TPWD 1967 F-5-R-14 #1161: Region 1-B Fisheries Studies: Stocking Recommendations, Segment Completion Report, Project F-5-R-14, Job 5

--- Page 1 --- SEGMENT COMPLETION REPORT As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Project No. F-5-R-14 REGION 1-A FISHERIES STUDIES Job No. 5 Stocking Recommendations Project Leader: Billy J. Follis J. R. Singleton Executive Director Parks and Wildlife Department Austin, Texas Marion Toole Eugene A. Walker D-J Coordinator Director, Wildlife Services March 22, 1967 --- Page 2 --- ABSTRACT Hydrological data, visual observations, seining and netting collections, and prior biological data were used to determine which public waters of Region I-B required stocking from State fish hatcheries. Recommendations were made to stock two lakes with both largemouth bass afd channel catfish finger lings, four lakes with bass fingerlings, and two lakes with catfish fingerlings. Five other impoundments did not require stocking because present carrying capacity was utilized primarily by rough fish species. --- Page 3 --- SEGMENT COMPLETION REPORT State of Texas Project No. F-5-R-14 Name: Region 1-B Fisheries Studies Job No. 5 Title: Stocking Recommendations Period Covered: March 1, 1966 to February 28, 1967 Objectives: To determine those waters which would benefit from stocking. Procedures: Public reservoirs were checked to determine where expansion or diminution had occurred. Some hydrological readings were obtained from pertinent agencies, while the other elevations were estimates based on spillways, water outlet guages or other permanent land marks. Seines and gill nets were used to estimate the abundance of young game fish as well as the amount of small forage species present. The size of seines used varied slightly with water level and topography at various reservoirs, but specific dimensions are given with each seining table. The standard gill nets used were comprised of six 25 by 8-foot sections, the first section having l-inch mesh and the mesh in each succeeding section being increased by k-inch. The number of gill nets set at each lake deviated slightly from the job des- cription schedule due to water level fluxuation and time of survey. Data obtained under Job 4 were perused, along with the information compiled under this job, to determine which public lakes would benefit from stocking. Stocking recommendations are given in Table 1. A check list of scientific names is presented so that common names may be used in this report. These names are specified in "A List of Common and Scien- tific Names of Fishes from the United States and Canada", Second Edition, American Fisheries Society, Special Publication Number 2, 1960. Longnose gar Gizzard shad Carp Golden shiner Red shiner Blacktail shiner Fathead minnow Bullhead minnow River carpsucker Smallmouth buffalo Black bullhead Channel catfish Flathead catfish Mosquitofish Lepisosteus osseus Dorosoma cepedianum Cyprinus carpio Notemigonus crysoleucas Notropis lutrensis Notropis venustus Pimephales promelas Pimephales vigilax Carpiodes carpio Ictiobus bubalus Ictalurus melas Ictalurus punctatus Pylodictis olivaris Gambusia