TPWD 1965 F-2-R-12 #997: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 2-B: Fisheries Resurvey of Lake Inks

--- Page 1 --- (ay ers, JOB COMPLETION REPORT As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Project No. F-2-R-12 FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS AND SURVEYS OF THE WATERS OF REGION 2-B Job No. B-24(a): Fisheries Resurvey of Lake Inks Project Leader: R. L. White J. Weldon Watson Executive Director Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Austin, Texas Marion Toole Eugene A. Walker D-J Coordinator Assistant Director for Wildlife June 23, 1965 --- Page 2 --- ABSTRACT Inks Lake, Burnet County, Texas, has been the object of reconnaissance work for the past ten years. Efforts to improve the fishery complex of the lake have included two selective treatments for the control of gizzard shad. Despite periodic increases in the black bass population over the years, rough fish continue to dominate the data collected in seining and netting operations. The past segment revealed the black bass population to be about average as compared to past segments. Until more efficient management methods can be devised for the lake, this job will be terminated. --- Page 3 --- JOB COMPLETION REPORT State of ___ Texas Project No. F-2-R-12 Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 2-B Job No. B- 24 (a) Title: Fisheries Resurvey of Lake Inks Period Covered: __ ss February 1, 1964 - Januarys31, 1965 OBJECTIVES: 1. To determine the fish species present in Inks Lake and their relative abundance. 2. To determine particularly the relative abundance of largemouth bass following the massive stocking of 1958 through 1962. 3. To determine if the largemouth bass is reproducing in Inks Lake. PROCEDURE: Reconnaissance work has been carried out on Lake Inks, Burnet County, Texas for the past ten years beginning with the basic inventory done in 1955-56 as Job B-14, Project F-2-R-3. Selective treatments of the lake for the control of gizzard shad were conducted on Inks Lake in November 1956 (Project F-14-D-4, Job 16 a-1), and in March 1962 (Project F-14-D-6, Job 16 a-35). All of the work over these years has been aimed at improving the fishery complex, notably the large- mouth black bass population, of Lake Inks. During the past segment, a total of 115 gill net.collections were made on the lake. Collections were made with gill nets standardized for use on all D-J projects. Seine samples were made with a 20 foot straitght seine. The net sampling was done at stations set up in the basic survey. Except for May 1964, netting collections were made every month of the segment. An attempt to check spawning activities of the black bass was made in conjunc- tion with reconnaissance work on the lake. Water quality data was also collected on the lake in conjunction with reconnaissance work. Table 1 is a checklist of the fish species mentioned in this report. FINDINGS: Netting collections for the pnoject period are summarized in Table 2. Rough fish, namely gizzard shad, smallmouth buffalo, and river carpsucker dominate the catch. Comparison of the collections of this segment with that of the other nine reveals negligible difference. Although there is a slight increase in per cent by numbers and weight over 1963, the figures for 1964 are about average for the ten years. It should be noted that the gill nets which were introduced for use on all D-J work during this segment did not favor the collection of black bass. --- Page 4 --- ~ Qa The gill nets used in past segments stayed near the surface of the water with the float-line on or near the surface, whereas the nets used this year sank to the bottom. Consequently, more deep-dwelling species such as flathead catfish were collected than in past segments. Had the same type of gill nets been used as had been employed in prior segments, perhaps more black bass would have been collected. At any rate, the figures for the percentage by weight