TPWD 1966 F-3-R-13 #1075: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 3-B: Population and Reproduction Study of Channel Catfish in Lake O' the Pines

--- Page 1 --- SEGMENT COMPLETION REPORT As required by Ey My | FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT we TEXAS Federal Aid Project No. F-3-R-13 Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 3-B Job B-23 Study of Population and Reproduction of Channel Catfish in Lake O' the Pines Project Leader: Joe EH. Toole J. R. Singleton Executive Director Texas Parks and Wildlife Department . Austin, Texas Marion Toole Hugene A. Walker D-J Coordinator Director, Wildlife Services October 7, 1966 --- Page 2 --- ABSTRACT Six adult channel catfish were collected from Lake O' the Pines this segment. Attempts to collect fry or fingerling catfish were unsuc- cessful. It is apparent from sexual condition and condition coefficients of individual adult catfish examined, that a spawn did occur in the reservoir in mid-June. During the coming segment, tests will be made at regular intervals to determine the un-ionized hydrogen sulfide gas present in the reservoir. Continued collections of adult catfish will be made to correlate spawning dates with hydrogen sulfide gas levels. Efforts will be continued to collect young channel catfish from Lake 0' the Pines. Additional stocking of channel catfish in the reservoir will be recomm- ended if un-ionized hydrogen sulfide gas levels prove to be non-toxic to young channel catfish. --- Page 3 --- SEGMENT COMPLETION RHPORT State of Texas Project No. F-3-R-13 Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 3-B Job No. B-2£3 (Seg. 1 of 3) Title: Population and Reproduction Study of Channel Catfish in Lake O' the Pines Period Covered: February 1, 1965 - January 31, 1966 OBJHECTIVHS : To determine the need for stocking channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) in Lake O' the Pines. TECHNIQUES USED: During this first segment a variety of collecting techniques were used to collect adult channel catfish and attempts were made to collect fry or fingerling catfish. Baited hoop nets, experimental gill nets and trot lines were used to collect adult channel catfish. Seining collections were made with a 26-foot nylon bag seine to collect fry or young fish. EQUIPMENT: Harly spring collections were made with experimental gill nets only, due to a delay on receiving the -nylon hoop nets and trot line materials. These nets were standardized experimental type gill nets, 8 feet in depth and 150 feet in length with mesh size ranging from 1 to 34 inches. A total of 50 units of nets were set during the segment. Five nets were set overnight once each month from March - December, 1965. Four nylon hoop nets with mesh sizes of 2 and 2+ inches were stretched on cypress runners and baited with commercial dog food and cottonseed cake prior to setting. Nylon trot lines were constructed with 3/0 O'Shaugnessy hooks. Hach line is 100 feet long with 30 hooks spaced 3 feet apart. Three of these lines were set and baited a total of 20 nights in the reser- voir. This is a total of 1800 baited hooks. FINDINGS : Six adult channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were collected this segment. Four of these fish were caught in gill nets, the re- maining two were taken on trot lines baited with small sunfish. The . baited hoop nets failed to catch any channel catfish. The average weight of the 6 fish collected was 3.92 pounds, with individual weights ranging from 2.37 to 6.37 pounds. Table 1 contains individual weights, standard lengths, K-factors and sexual conditions for each catfish. --- Page 4 --- 2 Table 1 Channel Catfish Collection Data from Lake 0O' the Pines Onn nT el Date No. Standard Length Weight K-factor Condition (mm ) (1b.) - 4/28/65 1 515 6.37 2.09 female-approaching ripeness 6/29/65 2 A474 3.88 1.65 female - spent 6/29/65 3 408 2.37 1.54 male - spent 6/30/65 4 390 2.87 197 female - spent 7/1/65 5 503 4.50 1.60 male - spent 8/30/65 6 446 4.00 2.04 female - approaching ripeness a ee K-factor range 1.54 - 809 Average K 1.78 The first channel catfish collected this segment was netted in the Hurricane Creek area of the Reservoir on the night of April «<8, 1965. This fish, a female, was the largest individual of the year, having a standard length of 515 mm and weighing 6.37 pounds. This fish contained 1.25 pounds of roe, normally developed and approaching ripeness. The next 4 channel catfish collected were taken in a 3-night period beginning on June £9, 1965. Two male and 2 female channel catfish were collected from the Hurricane Creek area