Fish populations in five Missouri River ox-bow lakes were investigated during 1963 and 1964. This was a joint project of the Iowa Conservation Commission; Nebraska Game, Forestation and Parks Commission, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Gizzard shad were the most abundant fish. Shad, freshwater drum, and carpsucker composed over 60% of all fish caught in four lakes. Crappie were the most numerous game fish comprising between 29% and 81% of the game fish caught in the various ox-bows. Channel catfish, White bass and bluegill were abundant in most lakes. Indigenous populations including northern pike, sauger, walleye, largemouth bass, yellow perch, flathead catfish, paddlefish, bullheads, orangespotted sunfish and green sunfish were also present

Welker, Bill D.

English

Name not available

Fish Population in Five Missouri River Ox-bow Lakes

University of Northern Iowa

Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of ScienceVolume 72 | Annual Issue Article 351965Fish Population in Five Missouri River Ox-bowLakesBill D. WelkerIowa State Conservation CommissionCopyright © Copyright 1965 by the Iowa Academy of Science, Inc.Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.uni.edu/piasThis Research is brought to you for free and open access by UNI ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Proceedings of the Iowa Academyof Science by an authorized editor of UNI ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact scholarworks@uni.edu.Recommended CitationWelker, Bill D. (1965) "Fish Population in Five Missouri River Ox-bow Lakes," Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science: Vol. 72: No.1 , Article 35.Available at: http://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol72/iss1/35Fish Population in Five Missouri River Ox-bow Lakes BILL D. WELKER1 Abstract: Fish populations in five Missouri River ox-bow lakes were investigated during 1963 and 1964. This was a joint project of the Iowa Conservation Commission; Nebraska Game, Forestation and Parks Commission, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Gizzard shad were the most abundant fish. Shad, freshwater drum, and carpsucker com-posed over 60% of all fish caught in four lakes. Crappie were the most numerous game fish comprising between 29% and 81% of the game fish caught in the various ox-bows. Channel catfish, White bass and bluegill were abundant in most lakes. Indigenous populations including northern pike, sauger, wall-eye, largemouth bass, yellow perch, flathead catfish, paddle-fish, bullheads, orangespotted sunfish and green sunfish were also present. INIBODUCTION The Iowa Conservation Commission; Nebraska Game, Foresta-ation and Parks Commission and United States Fish and Wild-life Service conducted investigations of fl.sh populations at fl.ve Missouri River ox-bow lakes during 1963 and 1964. These lakes were formed by channelization and Hood control work by the United States Anny Corps of Engineers. Sixteen such lakes, between IO and 800 surface acres, have been created along 192 miles of the Missouri River separating Iowa and Nebraska. Al-though species of fish statutorally classified as rough fish numer-ically dominate all the lakes, several species of game fish are also present. Data in this paper are histodcally significant since they repre-sent the first published information on fish population in ox-bow lakes along this part of the Missouri River drainage. DESCRIPTION OF AREAS Most of the lakes have typical long and narrow shapes of ox-bow basins. The largest, Desoto Bend, was formed from a 7.5-mile bend in the Missouri River channel and has approxi-mately 800 surface acres. It was completely separated from the river at the upper and lower ends by earth levees in 1960. Water level control structures were built in both levees. Three of the lakes, Omadi ( 200 acres), Snyder Bend ( 500 acres), and De-catur Bend ( 600 acres ) , open directly into the river channel at their lower end. Rock and wooden piling structures separate them from the channel at their upper end. These structures 1 Fisheries Biologist, Iowa State Conservation Commission, Sioux City, Iowa. 230 1Welker: Fish Population in Five Missouri River Ox-bow LakesPublished by UNI ScholarWorks, 