affinis --- Page 4 --- White bass Warmouth Redbreast sunfish Green sunfish Orangespotted sunfish Bluegill Longear sunfish Redear sunfish Largemouth bass White crappie Logperch Freshwater drum Roccus chrysops Chaenobryttus gulosus Lepomis auritus Lepomiscyanellus Lepomis humilis Lepomis macrochirus Lepomis megalotis Lepomis microlophus Micropterus salmoides Pomoxis annularis Percina caprodes Aplodinotus grunniens --- Page 5 --- ee ee sseg uoumlog [tds TaAaeT 61981 G PIO ·siaqUTM (H) Ajtoedes [ood 000·0Z (H) (08° 4° ¥) -uod uaymM sseq QO0·OT 000·OT UTAL OOZTS6IT St Aqtoedes AOF MOT (H) STY} uaeq sey sseg QOO·SOT c oTasuy ues suTeqUOD [PA2T Je ·AaAINS JO QOO·OE ·TRZ1 ·ABM = JO ,· UTYITM 000·0Z A[ATeJ Cc AU} IOMSEN (£89) 8utads ut (red) (aev) (v) MoT ,¢ ·pautes uaym Tds sseg 000·z JO ,·T TaAaT 628 yaeig (99°9°¥) awos peddoip sey usaym sseg Juepunqy Aemj[ {tds ,[T 189 G seuouL ·gd (a8V) UOMO) ayeT CRY SIT 0} (0%) sey usym [tds [aAeT yeeig uotdwey) sseq gor unoX JO souepuNGY SUOTITpuoD qsanbay uoseag /96T JO Ysanbay Buryooys ay} pue pue Fo uot y : SONIGNIA --- Page 6 --- owes pooy juepunqy Aq Aqroedes Jo asneoaq Fo ° ° ° owes Jo A0TIg TeENSTA Sututas ° . ° ° Kay /T ~s sseg (av) auOoN (a9°a°¥) (I) eUu0ON (1) (@8V) ¥)quepungy sseg JSenbey sunox FO souepuNqY usym pue MoT satTiea ·paXaains uaym ,Z wep smMoTda °Aqtoeded Jaay-a10e OSE ·pedaaans usymM ,7 03 [ ATTensn ·hem ,Z [eAeT SUOT}IPUOD · 7] yaeig Cc 7 7] WTA T7807 G soTqeL gor ~~ BUTYI0IS JO pue eqeq ystq pue Jo ¥ [ --- Page 7 --- Table 2 Seining Collections From Champion Creek Reservoir on November 14, 1966 (2 drags with a 100' by 8! by %-inch mesh seine) (10 drags with a 20' by 6! by.1/8-inch mesh seine) Species Number Size Range in Inches Red shiner 13 14-2 Blacktail shiner 127 14-6 Fathead minnow 1% Mosquitofish 6 1-14 Green sunfish 3 1 Bluegill 17 1-2 Largemouth bass 3 3-6 Total 171 Table 3 Results of Four Gill Nets Set in Champion Creek Reservoir on November 15, 1966 Water Temperature: 60° F. Secchi - 52 inches Per Cent Total Wt. Avg. Wt. Per Cent Average eee Species Number by No. Pounds Pounds by Wt. Golden shiner 1 1.49 - 20 -20 . 80 Black bullhead 8 11.94 10.35 1.29 41.87 Channel catfish 3 4.48 1.46 5.91 1.88 White bass 2 2.98 2.51 1.25 10.15 2.03 Bluegill 50 74.64 8.26 .16- 33.42 3.96 Largemouth bass 1 1.49 1.50 1.50 6.07 2.62 White crappie 2 2.98 -44 222 1.78 2.40 Totals 67 100.00 24.72 100.00 00D --- Page 8 --- Table 4 Seining Collections From Colorado City Lake on November 16, 1966 (2 drags with a 100' by 8' by %-inch mesh seine) (10 drags with a 20' by 6' by 1/8-inch mesh seine) Species Number Size Range in Inches Gizzard shad 352 2-7 Carp 3 7-8 Golden shiner 13 14-4 Red shiner 4 1-14 Blacktail shiner 17 Bullhead minnow 22 1-2 Channel catfish 1 5 Mosquitofish 8 1-2 Green sunfish 11 1-4 Bluegill 73 1-4 Longear sunfish 4 2-3 Redear sunfish 16 14-3 Largemouth bass 10 1-8 Logperch 3 3-3% Total Table 5 Results of Four Gill Nets Set in Colorado City Lake on November 16, 1966 Water Temperature: 63° F. Secchi - 16 inches Per Cent Total Wt. Avg. Wt. Per Cent Average Species Number No. Pounds Pounds by Wt. Gizzard shad 43 45.74 11.06 26 11.98 Carp 6 6.38 