Baylor Creek Reservoir - 2007 Survey Report

Prepared by Charles Munger
Inland Fisheries Division
District 1-A, Canyon, Texas

This is the authors' summary from an 18-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Baylor Creek Reservoir were surveyed in 2007 using electrofishing and trap nets and in 2008 using gill nets. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Baylor Creek Reservoir is a 600-acre impoundment constructed in 1950 on Baylor Creek, a tributary of the Red River, located 9 miles west of Childress, Texas. There are no official water level records. Personal observation indicates water level has declined since 2000 due to drought conditions. Habitat features consisted primarily of nondescript shoreline. The reservoir has been severely impacted by golden alga (Prymnesium parvum) blooms and related fish kills annually since 2003.

Management History

Important sport fish have included largemouth bass, white crappie, and catfish. The sport fish populations have only been managed with statewide harvest regulations but the reservoir had previously been known as a trophy largemouth bass fishery prior to 2003. Crappie and catfish were popular secondary species.

Fish Community

• Prey species: No gizzard shad and few bluegills were collected in 2007 electrofishing surveys.
• Catfishes: No channel catfish have been collected in gill net samples from 2004 or 2008.
• Largemouth bass: The catch rate for largemouth bass in electrofishing surveys was very low with only 8 fish, all of which were below <10 inches. Population size structure was poor.
• Crappie: No white crappies were collected in trap net surveys.

Management Strategies

Reduce sampling to minimum required until water levels return to normal and Prymnesium parvum blooms abate.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-30-R-33 Statewide Freshwater Fisheries Monitoring and Management Program