Fisheries Division
Monthly Activity Report
November 2012
FISHERIES RESEARCH
Effectiveness of Stocking 7-inch Channel Catfish to Reservoir Fisheries: Estimation of stocked channel
catfish contribution to the populations in the stocked reservoirs for August 2012 and reservoir mapping are
ongoing. (OSU Coop)
Habitat Use and Movement by Fishes using Shallow-water Habitats in Three Scenic Rivers in
Oklahoma – Information for Developing Instream Flow Guidelines: Data from PIT-tag receivers and
wetted-area data were downloaded and compiled for analysis. Analyses continue related to the habitat use
objective. (OSU Coop)
Genetic Analysis of Demographic Dynamics of Paddlefish in Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees: The
microsatellite library continues to be developed, in advance of more detailed genetic work. (OSU Coop)
Arkansas River Striped Bass Evaluation:
A presentation on the Arkansas River striped bass fishery is being prepared for the SDAFS Spring meeting
in February 2013. Data analysis is ongoing. Multiple methods of estimating the striped bass population are
being explored and tested statistically. (G. Summers)
Grow-out catfish stocking:
Analysis of size structure and catch rates of channel catfish collected is ongoing. (G. Summers)
Walleye stocking evaluation:
OFRL staff collected one walleye from Spavinaw Lake during night electrofishing. The Hefner Lake water
level is currently too low for night electrofishing. Alternative sampling methods are being discussed. (G.
Summers)
Tailwater Blue Catfish Food Habits:
All blue catfish otoliths have been sectioned. Aging of fish is ongoing. (G. Summers)
Walleye Length Limit Evaluation:
Additional walleye were collected by boat electrofishing at Fort Supply. In all, 44 fish have been collected of
which 19 were female (43%) and 25 were male (57%). Attempts to collect additional walleye by
electrofishing will be made. (G. Summers)
Walleye Sex Ratio Evaluation:
OFRL staff sampled Chickasha Lake (SW Region) and only collected two additional walleye to add to the
SW regional netting sample. Future sampling plans are being debated and discussed. (G. Summers)
Other Research Laboratory Activities: Server maintenance was performed. A statistics class was
attended. OFRL biologist continues to plan the SDAFS Reservoir Committee Meeting by preparing an
agenda which includes presentations from state agencies with reservoir habitat programs as well as
reviewing an article for AFS Fisheries magazine.. Regional fall sampling data is being entered and edited as
it arrives at OFRL. OFRL staff continued to provide guidance to and answer questions from field staff about
methods used in fall SSP sampling. Fall SSP data is being entered and edited as it arrives at OFRL. Staff
continued to participate in the Gulf Coast Prairie LCC Science Team through correspondence and webinars
while focal species identification is ongoing. Staff produced presentations from the OKAFS meeting in
Stillwater. Staff attended an RBFF Workshop in Dallas and discussed marketing strategies with
representatives from 43 other states. Podcast recording were also made at this meeting for future
production. Work was completed on a webpage modification for downloading GSP points of reservoir fish
attractors that include maps of each lake and locations and type for each fish attractor. SAS Web Portal for
retrieve historic SSP sampling analyses continues to be updated. A significant amount of time was spent in
processing the renewal of ODWC’s SAS license. Updates to the Digital Atlas of Oklahoma Fishes continued
with OSU museum data slowly being added to the database. Technical assistance was provided to three
private pond owners and one high school Vo-Tech class. OFRL staff continued to assemble fish
habitat/structure documents for the habitat manual update. SDAFS archive materials were sent to DOC for
imaging. Boats and equipment were maintained and HACCP procedures were performed after sampling.