19651965] FISH POPULATION IN OX-BOW LAKES 231 are pervious to water, but impervious to fish. The remaining lake, Decatur ( 375 acres), was completely separated from the river in 1955 by rock and wooden piling structures. However, subsequent high water levels in the river breeched these struc-tures, permitting free flow of river water into lake during part of the year. All of the lakes contain wooden pile-dikes. These are remnants of bank stabilization work begun several years ago in the main river channel. Deep-water areas aire generally found near these wooden pile-dikes. Depths of 15 to 25 feet are common. Maximum depth of 34 feet was recorded at DeSoto Bend. Siltation has rediuced deep water areas in some sections of these lakes to less than 5 feet. Several water areas have been eliminated by siltation. Most bottom soils in shallow water are a firm sandy mixture and contain relatively little aquatic life. Soils in deep water areas are a silt mixture and contain various species of aquatic insect larvae. The family T endipedidae numerically comprises the largest single group of larvae. Aquatic vegetation is limited almost entirely to emergent cattails and bullrushes. Large dense stands of these plants are found at Decatur Lake. Limited limnology work was conducted in Decatur and De-catur Bend Lakes during 1962. Total alkalinity, using phenolph-thalein and methyl-orange indicators, ranged between 230 and 280 parts per million calcium carbonate. None of these lakes thermally stratify during the summer. Stocking with white bass Roccus chrysops, largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, walleye Stizostedion vitreum, northern pike Esox lucius, and channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus, has been conducted in all five lakes. There is little evidence that stocking has affected any year class except the walleye and channel catfish planting in De Soto Bend. METHODS OF COLLECTION Fish were collected with 150-foot experimental gill nets, 250-foot trammel nets, frame nets, and a 100-foot bag seine with one-quartm-inch mesh. The data recorded at each lake in 1963 are based on fish caught with 18 gill nets, 2 trammel nets, 6 frame nets, and 14 seine hauls. Each net was fished approx-imately 18 hours, and seine hauls were conducted along 100-foot sections of shore during both daylight and evening hours. Data recorded at each lake during 1964 were collected with 18 gill nets, 4 trammel nets, 8 frame nets, and 32 seine hauls. All fish collected were counted and most of the game fish were weighed and measured. A sub-sample of all non-game fish was also weighed and measured. Those fish readily identified to species were placed into groups according to common name. The remainder were placed into groups which include closely 2Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, Vol. 72 [1965], No. 1, Art. 35http://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol72/iss1/35232 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE [Vol. 72 related species: carpsucker, redhorse, gar, bullhead, crappie, and small cyprinids, excluding carp. Scales, vertebrae or pectoral spines were removed from each group of fish for age and growth study. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Survey dates differed at each lake. De Soto Bend was surveyed between May 20 and May 28 each year while the remaining lakes were surveyed after July 14 both years. Both surveys at De Soto Bend were too early to sample reproductive success. Fish identified to species were white crappie Pomoxis an-nularis, black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus, channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus, flathead catfish Pylodictis olivaris, Paddle-.fish Polyodon spathula, white bass Roccus chrysops, walleye Stizostedion vitreum vitreum, sauger Stizostedion carwdense, largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, bluegill Lepomis ma-crochirus, yellow perch Perea flavescens, northern pike Esox lucius, green sunfish Lepomis cyanellus, Orangespotted sunfish Lepomis hnmilis, gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum, fresh-water drum Aploclinotus grunniens, shortnose gar Lepisosteus platostomus, carrp Cyprinus carpio, bigmouth buffalo