and numbers over the past ten segments are given below. INKS LAKE ROUGH FISH RATIO, 1955-1964 Year 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 Per cent rough fish (number) 63 78 63 #71 65 70 73 #56 55 61 Per cent rough fish (weight) 74 74 78 j$.71 74 79 85 80 68 #76 As can be seen from the above figures, the slight drop in the rough fish domination of statistics found last year was short lived, and the figures are near the average for the past years. Spawning activity of the black bass was checked visually, but evidence of spawning was not plentiful. Seining collections did not reveal as large a number of bass Eipser ling as had been hoped. Seining activities were somewhat limited because of* the shortage of man power. Water quality data were collected, and no unusual readings were determined, as can be seen in Table 3. DISCUSSION: After ten years of reconnaissance work on Inks Lake, the black bass population of the lake has not reached the density which project personnel had hoped it would. The two shad kills provided some drop in the tremendous numbers of rough fish, but it was a brief respite. Although netting collections do not reveal an increase in the black bass population during the past segment, owing possibly to the change in nets, fishermen report some good catches of bass periodically. It is hoped that when the project becomes fully staffed, that a creel census may be conducted on the lake in order to substantiate any reports of increased harvesting of black bass by fishermen. Until this time, limited reconnaissance work on Inks Lake will be carried out under the state program, and this job will be terminated. Because of the similarity of this job with Job B-20, F-9-R, and its publi- cation Inland Fisheries Series No. 5, there will be no publication of this job. WA Neetirtn Soypptlin PREPARED BY: _R. io White Project Leader (Coordinator) ——™S Date: June 23, 1965 John E. Tilton > a Regional Supervisor --- Page 5 --- - 3- Inks Lake A Checklist of Species Mentioned in the Report SCIENTIFIC NAME Lepisosteus osseus Dorosoma cepedianum Ictiobus bubalus Carpiodes carpio Moxostoma congestum Gyprinus carpio Notemigonus crysoleucas Ictalurus punctatus Ictalurus melas Ictalurus natalis Pylodictis olivaris Roccus chrysops Micropterus treculi Micropterus salmoides Chaenobryttus gulosus Lepomis cyanellus Lepomis microlophus Lepomis macrochirus Lepomis megalotis Pomoxis annularis Pomoxis nigromaculatus Aplodinotus grunniens COMMON NAME Longnose gar Gizzard shad Smallmouth buffalo River carpsucker Gray redhorse sucker European carp Golden shiner Channel catfish Black bullhead Yellow bullhead Flathead catfish or yellow catfish White bass Guadalupe bass or Texas spotted bass Largemouth bass Warmouth Green sunfish Redear sunfish Bluegill sunfish Longear sunfish White crappie Black crappie Freshwater drum --- Page 6 --- SPECIES Lepisosteus osseus Dorosoma cepedianum Ictiobus bubalus Carpiodes carpio Cyprinus carpio Notemigonus crysoleucas Ictalurus punctatus ictalurus melas ictalurus natalis Pylodictis olivaris Roccus chrysops Micropterus treculi Micropterus salmoides Chaenobryttus gulosus Lepomis cyanellus Lepomis picrolophus Lepomis macrochirus Lepomis megalotis Pomoxis annularis Pomoxis nigromaculatus Aplodinotus grunniens TOTALS aliz TABLE 2 Inks Lake Netting Results, 1964 PER CENT NUMBER BY NUMBER 12 0.50 934 39.10 281 11.76 108 4.52 1 0.04 73 9.06 7 0.29 104 4.35 6 0.25 2 0.08 57 2.39 189 7.91 5 0.21 54 2.26 48 2.01 31 1.30 48 2.01 305 12.77 29 1.21 54 2.26 1 0,04 40 1.68 2,389 100.00 WEIGHT 39.63 423.92 1,725.67 361.03 3.25 333.42 1.44 138.36 2.69 0.56 380.45 268.59 4.56 73.36 9.49 5.09 11.91 39.86 3.22 36.31 0.19 114.65_ 3,977.65 PER CENT BY WEIGHT 1.00 10.66 --- Page 7 --- ‘uayeq Sutprera oN x» O°C6 O°T6 0°26 0°26 0°16 O°68 O°T6 0°€6 O°T6 0°68 O°T6 O°€6 O°es O'78 0°78 o°es O°€6 O°€6 0°06 0°76 O°€6 O°€6 0°06 0°26 0°88 0°88 o°ss 0°68 0°97 0°94 O°S% O°Ly 0°97 0°9H §=6—0°SH «O°LY