(G. Summers)
FISHERIES MANAGEMENT
OKC Region Management Activities: A floating fish feeder was designed and assembled for installation at
the Santa Fe pond in OKC. Fish feed for the feeders at Close to Home ponds was calculated and ordered
via the Byron State Fish Hatchery. The 2012 annual fish stocking report was reviewed by the CRW
technician for errors. Changes were sent to the Byron State Fish Hatchery. Staff assembled annual dock
inspection repair needs for the boating access projects in the region. Staff met with Guthrie City officials to
review the cooperative agreement for the installation of a boat tending dock at Liberty Lake and assembled
and sent off all documents needed for federal funding for the purchase and installation of a new boat tending
dock at Paul’s Valley City Lake. Staff assisted with the planning of the OKC and Norman trout fishing clinics /
derbies in 2013. Technical assistance was provided to five stakeholders regarding filling farm ponds with
water, aeration systems for ponds and Oklahoma fish farm locations. A rough draft of the 2013 Fishing
Regulations was reviewed and comments / changes were sent to I&E Division. Florida Bass Stocking
Committee were sent list of candidate lakes in the Central Region along with appropriate justification.
(G. Summers)
NW Region: American Horse courtesy dock was placed and waiting to pour concrete. Repairs to widen
American Horse boat ramp was started. Construction at American Horse is nearly completed. Additional
estimates of rock needs for erosion control at Lake Elmer were done. Assisted North Central Region with
Skiatook gill netting. Corrections and rewrite of farm pond booklet was started. Walleye net repair
continues. Trout stockings were attended at Watonga. Technical assistance was given to the City of
Woodward. Spider block materials were delivered to Crabtree Correctional faculty at Helena. Canton water
release meeting was attended. Oklahoma City is requesting a 7.3 feet withdrawal; reducing Canton’s water
level to 16.3 feet. (J. Stahl)
Northeast Region:
Provided general assistance to public. Ensured routine maintenance of state vehicles was performed.
Worked on caviar sales. Participated in regional staff meeting. Maintained fish division equipment for NER.
Completed weekly and monthly timesheets, vehicle logs, and P-card paperwork. Ordered supplies and
equipment for NER fish management. Performed creel surveys on Chimney Rock Lake for GRDA. (B.
Gordon)
North Central Region: Regional staff activities for this time period focused on completing fall SSP
sampling, entering and checking data spreadsheets and sending data to OFRL by timelines. SSP gill netting
was completed on Skiatook Lake with the assistance of Northwest Regional personnel. Striped bass hybrid
catch rate was slightly higher than average. Gill netting was completed on Birch Lake. Hybrids maintained a
high catch rate of quality sized fish and all predators were in good body condition. All SSP gill net data was
entered on a spreadsheet checked for errors and sent to the OFRL for analysis. The Ponca Lake fish
Management Plan was reviewed and the Birch Lake Fish Management Plan was initiated. Two detection
trips were conducted on Kaw Lake to locate tagged fish for research purposes. The Habitat Survey was
completed for NCR by deadline. Many hours were spent reviewing and editing the 2013 Fishing Guide
which was completed during this time period. The historical stocking tables were updated with 2012 data.
The hot water tank was removed and replaced at the North Central Facility. Staff looked through job
applications at OKC and picked out technicians to interview for NCR’s opening. Staff developed interview
questions and written skills test questions. Notified candidates and scheduled interview times; held
interviews for tech position and scored candidates. Boating access applications for Webbers Falls and
Guthrie were reviewed and Guthrie was delivered to OKC for processing. The change order for Ponca City
Restroom project was discussed with Federal Aide Coordinator for a status update. Bobcats were tagged;
equipment was maintained and winterized; invoices were processed and phone calls were handled in a
professional manner with constituents. (B. Wentroth)
Southwest Region: Electrofished at Rocky Lake to assess post-fish-kill survival- found sunfish. Worked on
Steed lake report tables. Entered SSP data. Collected bass to illustrate fishing regulations for I&E. Filmed
white bass and saugeye fishing episode at Lawtonka, and interview about Medicine Park trout fishery with
I&E. Reviewed Chickasha boating access plans and met with Chickasha officials at BA site to discuss plans.
Repaired floats on CRE dock- Fort Cobb. Site prep with Caddo County at CRE for ADA pad. Removed old
dock from Vanderwork. Poured Extension on Fly In 2 Boat ramp. Removed barrels and boating hazards
from Ft. Cobb. Checked Rocky Lake for future BA projects. Worked with dock vendor and city cooperator to
complete projects at Duncan lakes. Inspected dock installations. Checked surge application around boat
ramp at Lake Hall. Installed 12 brush piles on jetty and under dock at Hall. Built weight box for tractor. Ran
habitat barge. Designed trout signs and ordered PVC for stocking tube at Medicine Park Trout Area.
