°O? 6c°OT Gor 07°17 L6°9 97° O¢ 06° 60°C 79°9 B9°€ CLS 98°ET 66°9 68°? 66°? 7h 8°87 Gyre Sr’ 79° ST 09° Of °S 61°6 Of °? 02 *6 ST°T 77° € cv TL etddexzo a2 TUM ystjuns {] Teng sseq YU nowssse7 sseq eo FUM YsTj}eo Teuuey) ¥diey ydeyonsdies FeATY xOTeFINq YINoUWyT T eug yPeUsS PAezZZTIO xie3 ssousuo0'y ¥ie3 peqqods Jeu Fo (am) TUS TOM (qT) 49 qun Ni 3923 OOL yyuey jo 3ysteq = Jo jed saquny eseieay jue9 3asg que9g seg Jequny sotveds eee ZO61-T96T “S3IMsea BuTJIeU YIIOM eyeT “éT S19eL