Ictiobus cyprinellus, smallmouth buffalo Ictiobus bubalus, and goldeye Hiodon alosoides. The number and total length range of fish caught during the surveys are listed .in Tables I and 2. Gizzard shad. Gizzard shad were the most abundant fish taken at each lake except De Soto Bend both years. Undoubtedly shad would also have been the most numerous fish in this survey if young-of-the-year had been caught. Large schools of young-of-the-year axe easily observed in all of the lakes after mid-July. Over 1,000 adult, sub-adult and young-of-the-year shad per hour have been observed at De Soto Bend in July using electro-fishing gear. Total lengths recorded at all lakes both years ranged between 2.0 and 16.7 inches. Freshwater drum" These fish were the third most abundant among all fish caught during the 1963 survey and second most abundant in 1964. The largest drum were taken both years from the lakes closed to the river. Carpsucker. Carpsuckers were numerous at all lakes, although fewer were taken in the lakes closed to the river than in the lakes open to the river during 1963. They ranked fourth in abundance among all fish caught during the 1963 survey and third during 1964. Crappie. Crappie were the most numerous game fish taken from all lakes. They comprised between 29% ( Decatur Bend) 3Welker: Fish Population in Five Missouri River Ox-bow LakesPublished by UNI ScholarWorks, 1965...... (0 Table 1. Total number and length range of fish caught at five Missouri River ox-bow lakes in 1963 O'.l ~ Game fish Decatur Bend Snyder Bend Omadi De Soto Bend Decatur No. TL range No. TL range No. TL range No. TL" range No. TL range Crappie"" 949 5.0-10.2 438 1.5-11.5 80 2.0-11.5 92 2.0-12.2 285 3.0-11.0 Channel catfish 70 2.6-25.0 61 1.7-24.2 40 3.7-15.2 59 3.5-18.0 54 4.0-20.1 >tj ..... Flathead catfish - 3 19.5-22.0 2 19.2-30.0 C/l Paddlefish - 3 45.0-56.0 1 53.0- 1 29.0- 4 37.0-44.0 ::c: White bass 24 5.0-13.8 69 2.8-11.5 52 3.0-10.0 35 3.5-11.2 20 1.8- 9.9 >tj Walleye 10 5.2-22.5 26 3.2-23.0 9 8.9-11.7 2 4.0-10.2 0 >tj Sauger 10 13.8-21.9 23 3.5-16.8 22 6.0-15.5 85 5.7-20.5 26 4.0-15.8 cj Largemouth bass 9 3.5- 5.4 3 2.5- 8.0 11 3.2-13.2 2 16.5-17.0 2 2.0- 7.9 r Bluegill 81 3.5- 6.0 10 1.5- 6.0 44 1.5- 6.5 9 2.0- 4.0 47 2.0- 6.7 ~ Bullhead 1 7.3- 2 7.7- 8.5 2 7.7- 8.5 7 3.3- 8.5 ..... Yellow perch 8 4.5- 7.0 1 5.2- 1 4.0- 5 2.5- 6.0 0 Northern pike 1 18.5- 9 16.0-23.5 3 15.0-21.9 9 17.5-21.0 12 13.1-19.0 z Green sunfish 1 1.5- 4 1.5- 2.0 ..... - z Orangespotted sunfish - 3 2.0- 2.7 0 Non-game fish ~ Gizzard shad 432 5.5-14.9 1375 2.0-15.2 514 2.5-16.7 1143 3.0-15.5 1951 2.0-15.l tc Freshwater drum 14 4.5-18.5 260 2.0-14.5 43 2.0-13.5 87 3.0-16.0 606 2.0-15.5 0 Carp sucker 56 6.7-19.1 89 4.5-18.5 156 2.0-15.0 262 2.5-16.5 158 2.0-17.4 ~ Gar 6 25.2-28.5 121 10.2-29.0 97 10.2-23.0 60 15.7-19.5 114 13.0-22.0 Carp 20 12.4-28.2 20 3.0-23.7 56 3.5-22.5 78 4.0-24.5 57 6.7-24.0 r > Bigmouth buffalo 21 17.5-29.1 9 16.0-25.0 9 3.0-18.5 27 15.5-24.0 26 7.7-24.5 ~ Smallmouth buffalo 1 17.5- 15 12.0-26.0 11 9.0-22.0 1 14.7- tr! Goldeye 2 12.4-15.3 17 8.0-10.0 104 8.5-16.9 54 10.5-16.3 66 9.0-15.7 C/l Redhorse 5 7.7-13.0 8 6.5-11.0 3 7.0-12.0 16 6.0-12.0 Small cyprinids 332 - 4.0 87 - 4.0 16 - 4.0 91 - 4.0 34 - 4.0 Total 2048 2644 1283 2102 3493 -"Total length in inches. " Both black and white crappe. to (,) (,) 4Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, Vol. 72 [1965], No. 1, Art. 35http://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol72/iss1/35to ~ Table 2. Total number and length range of fish caught at five Missouri River ox-bow lakes in 1964 No. TL range No. TL range Decatur Bend Snyder Bend Omadi De Soto Bend Decatur No. TL range No. TLrange No. TL range Game fish Crappie" 616 2.5-11.5 119 3.8-12.0 248 3.0-11.6 123 3.0-11.4 275 3.0-11.1 Charinel catfish 446 2.5-29.5 28 9.5-25.1 91 4.9-16.5 45 7.5-16.5 39 8.9-19.0 Flathead catfish 21 14.0-31.0 1 19.6- - - 2 21.5-26.l ..... Paddlefish 1 43.0- 1 46.3- - - - ~ White bass 1 6.5- 86 5.4-13.7 89 3.0-12.5 119 3.0-13.6 111 2.0- 9.5 Walleye 6 6.0-22.5 19 20.3-26.9 21 8.3-17.5 2 6.5- 7.5 2 11.0-12.2 > Sauger 11 4.5-23.0 24 4.0-23.2 3 9.5-10.0 36 5.0-11.3 7 4.5-10.5 ~ Largemouth bass 9 4.0- 5.1 4 6.0-15.5 3 6.5- 8.0 - -Bluegill 112 4.6- 6.5 18 2.5- 6.8 57 