o°Oo 60°C) 00 Ore ove o'r O°OT 8°ST Z2°9T orl cL Ok 489 489 a4 89 qudd) AjTutTyTes (udd) TeI0L ‘yAITV (udd) *9 *W CATV cudd) y3-Hd *4I1V cuddy ZQ9 (uddy % Hd eanjereduzey 10930M 102 10T 998Fa1nNg 961 *S tequeaoy 0°62 OOF 0°0€ O°LE Ove Ole o°Le OvLe ove 0°0 0°O 0°0 ors O°” O°ST 9° O°” 8°7 c°L ork GL adi a ft J 08 (udd)y Aj tut Teg (udd) TI0l *¥TV (udd) *O ‘W ‘ATV cudd) y3-Hd -4%IV cuddy %o9 cuddy % Hd eanjeredway 10904 10% 10T = e9Rzang 7961 *% Atnr 0°9% O°SH O°SH O'O2T O°OZT O°8TT 0°OZT O°O7T O'8TT 0°0 8 0°0 0°0 O°” 0°9 o°st z°sS B'S "Ss yeh al ork 467 1 67 J 64% cudd) AqyuTTes qudd) [eqoOL “ATV cudd) *o'W TV (udd) y3-yd -yTy quddy %o9 cuiddy Zo Hd eanqeireduey 19384 0°O 0°0 0°O0 0°O 0°0 0°O 0°O 0°O 0°O ore ore O°” O° or? 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B°s o°L can a ork ork tL Oth CL ZL (aaa eek el ek aaa Gt@L dA tL aA vl aS*yl a€9 4969 499 499 a6°64 20S ad OS a OS i 6% 10€ 102 101 e0BFINg 10€ 102 10T 90BFANS 10€ 102 101 9e9BsANS 10€ 7961 *6 dunr 7961 SL TTadv 7961 ‘7 yorEW 102 10T 99BFANS O61 69 AreNageg 7961 “STSkTeUY TOTEM SHUT SyeT “€ STqRl --- Page 8 --- JOB COMPLETION REPORT As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT Federal Aid Project No. F-2-R-12 FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS AND SURVEYS OF THE WATERS OF REGION 2-B Job No. B-24(b): Fisheries Resurvey of Lake Granite Shoals Project Leader: R. L. White J. Weldon Watson ; Executive Director Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Austin, Texas Marion Toole Eugene A. Walker D-J Coordinator Assistant Director for Wildlife June 25, 1965 --- Page 9 --- ABSTRACT Lake Granite Shoals was resurveyed to determine the effect of commercial netting on the lake. There has not been a reduction of rough fish in the lake effected by the commercial netting of smallmouth buffalo. To date, data collected indicate a replacement of the harvested buffalo by the river carpsucker. The carpsucker is, from both a fishing as well as a nutritional standpoint, the least desirable of the rough fish species. The job will be continued to obtain more conclusive evidence as to this ratio shift within the rough fish complex. --- Page 10 --- JOB COMPLETION REPORT State of Texas Project No. F-2-R-12 Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 2-B Job No. B- 24(b) Title: Fisheries Resurvey of Lake Granite Shoals Period Covered: February 1, 1964 - January 31, 1965 Objectives: 1. To determine the effect of commercial netting on the carpsucker, Carpiodes “Carpio, --buffalo, Ictiobus bubalus, population ratio. 2. To determine the overall effect of commercial netting of rough fish on the fish population of Lake Granite Shoals. Procedures: A total of 166 gill nets, standardized for use on all DJ projects, were set in Lake Granite Shoals. The overnight sets were made at stations which were selected to give maximum coverage of the lake. Seining samples were taken with a twenty-foot straight seine in an effort to obtain relative abundance figures on juvenile forage fish in the lake, Water quality studies were carried out on the lake in conjunction with netting and seining operations. Data collected in reconnaissance work on the lake was examined closely to determine changes or trends, in the fish population, which could be attributed to commercial netting on the lake. Table 1 is a checklist of the fish species mentioned in this report. Find nes: shoals during the ing for rough its second year, te commercial rough h welpht and number z my, netably, smalin Ag can be seen in T Lich removal operat + has oot decreased over Al thouch there ihe ' OWE eant ratie --- Page 11 --- -2- buffalo by commercial netting has been succeeded by an increase in the river carp- sucker population. Table 4 and the accompanying graph illustrate the number of buffalo caught per hundred feet of net as compared with the number of carpsucker caught per hundred feet of net over the past six years. As can be seen, minor fluctuations