Reviewed fishing regulations. Checked Adams lake. Held quarterly staff meeting. Data write up. Biologist
attended HRDS class. Maintenance on equipment and vehicles, organized office and files. (L. Cofer)
Lake Maintenance:
Serviced all semi-trucks. Replaced 2 windows in track hoe. Cleaned up and
organized the shop. Transported one load of rock and the back hoe to Lake Hall to repair the boat ramp.
Crew went to American Horse, Chickasha Lake, Watonga Lake and Elmer to check area and pick up litter.
Went to Durant Hatchery and Blue River to show Ned the area. Fence was maintained at American Horse
Lake. Cut trees out of south fence line at Lake Elmer. Transported both big dozers to Elmer to maintain
firebreaks. Took both haul trucks to Vanderwork to load old dock and haul to Manning Hatchery. Crew went
to Nanih Waiya, Ozzie Cobb and Schooler to check area and pick up litter. All vehicles, equipment, buildings
and grounds were serviced and maintained as scheduled or as needed. (T. Waters)
East Central Region/NE Streams: Sampled stream flows on Sallisaw Creek. Collected white sucker from
Spring Creek and took reference photos. Tagged and took reference photos of angler caught sturgeon held
at office. Collected and shipped Ozark longear sunfish and rock bass to Mississippi Museum of Natural
Science. Collected white sucker from Spring Creek and took reference photos. Researched and purchased
range finder. Completed electronic stream maps, entered and summarized smallmouth bass data from
recruitment project. Obtained access and conducted electrofishing for young of year smallmouth bass on
Spring Creek. Attended Spring Creek Coalition meeting and prepared article on stream fish diversity for
newsletter. Keyed shorthead redhorse and took reference pics. Prepared and presented video presentation
on stream program activities for commission meeting. Electrofished Sallisaw Creek and collected black and
golden redhorse with black lips for testing. Retrieved data loggers and recorded discharge, wetted perimeter
and bank full measurements on Lower Illinois River. Measured depths of channel units at study sites on
Spring, Barren Fork, Honey, Buffalo and Spavinaw Creeks. Conducted snorkel and trotline surveys for
sturgeon. Collected, Tagged and released four sturgeon. Assisted with Oklahoma City Trout Unlimited’s
lower Illinois Illinois River Clean up. Provided photo’s for Spring Creek news release on stream cleanup.
Continued drafting the Greenleaf Lake management Plan. Constructed worm beds to raise bait for Sturgeon
sampling. Created new data sheets for sturgeon sampling. Continued with weekly conference calls with the
COE and SWPA regarding the lower Illinois River. Participated in a conference call regarding the business
Plan for the Conservation of Native Black Bass Species in the Southeastern US. Completed leadership
project paper. Met with FWS employees and were given a tour of NE Oklahoma caves. Met with OSU
student on the Illinois River to survey stream areas. Completed a habitat survey. Change water release
requests with COE. Review Section 7 for upcoming research project. Attended commission meeting in OKC.
Assisted with the lower Illinois River cleanup with OKC trout group. Repaired the NEO computer network.
Constructed trotlines for sturgeon sampling and conducted two days of sampling on the Arkansas River.
None were sampled with trotlines but 4 were sampled by snorkel and noodling. Selected transect areas for
the lower Illinois River and conducted 19 transect on the lower Illinois River. Retrieved probes and data from
temperature and dissolved oxygen probes. Reinstalled new probes in three locations. Conducted water
profiles on Tenkiller reservoir and entered data into database. Entered all transect data and forwarded to
OSU post doctorate to be entered into a model with flow, temp and DO data. Continued with a boating
access project for the City of Webbers Falls and submitted for review. (J. Burroughs)
Southeast/Central Region & SE Streams: Higgins, Holdenville, and Streams/Durant office and grounds
were maintained. SER, CR and Streams equipment was maintained as necessary. All necessary logs,
reports, invoices and forms were completed and submitted as required. Budgets were maintained as
necessary. SER staff reviewed and discussed in-stream flow information to assess options and needs for
future sampling. Regional supplies, parts and goods for projects were acquired. Information was gathered
for the Hugo fisheries management plan draft and draft was submitted for review. Staff prepared equipment
and maps for fall netting. All fall data was entered, proofed and submitted for statistical analysis. Staff
listened in on conference call detailing the updates of the Native Black Bass Initiative Business Plan.