of Lake O' the Pines. Nets and trot lines set in other areas of the reservoir continued to be unproductive. All of the channel catfish collected in the Hurricane 'Creek area from June 29 to July 1, had apparently spawned successfully. Hxaminations of the reproductive tracts indicated no abnormalities in these specimens. The last fish collected this segment was netted on August 30, 1965 south of highway 155 crossing. This female, weighing 4.0 pounds, contained developing roe with some darkened or decomposing eges. Figure 1 is a graph comparing individual K-factors with date of collection. Although only 6 individuals were wrepresented, the 4 fish collected from June 29 to July 1, had lower coefficients of condition than the 2 fish collected in April and August. This com- bined with the fact that these 4 fish were in a spent condition indicates that a spawn was obtained in Lake 0' the Pines in mid-June. --- Page 5 --- Srastonedtecttccatonateestterttesstocit BEECEECEEEEEEEEEE EEE EEE EEE srafecatontesstoctts Sraitocitocatsatteniitasttenss i i FEC SEGRE SRee ee SER08 . 208 See ne ae i , | E ttre rH ae A \an8 Eaaeee PEEH FEEEEEEH |_| PTT : rth - a HH H H ia BEEN EEEEEH H cca : SGU bSESEESUS \esbau aan pane a CoCr Ce ae s cH Hf rH : / : Hiei [| 4 [| I [| / rH Lt : : : rh a : 1 4 fe oH EECCA 7 |_| 1 Pry BERR Aart ttre ta hy eee Wife hl A R905 A 2 ee A Litt Te tp PP TTT Hit Pir eee HHH fe ina [I --- Page 6 --- -4- SHINING Potential spawning areas were seined in an effort to capture fry or fingerling channel catfish. Some areas were baited prior to seining with commercial dog food and cottonseed cake. The Hurricane Creek area was seined most frequently because of the success of col- lecting adult specimens in this area. However, seining collections were made in all areas of the lake. Areas were seined at night and during the day. No channel catfish were collected this segment by seining. SPORT FISHING SUCCHSS Commercial camp operators on Lake O' the Pines were contacted to determine the degree of fishing success on channel catfish by sport fishermen. Limited catches were reported but the validity of many of the reports is questionable because many people confuse the black bullhead (Ictalurus melas) with the channel catfish. In general, the average fisherman has had little success in catching channel cat- fish in Lake O' the Pines. WATER ANALYSIS : Water analysis was conducted in conjunction with netting acti- vities this segment. These tests included pH values and un-ionized hydrogen sulfide. The pH ranged from 6.6 to 7.2 for an average of 6.9. Hydrogen sulfide tests were conducted with the use of the tit- ration method. No lethal concentrations of the gas were found. The highest concentration of un-ionized hydrogen sulfide recorded was .06 p.p.m. from a sample taken in the Johnson Creek area of the Reservoir in July. The pH value in this area at this time was 6.8. Later hydrogen sulfide checks were negative. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS : Collection data compiled this segment established the following facts: 1. A limited population of adult channel catfish is present in Lake O' the Pines. 2. Sexual conditions and low coefficients of condition of the catfish collected in late June, indicate a spawn occurred in the reservoir in mid-June. 3. Seining collections failed to produce any evidence of channel catfish fry or fingerlings in the reservoir. During the coming segment, it is recommended that 2 primary objectives be pursued. 1. Increased efforts should be made to capture young channel catfish. 2. Water analysis should be run at regular intervals to det- ermine the presence of lethal concentrations of un-ionized hydrogen sulfide gas. --- Page 7 --- a Bu In summary of the above data, it is concluded that adult fish are present in the reservoir and a probable spawn occurred. An ad- verse environmental factor is evidently lethal to the young channel catfish. Un-ionized hydrogen sulfide gas is, in all probability, this factor. It is recommended that bi-monthly analysis be made at perma- nent stations throughout the reservoir to determine if lethal concen- trations are present. Continued efforts will be made to locate spawning areas and young catfish. Limited collection of adult fish will be continued to correlate probable spawning dates with hydrogen sulfide levels in the reservoir. Additional stocking will be recommended if hydrogen sulfide levels are found to be non-toxic to channel catfish fingerlings. Prepared by Joe BE. Toole . Approved by pple Project Leader Coordinator Date October 7, 1966 Charles H. Gray Regional Supervisor