3.0- 4.8 - 1 4.6- ~ Bullhead 9 2.5- 8.2 6 6.7- 9.5 8 5.2- 9.1 - 1 8.9- t:cl Yellow perch 1 5.2- 2 4.0- 4.5 3 5.0- 7.5 2 3.0- 5.1 - ~ Northern pike - 33 16.5-27.0 7 19.0-28.3 1 20.1- 1 16.8- Kl Orangespotted sunfish 18 1.5- 3.4 - - - 0 None-game fish >:rj Gizzard shad 186 4.5-16.5 2755 3.0-14.l 1069 3.0-16.3 1320 2.0-16.7 2266 3.0-15.6 U) Freshwater drum 97 2.5-18.2 356 3.0-24.5 143 4.0-14.0 392 2.0-14.7 668 3.0-15.4 C'.l ...... Carpsucker 122 6.4-17.5 357 5.8-18.0 297 4.0-18.0 257 3.0-14.2 390 4.0-21.0 t:cl Gar 1 23.0 57 11.5-27.2 153 13.5-27.5 114 17.5-26.5 132 13.5-25.5 z C'.l Carp 61 4.7-29.0 39 8.5-24.0 56 8.0-25.5 57 10.2-23.l 75 4.0-22.0 t:cl Bigmouth buffalo 19 16.6-28.5 59 16.9-25.0 52 14.8-28.3 62 14.9-28.7 30 14.1-24.3 Smallmouth buffalo 20 18.0-22.5 2 14.7-16.0 8 11.5-16.5 3 17.1-18.0 -Goldeye - 3 11.2-11.6 61 8.9-16.7 34 11.3-16.0 41 11.0-16.0 Redhorse - 7 6.9-13.2 13 6.7-13.6 11 3.0-12.7 5 10.0-12.2 Small cyprinids 403 - 4.0 17 - 4.0 80 - 4.0 12 - 4.0 Total 2160 3990 2462 2590 4046 < " Both blck and white crappie. 0 !:""' -:t to 5Welker: Fish Population in Five Missouri River Ox-bow LakesPublished by UNI ScholarWorks, 19651965] FISH POPULATION IN OX-BOW LAKES 235 and 81 % (De Soto Bend) of all game fish caught at each lake during the 1963 survey. In 1964 they made up between 34% (Decatur) and 62% ( Omadi) of all game fish collected. White crappie and hlack crappie were caught in a ratio of appro!Xi-mately 10:1. This ratio is understandable since the lakes are fairly turbid during part of the year and white crappie are adapted to turbid water conditions. Maximum total lengths of crappie collected from all lakes varied between 10.2 and 12.2 inches during the 1963 survey and between 11.1 and 12.0 inches during the 1964 survey. Mean observed total lengths for the 1-. 2-, and 3-year old crappie caught in DeSoto Bend during 1964 were 4.8, 6.7, and 7.2 inches, respectively. Total lengths of age group 111 crappie taken from the other lakes during 1964 ranged between 8.5 and 11.4 inches. Few crappie older than age group 111 were caught in any lake. Only four crappie in a sample of 17 4 collected from Decatur Lake in 1962 were from age group IV. None of the sample were older (Welker, 1962). Channel catfish. These fish were abundant in all lakes. More than three times as many chan.rnel catfish were caught in De Sorto Bend during 1964 than in any other lake either year. This most likely reflects the large number stocked in De Soto Bend since 1960. Approximatt:ely 160,000 fingerlings were planted in this lake prior to 1964. Total lengths of channel catfish were considerahly greater in De Soto Bend and Decatur than in the three lakes open to the river. At least 32 channel catfish were caught in De Soto Bend and Decatur in 1964 which were larger than any recovered from the other lakes during the same year. This suggests that rela-tively few large channel catfish inhabit the lakes open to the river m that growth of these fish is better in the lakes separated from the river. Longevity of these lakes is not a factor since Decatur is over 10 years old and DeSoto Bend is less than 5 years old. White bass. White bass were numerous at each lake during 1963. Total lengths ranged between 1.8 and 13.8 inches·. They were !also abundant in 1964, except at De Soto Bend. There is no apparent explanation for this. Electro-fishing surveys later in 1964 collected both young-of-the-year and adult white bass, although not in large numbers. Total lengths of white bass caught at all lakes during the 1964 survey ranged hetween 3.0 and 13.7 inches. Bluegill. These fish were the fourth most abundant game fish caught each year. De Soto Bend has the best bluegill environ-6Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, Vol. 72 [1965], No. 1, Art. 35http://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol72/iss1/35236 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE [Vol. 72 ment. Approximately twice as many were caught in this lake each year than were taken in any other lake. Total lengths re-corded during 1963 ranged between 1.5 and 6.7 inches. Total lengths recorded in 1964 ranged between 2.5 and 6.8 inches. Sauger. Sauger were caught in all lakes and ranked fifth in abundance among all game fish