Historic water quality data for SE Department lakes was provided to the OWRB. A response to I & E
questions for Fish Division was provided. Pictures were taken at Pine Creek for discussion about public
access and possible habitat improvements. Technician researched and discussed fish health research
needs. Future GIS project was discussed with Wildlife Division’s GIS analyst. Biologist added a > 12 lbs.
largemouth bass to the Broken Bow lake records page. Technician delivered fin clipping materials to Broken
Bow bass taxidermist. Technician mailed off a camera for repair. Streams technician continued to monitor
flow and thermal changes along the Lower Mountain Fork River, access sites for sampling streams and
rivers in the SER were researched, visited Bubble Plume Diffuser Project site at Broken Bow Reservoir to
assess status of existing equipment along with Supervisor, coordinated and conducted bi-weekly, mitigation
and surplus trout stockings at the Lower Mountain Fork River with Cedar Lake Trout Fishery and hatchery
staff, assisted Durant SFH in hauling and stocking brown trout and rainbow trout from Mt. Home to LMFR
along with Supervisor, assisted with the Vibert box plantings in the lower Mountain Fork River, and attended
and completed ArcGIS 10.1 training. CR biologist verified scales used by angler for new 11.1 lbs. lake
record bass from Prague Lake and entered information into the lake record website, attended COE/SWPA/
Wildlife Division water level meeting at Jenks office, received replies on Fisheries Division habitat
questionnaire, met with supervisor on monthly paperwork and on the draft EIS for revisions to the Eufaula
Shoreline Management Plan, worked on revisions to the habitat questionnaire to get it ready to send out
nationally, marked route through standing timber on the South Canadian arm of Eufaula Lake for next
spring’s creel survey, cleaned netting boat and sampling gear, repaired hydraulic steering on netting boat,
moved spiders onto trailer. Technician Porter assisted with trout hauling from Arkansas to lower Illinois River.
Supervisor met with streams management staff to coordinate upcoming activities, future directions and to
clarify staff responsibilities, reviewed Hugo Lake Management Plan and provided edits to biologist, took SE
Region flow meter to Porter office for streams use, met with environmental biologist about Red Slough
samples and Wister mussel data, met with Pine Creek COE environmental staff and ranger about Pine
Creek dam repair status and lake levels, discussed use of alum in Wister and Poteau River watershed
symposium meeting with PVIA consultant, prepared new layout information for LMFR signs, and met with
trout vendor at all Robbers Cave stockings. SER staff conducted fall trap netting survey at Pine Creek and
removed otoliths from crappie to gather age and growth information. CR biologist trap netted Wewoka Lake.