8.37 1.39 9.07 River carpsucker 2 2.13 2.62 1.31 2.84 Channel catfish 8 8.51 8.50 1.06 9.21 1.69 Flathead catfish 7 7.45 41.68 5.95 45.17 1.97 White bass 9 9.57 10.91 1.21 11.82 3.12 Bluegill 2 2.13 16 3.90 Largemouth bass 1 1.06 42 2.48 White crappie 16 17.03 8.57 ood 9.29 3.28 Totals 94 100.00 92.28 100.00 OO --- Page 9 --- Table 6 Seining Collection from J. B. Thomas Lake on September 16, 1966 (4 drags with a 100' by 8' by 4-inch mesh seine) (12 drags with a 20' by 6' by 1/8-inch mesh seine) eee Species Number Size Range in Inches Gizzard shad 257 3-8 Red shiner 46 14-3 Blacktail shiner 4 River carpsucker 1 5 Channel catfish 7 4-8 Bluegill 13 2-45 Longear sunfish 6 3-5 White crappie 8 3-7 Total 342 Table 7 Results of Six Gill Nets Set in J. B. Thomas Lake on September 16, 1966 Water Temperature: 74° F. Secchi - 6 inches Per Cent Total Wt. Avg. Wt. Per Cent Average Species Number __byNo. Pounds Pounds by Wt. "KN" Gizzard shad 21 17.79 2.77 13 2.40 Carp 15 12.71 25.92 1.73 22.54 River carpsucker 29 24.58 29.85 1.03 25.95 Channel catfish 13 11.02 11.65 10.12 1.82 Flathead catfish 4 3.39 26.18 6.55 22.76 2.06 White bass 3 2.54 3.10 1.03 2.70 2.64 Bluegill 3 2.54 259 . 20 4.47 Largemouth bass 5 4.24 10.18 2.04 8.85 2.67 White crappie 8 6.78 2.57 232. 2.24 2.53 Freshwater drum 17 14.41 2 wld «id 1.93 Totals 118 100.00 115.03 100.00 --- Page 10 --- Table 8 Seining Collection From Mountain Creek Reservoir on November 7, 1966 (4 drags with a 30' by 6' by mesh seine) (4 drags with a 20' by 6' by 1/8-inch!seine) | Species Number _Size Range in Inches Golden shiner 223 2-8 Bluegill 5539 1-4 Redear sunfish 3505 1-3 Total 9267 Table 9 Results of Two Gill Nets Set in Mountain Creek Reservoir on March 23, 1966 Water Temperature: 57° F. Secchi - 24 inches Per Cent Total Wt. Avg. Wt. Per Cent Average Species Number by No. Pounds Pounds by Wt. "kK" Golden shiner 29 42.02 4.99 22.07 Flathead catfish 1 1.45 5.62 5.62 24.87 2.45 Warmouth 2 2.90 41 1.82 3.32 Green sunfish 3 4.35 a2. 1.54 3.15 Bluegill 26 37.68 2.86 ell 12.66 3.56 Largemouth bass Zz 10.15 8.04 35.57 2.42 White crappie 1 1.45 .33 1.47 2.53 Totals 69 100.00 22.60 100.00 --- Page 11 --- Table 10 Seining Collection From Nasworthy Lake on July 21, 1966 (4 drags with a 100' by 8' by 4-inch mesh seine) (10 drags with a 20' by 6' by 1/8-inch mesh seine) Species Number Size Range in Inches Size Range in Inches _ Gizzard shad 920 1-8 Carp 34 15-20 Golden shiner 41 1-3 Green sunfish 1 24 Orangespotted sunfish 4 14-24 Bluegill 503 1-5 Redear sunfish 98 1-6 Largemouth bass 43 2-6 Total 1644 Table 11 Results of Four Gill Nets Set in Nasworthy Lake on July 22, 1966 Water Temperature: 88° F. Secchi - 23 inches Per Cent Total Wt. Avg. Wt. Per Cent Average eee Species Number by No. Pounds Pounds by Wt. "KH Longnose gar 4 1.74 5.06 1.27 6.42 Gizzard shad 120 52.40 20.93 26.58 Carp 15 6.55 21.56 1.44 27.38 Black bullhead 48 20.96 8.46 10.75 Channel catfish 4 1.75 14.23 3.56 18.07 1.81 Flathead catfish 1 44 4.43 4.43 5.63 1.72 Bluegill 9 3.93 «FT 09 2.91 White crappie 26 11.35 2.79 -1l 3.55 2.02 Freshwater drum 2 OL .26 Totals 229 100.00 78.74 100.00 EE 00-00 --- Page 12 --- Table 12 Seining Collections From Oak Creek Reservoir on August 9, 1966 (2 drags with a 100' by 8' by %-inch mesh seine) (10 drags with a 20' by 6' by 1/8-inch mesh seine) Species Number Size Range in Inches Gizzard shad 105 1-4 Golden shiner 17 Blacktail shiner 22 14-2 Mosquitofish 3 1-14 Redbreast sunfish 2 2-2% Green sunfish 1 3% Bluegill 26 1-3 Longear sunfish 15 2-3% Largemouth bass 10 2-3 White crappie 14 2%-4% Logperch 2 2-3 Total 217 Table 13 Results of Six Gill Nets Set in Oak Creek Reservoir on August 10, 1966 Water Temperature: 89° F. Secchi - 77 inches Per Cent Total Wt. Avg. Wt. Per Cent Average Species Number _ by No. Pounds Pounds by Wt. "K" Gizzard shad 127 - 68.64 19.43 17.97 Carp 9 4.87 17.93 1.99 16.58 River carpsucker 10 5.40 17.25 1.73 15.96 Black bullhead 1 .12 .12 Channel catfish 4 2.17 6.79 1.70 6.28 1.61 Flathead catfish 3 1.62 28.75 9.58 26.59 1.93 White bass 6 3.24 8.26 1.38 7.64 2.87 Green sunfish 1 10 10 10 3.33 Bluegill 7 3.79 48 07 3.11 Largemouth bass 3 1.62 1.54 1.42 1.75 White crappie 14 7.57 7.46 .53 6.91 2.39 Totals 185 100 .00 108.11 100.00 totals --- Page 13 --- -1i- Table 14 Seining Collections From San Angelo Reservoir on July 26, 1966 (4 drags with a 100' by 8' by 4-inch mesh seine) y (12 drags with a 20' by 6' by 1/8-inch mesh seine) ' Species . Number Size Range in Inches Gizzard shad 1971 1-12 Carp 4 8-14 Red shiner 363 1-2 Bullhead minnow 140 1-24 River carpsucker 3 3-5 Channel catfish 2 2-3% White bass 4 234-3 Redbreast sunfish 5 2-3% Orangespotted sunfish 2 25 Bluegill 2 25-3 Longear sunfish 10 2-3% Largemouth bass 4 3-8 White crappie 7 2-45 eee Total Np ·N Table 15 Results of Four Gill Nets Set in San Angelo Reservoir on July 27, 1966 Water Temperature: 90° F. Secchi - 12 inches Per Cent Total Wt. Avg. Wt. Per Cent Average Species . Number by No. Pounds Pounds by Wt. "KN Longnose gar 9 6.66 15.37 1.71 16.76 Gizzard shad 56 41.48 6.18 6.74 Carp 10 7.41 13.56 1.36 14.78 River carpsucker 19 14.07 32.87 1.73 35.85 Smallmouth buffalo 2 1.49 1.06 1.15 Channel catfish 6 4.44 6.02 1.00 6.57 bes White bass 28 20.73 14.88 16.23 2.29 Bluegill 1 2.93 White crappie 3 2.22 225 2.48 Freshwater drum 1 75 1.44 1.44 1.58 Totals 135 100.00 91.70 100.00 --- Page 14 --- -12- Table 16 Seining Collections From Twin Buttes Reservoir on September 12, 1966 (2 drags with a 100' by 8' by %-inch mesh seine) (24 drags with a 20' by 6' by 1/8-inch mesh seine) Species Number Size Range in Inches Gizzard shad 475 2-6 Carp 1 12 Golden shiner 1 Red shiner 34 1-23 Blacktail shiner 2 1-14 Bullhead minnow 112 1-2 River carpsucker 4 4-6 White bass 3 2-8 Redbreast sunfish ll 2-6 Orangespotted sunfish 1 2 Bluegill 25 1- Si Longear sunfish 2 14-3 Largemouth bass 2 14-5 Total 673 Table 17 Results of Six Gill Nets Set in Twin Buttes Reservoir on September 13, 1966 Water Temperature: »73° F. . Secchi - 36 ipches Per Cent Total Wt. Avg. Wt. Per Cent Average Species Number by No. Pounds Pounds by Wt. "KN Longnose gar 3 1.07 13.93 4.64 8.92 Gizzard shad 128 45.71 21.29 .17 13.64 Carp 19 6.79 39.76 2.09 25.47 River carpsucker 35 12.50 49.53 1.42 31.74 Black bullhead 7 2.50 1.27 .18 Channel catfish 7 