in the figures characterize the first four years, followed by a de~ finite replacement of the buffalo by the carpsucker. Significantly, this replace- ment can be correlated with the initial removal of buffalo by commercial netting. Table 5 contains the pounds of buffalo and carpsucker collected per hundred feet of net over the past six years. These figures, correspondingly emphasize the definite shift in the buffalo-carpsucker ratio. In screening the data collected, it was noted that a considerable number of the river carpsucker collected were in the 3/4 pound to 1% pound category, and averaged from 13 to 15 inches in length. These particular carpsucker are more than likely between thirteen and eighteen months in age, making them the spawn following the start of commercial fishing operations on the lake. From the numbers collected, as well as the condition of the individual species, the spawn has experienced: an unusually high rate of survival. Since river carpsucker and small mouth buffalo require almost identical food and environment, the increase in carpsucker population can certainly be attributed in part, if not completely, to the increase in available habitat effected by the removal of the smallmouth buffalo. Seining samples of the lake did not present any unusual data, and are not presented in this report. The information will, however, be kept on file for future reference. Water quality study data collected for the lake during the past year will also be kept on file at project headquarters. ; Discussion: The theory of project personnel that commercial netting of a lake results in an adverse change in the fishery complex is being borne out on Lake Granite Shoals. From the data collected during this the initial phase’ of the job, there appears to be a definite shift in the buffalo-river carpsucker ratio, with virtually no change in the rough fish-game fish complex. Popular belief is that the removal of the buffalo results in a decreased rough fish population, but the void is being filled by an increasing carpsucker population. In a life history study entitled "A Laboratory Study of the Food Habits of Four Species of Rough Fish in Lake Diversion, Texas," Dr. W. W. Dalquest labeled the carpsucker as the least desirable of all the freshwater species of Texas. Also, the carpsucker is very selfigm harvested by anglers, yet buffalo are fished for quite successfully on enclosed docks , marinas, etc. In view of this, it appears that the sole effect of commercial netting is not the reduction of the rough fish population, but rather, the replacement of one undegirable species, the buffalo, with a less desirable species, the river carpsucker. It should be noted that the adoption of a standardized gill net for all Dingell-Johnson jobs may have some bearing on the statistics. These nets are longer than the ones employed up to 1963, as fifty feet of 34" mesh has been added. This additon would theoretically increase the buffalo harvesting efficiency by 25 percent. Presumably ‘then, the ratio of buffalo-carpsucker would have favored the --- Page 12 --- -3- carpsucker to a greater extent had the previous experimental gill nets been employed. Because this is the initial phase of this investigation, it is difficult to arrive at definite conclusions, Despite the strong shifts in the buffalo-carpsucker ratio, it is felt that additional data should be collected to rule out the possibility of fluctuations caused by population cycles within the individaul species. Recommendations: In order to collect additional data to substantiate the carpsucker-buffalo shift, it is recommended that this job be continued. € L Prepared by _ Richard L. White approvedby L712 -eest A pote Project Leader “ (Coordinator) JOHN E. TILTON Regional Supervisor Date: June 25, 1965 --- Page 13 --- SCIENTIFIC NAME Lepisosteus osseus Dorosoma cepedianum Ictiobus bubalus Carpiodes carpio Moxostoma congestum Cyprinus carpio Notemigonus