Streams technician assisted with shad netting at Texoma. SER staff discussed the Wister informational
poster with an I & E specialist, handled telephone calls from trout anglers concerned with new vendor/ODWC
stocking operations and scheduling, reviewed and submitted comments on the proposal to change
regulatory/ANS signs along the LMFR, technician assisted with LMFR trout stocking and picked up pallet of
quickcrete for spider block construction. Staff acquired remaining donated spider block pipe. Biologist
submitted habitat buoy order. Spider block materials were provided to the MCAAP biologist and Wister State
Park. Information was updated for the habitat committee’s news release. CR biologist designed and built
new “starfish” habitat structures, picked up trailer load of spider blocks from Eufaula School, and built spider
blocks. Streams technician continued assisting OBS staff with documenting the presence and spread of
Didymosphenia geminata (i.e., didymo) at the Lower Mountain Fork River. SER staff visited on-site with a
local landowner about pond management. SER, CR and Streams staff conducted HACCP protocol on all
equipment as needed and maintained logs as required. SER supervisor and staff assisted LeFlore County
Game Warden patrol Wister WMA and Fourche Maline WDU. Tires were purchased and installed on CR
vehicle. SER vehicles, WC254 and WC256, were serviced. Regular maintenance of SER, CR and Streams
vehicles was conducted as necessary. (D. Groom)
South Central Region:
Assisted with weekly trout stocking at Blue River. Reviewed Department web site and submitted changes as
needed. Drafted news release with I&E promoting statewide habitat work conducted in 2012 and information
on how anglers can access these locations. Worked on FLMB stocking protocol and solicited input from
other regions. Held meetings with regional staff to coordinate upcoming activities, future directions and to
clarify staff responsibilities. Maintenance of office building, grounds and equipment. Attended and
presented updates at the joint ODWC / TPWD meeting in Denison, TX. Submitted abstract for upcoming
SDAFS meeting. Reviewed and provided comments/edits on Draft 2013 Fishing Guide. Performed SSP gill
net survey at Lake Jean Neustadt and Healdton Lake. Removed otoliths from crappie and saugeye collected
in SSP surveys. Habitat enhancement was conducted at Healdton Lake refurbishing cedar tree structures
with help of City employees. Maintenance performed on State trucks. (M. Mauck)
Environmental: Reviewed and responded to requested environmental impact assessments that could affect
species of greatest conservation need. Conducted a presentation for Russell Dougherty Elementary School
in Edmond regarding no-game species. Participated in annual Endangered Species Act Sec 7 Coordination
Meeting with USFWS Tulsa ES Office personnel. Coordinated with USFWS on NAWCA grant to purchase
property with NRDA restoration funds adjacent to Deep Fork Refuge. Participated in State Wildlife Grant
coordination meeting. Participation in the Trustee Councils of Tristate quarterly meeting to discuss
restoration activities and remedial projects within and relating to the Tar Creek superfund site. Participated in
the Tar Creek trustee council meeting and other related activities associated with Tar Creek. Answered
questions from the public regarding hunting and fishing regulations and fisheries management. Completed
compliance documents for SFR grants. (W. Ray)
Paddlefish RPC:
Worked on caviar sales. Shipped caviar samples and two boxes of caviar. Continued data analyses on
paddlefish including RPC 2008-2012, netting and band recovery, Grand Lake paddlefish telemetry.
Prepared supplies and equipment for paddlefish netting season. Performed SSP paddlefish netting on
Gibson, Hudson, and Grand Lakes. Performed gill netting for juvenile paddlefish on Grand Lake / Neosho
River. Continued ongoing adult paddlefish telemetry research in Grand Lake. (B. Gordon)
FISH HATCHERIES
HOLDENVILLE FISH HATCHERY: Various fish were sampled and feeding rates were adjusted accordingly.
Water quality parameters were monitored in culture ponds. Hatchery reservoir water level and pumps were
monitored. Distributed 4,785 rainbow trout from Greer’s Ferry National Fish Hatchery to the Illinois River.
Distributed 16,060 brown trout from Norfork National Fish Hatchery to the Illinois River. Distributed 2,000
rainbow trout from Norfork National Fish Hatchery to the Mountain Fork River. Hatchery staff deterred
herons, egrets, cormorants and river otters from culture ponds. Hatchery Manager attended managers
meeting at the Durant Hatchery, and one HRDS class at Rose State Collage. Ponds were mowed, disked
and graded for upcoming culture season. Leaks were repaired in pond dikes in ponds 13,14 and 15.
Hatchery roads were graded and maintained. Hatchery grounds were maintained though out the month.