2.50 4.90 .70 3.14 1.56 White bass 9 3.21 10.24 1.14 6.56 2.79 Redbreast sunfish 1 .09 06 2.56 _ Bulegill 14 5 .00 1.17 08 75 3.36 Largemouth bass 11 3.93 3.54 2.27 2.30 White crappie 30 10.71 6.10 20 3.91 2.75 Freshwater drum 16 5.72 4.26 .27 2.73 Totals 280 100.00 156.08 100.00 --- Page 15 --- ~i3- Table 18 Seining Collections From Old Winters Lake on March 7, 1966 (6 drags with a 20' by 6' by 1/8-inch mesh seine) Species Number Size Range in Inches Gizzard shad 40 3-6 Carp 1 8 Golden shiner 1 3 Red shiner 19 14-34 Green sunfish 3 3 Bluegill 51 2-3 Largemouth bass 12 23-6 Total 127 Table 19 Results of Two Gill Nets Set in Old Winters Lake on March 8, 1966 Water Temperature: 47° F. Secchi - 14 inches Per Cent Total Wt. Avg. Wt. Per Cent Average Species Number by No. Pounds Pounds by Wt. KY Gizzard shad 25 73.51 3.54 41.59 Channel catfish 3 8.83 1.25 42 14.69 1.53 Largemouth bass 3 8.83 3.31 1.10 38.90 2.64 White crappie 3 8.83 4.82 2.53 Totals 34 100.00 8.51 100.00 --- Page 16 --- Table 20 Seining Collection From New Winters Lake on August 8, 1966 (4 drags with a 100' by 8' by mesh seine) (8 drags with a 20' by 6' by 1/8-inch mesh seine) Species Number Size Range in Inches Gizzard shad 691 1-12 Carp 2 18-20 Golden shiner 130 1-24 Red shiner 3 14-2 Mosquitofish 120 1-14 Channel catfish 6 4-6 Green sunfish 22 2-4 Orangespotted sunfish 40 1-34 Blue gill 56 1-4 Longear sunfish 9 14-34 Largemouth bass 15 3-6 White crappie 178 14-6 Freshwater drum 1 4 Total 1273 Table 21 Results of Four Gill Nets Set in New Winters Lake on August 9, 1966 88° F. Water Temperature: Secchi - 6 inches Per Cent Total Wt. Avg. Wt. Per Cent Average Species Number by No. Pounds Pounds by Wt. Gizzard shad 89 47.59 22.87 . 26 39.26 Carp 2 1.07 8.06 .03 13.84 River carpsucker 4 2.14 2.12 3.64 Black bullhead | 56 29.94 14.75 . 26 25.33 Channel catfish 3 1.61 1.77 3.04 1.21 Bluegill 2 1.07 .13 .07 .22 2.58 White crappie 16 8.55 1.54 .10 2.65 1.85 Freshwater drum 15 8.03 7.00 12.02 ·Totals 187 100 .00 58.24 100.00 --- Page 17 --- =] Discussion: Several factors other than the relative abundance of game fish and the current lake levels must be considered before stocking recommendations can be made. Prior records indicate that the survival of channel catfish fry is lower in clear water reservoirs than in turbid waters. Also, it is noted that the reproductive success of largemouth bass is quite often inadequate in turbid waters. In some instances, fishing pressure from the general public will affect the fish population of a particular lake. The benefits derived from stocking largemouth bass fry in waters with established fish populations are questionable. Therefore, recommendations concluded from this job will exclude the stocking of fry, with the exception of new or renovated waters. Recommendations: Specific recommendations for the 1967 stocking season are given in Table 1. It is also recommended that this job be continued in pursuit of a more beneficial stocking program for the public waters of Region I-B. 47), Prepared by Billy J. Follis Approved a Project Leader Coordinator Date: March 22, 1967 Leo D. Lewis Inland Fisheries Supervisor