caught each year. Sauger o.f age group 0 through 111 were found in most lakes; however, most of the older fish were caught in the two lakes separated from the river. A few sauger older than 4 years were recovered during the surveys but could not be aged accurately. Reproduction of sauger in these lakes is limited. Walleye. Walleye were caught in all lakes during 1964, and all lakes except Snyder Bend in 1963. Maximum total lengths were greater in Decatur and De Soto Bend than in the lakes open to the river. Reproduction of walleye in these lakes is limited. Northern pike. These fish were not abundant in any lake. Decatur Lake, with its many acres of shallow water and dense stands of emergent vegetation, probably offers the best northern pike habitat among the five lakes. The 1964 Decatur survey had the largest number ( 33) ) of northern pike caught in any lake either year. Reduction in turbidity along much of the Iowa-Nebraska portion of the Missouri River, caused by the con-struction of upstream reservoirs, has probably been most respon-sible for the increased numbers of northern pike reported caught in this same area during recent years. These sight-feeding fish require a much less turbid water condition than was present in the river before reservoir constmction. Miscellaneous Species. Gar were the fifth most abundant fish caught during the 1963 survey and the sixth most abundant in 1964. Considerably fewer were taken from De Soto Bend both years than from any other lake. No young-of-the-year were col-lected from any lake. Redhorse were taken in all lakes except De Soto Bend. This may be a sampling error since few were caught in the other 1akes. Fewer goldeye were caught in De Sato Bend and Decatur in either of the years than in the three lakes open to the river. This fish is adunclant in the river, but apparently does not adapt well to areas separated from the iiver. Carp were numerous at all lakes. The largest carp were caugl\t in De Soto Bend. Small cyprinids, less than 4 inches long, were collected from all lakes in 1963, and all lakes except Omadi in 1964. More than 7Welker: Fish Population in Five Missouri River Ox-bow LakesPublished by UNI ScholarWorks, 19651965] FISH POPULATION IN OX-BOW LAKES 237 three times as many were caught in De Soto Bend than in any other lake. Both bigmouth and srnallmouth buffalo were taken in all lakes; however, bigmouth buffalo were generally more abund-ant. Twenty one flathead catfish wern caught in De Soto Bend in 1964. Total lengths ranged between 14.0 and 81.0 inches. Only eight flathead catfish were collected from all other lakes in the 2 yea,rs. Total lengths and weights of the eleven paddlefish caught in all lakes both years ranged between 29.0 inches ( 3.8 pounds) and 56.0 inches ( 42 pounds estimate). Largemouth bass were not abundant, but were taken from all lakes. Total lengths ranged between 2.0 and 17.0 inches. Orangespotted sunfish were caught only at Snyder Bend in 1968, and De Soto Bend in 1964. A total of five sunfish was taken from De Soto Bend and Decatur Bend in 1968. None were re-covered at any lake during 1964. Only 12 bullheads, ranging in total length from 8.8 to 8.5 inches, were caught in all lakes in 1963. The larger number caught in 1964 ( 24) is probably a reflection of the greater unit of effort expended during the 1964 survey. Total lengths re-corded in 1964 ranged between 2.5 and 9.5 inches. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author would like to thank Mr. Gene Miller; Nebraska Game, Forestation and Parks Commission; and Mr. Delmar Robinson, United States Fish and Wildlife Service for their co-operation during these surveys. Literature Cited Harlan, J. R. and E. B. Speaker. 1956. Iowa fish and fishing. Iowa St. Con-serv. Comm. Des Moines, Iowa. 377 pp. Welker, Bill D. 1963. Age and growth of Decatur white crappie. 1962. Quart. Biol. Rept. 15( 1) :7-12. Iowa St. Conserv. Comm., Des Moines. 8Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, Vol. 72 [1965], No. 1, Art. 35http://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol72/iss1/35

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Fish Population in Five Missouri River Ox-bow Lakes

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