Brandy Branch Reservoir - 2007 Survey Report

Prepared by Timothy J. Bister and Michael W. Brice
Inland Fisheries Division
District 3-A, Marshall, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 23-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Brandy Branch Reservoir were surveyed in 2007 using electrofishing and in 2008 using gill netting. Anglers were surveyed from December 2007 to February 2008 with an access creel survey. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Brandy Branch Reservoir is a 1,257-acre impoundment of Brandy Branch Creek in the Sabine River Basin in Harrison County. Structural habitat is mainly inundated timber. Native submersed aquatic vegetation and hydrilla each account for approximately 18% of the reservoir’s surface area. Eurasian watermilfoil was recently discovered and giant salvinia was introduced from a boat trailer.

Management History

Largemouth bass are the primary sport fish in this reservoir. All sport fish have historically been managed with statewide harvest regulations. The largemouth bass population is comprised entirely of Florida largemouth bass.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin shad and gizzard shad were collected during the 2007 fall electrofishing survey, but their abundance was low. Bluegill were the most abundant prey species collected during the 2007 survey.
• Catfishes: Only three large channel catfish were collected during 2008 gill netting. Previous efforts to establish a reproducing channel catfish population have not been successful.
• Largemouth bass: The largemouth bass population was good with high relative abundance, good size structure, and adequate recruitment. Relative weights were good for all inch groups indicating adequate prey availability. Largemouth bass had adequate growth rates, reaching legal-size in three growing seasons. All anglers interviewed during a winter 2007/2008 creel survey were targeting largemouth bass.
• Crappie: Trap netting was not conducted during this survey period, but crappie abundance has historically been very low.

Management Strategies

Conduct electrofishing surveys every other year beginning in 2009, and general monitoring with gill nets in 2012. Invasive vegetation surveys will be conducted annually beginning in 2008. Technical guidance will be given to controlling authority regarding vegetation management. All sport fish will continue to be managed under statewide harvest regulations.

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