Repairs were made to ponds, nets, seine and screens where needed. Shop and vehicle storage buildings
were cleaned as needed. Repairs and maintenance to buildings, equipment and hatchery grounds were
made as needed. (J.Davenport)
DATE
12/04/12
12/11/12
12/06/12
SPECIES
Rainbow Trout
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
NUMBER
4,785
2,000
16,060
WATER
Illinois River
Mountain Fork River
Illinois River
Durant Hatchery: Pellet trained Flmb broodstock and future broodstock were monitored and fed several
times per day, as water temperatures permit. One Golden Shiner pond was harvested with a majority of the
fish being fed to Flmb broodstock. Some were also held back for spawning needs in 2013. Rainbow Trout
were transported weekly from the Greers Ferry NFH to the Blue River for stocking. Rainbow and Brown
Trout were transported from the Norfork NFH to the Lower Mtn. Fork River for public stocking. DH staff met
Cedar Springs Trout Farm personnel and assisted with every other week trout stockings at the Mtn. Fork
River. Aquatic plants grown for stocking into public waters were monitored and maintained. Large mesh
gillnets were put into one Flmb future broodstock pond to test as a potential tool for otter control or deterrent.
Traps and snares were also monitored for otter control. Hatchery Manager’s meeting was held at the Durant
Hatchery. Hatchery updates were given to Hatchery Section Supervisor and Assistant Chief. DH personnel
continued working on online USFWS fish disease class material. 1 tour was given, packets with general
ODWC information were distributed and numerous walk-in visitors were assisted during this reporting period.
All fish species were monitored and fed as water temperature and weather conditions permitted and sampled
accordingly, water quality maintained and nuisance aquatic vegetation controlled. Hatchery grounds,
buildings, equipment, and vehicles were maintained. Repairs to pumps were performed. Another water
return pump was repaired and set back in place in the Phase 1 & 2 water return pump station. Repairs to
other equipment, dip nets and seines were completed. DH staff continued monitoring and deterring otters,
cormorants, and herons. The shop and office were cleaned weekly and as needed. The following fish were
distributed to public waters. (G. Schomer)
DATE
11/20
11/27
11/27
12/05
12/11
12/13
SPECIES
RBT*
RBT*
BT**
RBT*
RBT**
RBT*
Source: *Greers Ferry NFH
NUMBER
4,680
2,340
26,725
2,280
4,000
2,405
SIZE
11.13”
11.11”
5.91”
11.10”
11.11
10.94”
NO/LB
1.8
1.8
10.48
1.77
1.80
1.88
WATER STOCKED
Blue River
Blue River
Lower Mtn. Fork
Blue River
Lower Mtn. Fork
Blue River
COUNTY
Johnston
Johnston
McCurtain
Johnston
McCurtain
Johnston
**Norfork NFH
Byron Hatchery:
Fish culture activities completed this month included feeding brown trout, largemouth bass, hybrid sunfish,
and fathead minnows. Also, water levels were monitored and maintained in ponds and hatchery reservoirs,
tanks were cleaned in fish house, and recirculation system in fish house was back flushed twice daily.
Maintenance activities completed this month include blading hatchery roads with tractor and box blade,
replacing circuit in pump control panel, repairing door to storage building, and spraying for termites in wood
shop. Gators and tractors were serviced and winterized, the door on the tractor was repaired, and the
oxygen bottles were cleaned and painted. Other activities completed this month include preparing IDIQ
request for Durant Repair Project engineer’s and preparation of production and stocking reports for hatchery
managers meeting. Set up and held hatchery managers meeting at Durant State Fish Hatchery. Supervisor
inspected Holdenville and Durant hatchery grounds and buildings and attended HRDS supervisor training
course at Rose State College. Staff assisted NWR with habitat weights and Wildlife division with Byron
Hatchery Watchable Wildlife area planning. No fish were stocked this month. (S. Spade)
J A Manning Hatchery: Performed routine maintenance to equipment and vehicles as scheduled or
needed. Rotovated pond bottoms and began the process of reshaping them. Installed old 500 gallon
hauling tank on trailer. Had new tires installed on one truck. Assistant manager made two trips to Arkansas
for trout. Manager and technician went to Bixby to inspect and pick up new fish loading crane and truck bed.
Fed fish daily and performed predator control on ponds. Manager went to OKC to review technician
applications and began the process of trying to set up interviews for the second time. Received old turn in
disk from wildlife division and began working up fire guards. Feed and fertilizer was inventoried and requests
were made for 2013 needs. Began the process of obtaining materials from private land owners to repair
leaking ponds. Manager attended managers meeting at Durant. (T. Wright)