crysoleucas Ictalurus punctatus Ictalurus melas Ictalurus natalis Pylodictis olivaris Roccus chrysops Micropterus treculi Micropterus salmoides Chaenobryttus gulosus Lepomis cyanellus Lepomis microlophus Lepomis macrochirus Lepomis megalotis Pomoxis annularis Aplodinotus grunniens -4- TABLE 1 A CHECKLIST OF SPECIES COMMON NAME Longnose gar Gizzard shad Smallmouth buffalo River carpsucker Gray redhorse sucker European carp Golden shiner Channel catfish Black bullhead Yellow bullhead Flathead catfish or yellow catfish White bass Guadalupe bass or Texas spotted bass Largemouth bass Warmouth Green sunfish Redear sunfish Bluegill sunfish Longear sunfish White crappie Freshwater drum --- Page 14 --- TABLE 2 LAKE CRANITE SHOALS Netting Data 1964 PER CENT PER CENT SPECIES ___NUMBER BY NUMBER WEIGHT ~—sBY WEIGHT Lepisosteus osseus 45 0.91 105.35 1,46 Doresona \cepedianum 1,542 31.34 692.39 9.58 Icticbus bubalus 577 11.73 2,902.04 40,15 Garpiodes carpio 1,438 29.23 2,112.52 29.23 Moxostoma congestum 8 C.L6 2t,G1 9.45 Cyprinus carpio 80 1.63 363,90 582 Notemigonus crysoleucas 5 Q,10 0.95 0,01 ictalurus punctatus 90 1,83 169.63 2.35 ictalurus melas 3 0.96: 0.75 0.01 ictalurus natalis 5 Q.10 1.57 0.02 Pylodictis olivaris 55 1.12 393.18 5,44 Roccus chrysops 73 1.48 68.24 9,94 Micropterus treculi 27 0.55 29.70 0.41 Micropterus salmoides 51 1.04 49.76 0.69 Chaenobryttus gulosus 43 0.87 14.07 6.19 Lepomis cyanellus 25 0,51 3.67 0.05 Lepomis micrcolophus 25 0.54 3.97 0,05 Lepomis macrochirus 600 12.20 90.72 1.26 Lepomis megalotis 34 0.69 2.74 0.04 Pomoxis annularis 190 2.92 55.63 0.77 Aplodinotus grunniens —24 is Si 150.23 _-—220R_ TOTALS 4,920 190,00 75227.92 100,00 --- Page 15 --- ahs TABLE 3 PERCENTAGE OF ROUGH FISH LAKE GRANITE SHOALS 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 PER CENT BY WEIGHT 79.02 85.57 88.71 90.14 85.94 87.81 PER CENT BY NUMBER 70.59 72.54 73.89 735.82 73.88 77-17 --- Page 16 --- raph to Table TIT co oe no ee % Rough fish by Number 100 __.__.. ¥ Rough Fish by Weight = Eee 1959 91) --- Page 17 --- -8- TABLE 4 Number of Fish Caught Per 100 Feet of Net Lake Granite Shoals ee SPECIES 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 Smallmouth Buffalo 6.12 5.30 3.20 7Tofl 3.23 2.32 River carpsucker 4.17 6-40 5.20 4,19 5.18 5.78 Year Feet of Net Set 1959 2875 1960 3000 1961 3250 1962 6250 1963 6750 1964 24900 TABLE 5 Pounds of Fish Caught Per i100 Feet of Net Lake Granite Shcals SPECIES 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 Smallmouth buffalo 15,21 15.47 13.07 22.93 14.79 11.65 River carpsucker 3.63 6.96 5.36 5.13 6.86 8.48 SE RR A --- Page 18 --- Number | CCPC SEaeeeee CI 8 FORE eo COC eee COPE eee Graph to Yoble TV. mee Smallmouth Buffalo wee ltiver Carnsycker SERRE PPT rere PT reer SRS ee eee ee ptt l TT TT PPP TPT 4 INT TI aN Lit tt Tria aan Hh PTT Ty ERE e Re) ee Nee CI] Cy CCC COC 2 0 COC Poo pt TN N a - INET PPT SERAU rH San see Rep | See Number of lhtourh Fish Caught Per 100 Peet, of Net ~ || Suaue HH LT IN aan PP etre PPP rey Poodle lied alae lisa olen iedaclielindanshecdeclard egheileedicchaclasaiohlied e) O O 03 --- Page 19 --- | Graph to Table V. Paunds of Fish Caught Per 100 Feet of Net ponds eee Smallmouth buffalo Pg —River Carpsucker PITTI LLL OLLIE err EE EEE EEL CEL EEL LEE LLL ECC PPETrLererercirrrecircLeLLOCLeL LL LLL pepe EC a Trriitiribere et Lette ee : EECCA SEES EEE EERE See PTT TOOL eLeLeLLLLLEE ELECT rr a PICCOLO CBMELLLECLLLELLLCL ELL LLL an | SRR eee ABREU REEE EE BERR ORME eee SE RR eee SS RS 2 ESE SEES? MABE Se Pee eee, ee | SRR RRR OR RR ee eee ] td Hissansnesee dessaaceed dassusnccsnenssssseeeusswssweesssssscenseessasssessseeessess SSSR Re PR Be Ce ee at tet ttetbatafaded tat afed tt TE tt EE pte f aun ER REESE "A i in eo TT a SRR ee nl ts | a et tT TTT TT RES so elaonler bron = ERR Re Be ee eee BEB PT A PL A eee | TET Te) eS CR RGEE RET ERERERE EER AEE ERE RORREGnGRnnanonnee * * 1963 LY6 2, a co ee a PEh SUSAR TERR eek ee ew x Var