Lake Crook 2010 Survey Report (PDF 204.5 KB)
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Lake Crook - 2010 Survey Report
Prepared by Kevin W. Storey
Inland Fisheries Division
District 3-B,
Tyler, Texas
This is the author's summary from a 16-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.
Fish populations in Lake Crook were surveyed in 2010 using electrofishing and trap netting and in 2011 using gill netting. Aquatic vegetation and habitat surveys were conducted on Lake Crook during July 2010. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.
Reservoir Description
Lake Crook is a 1,060-acre impoundment located in Lamar County, Texas, on Pine Creek, a tributary of the Red River. It was constructed in 1923 by the City of Paris for municipal water supply but currently acts as a supplemental source to the main supply from Pat Mayse Reservoir. Littoral zone habitat consists primarily of natural shoreline with native emergent aquatic vegetation. The reservoir lies within the Blackland Prairies Land Area and is characterized by highly turbid water which limits light penetration and therefore primary productivity.
Management History
Important sport fishes include largemouth bass, white crappie, blue and channel catfish. The management plan from the 2006 survey report recommended promoting the blue catfish fishery and suggesting improvements to public fishing access in the city park. The City of Paris built a new fishing pier in 2010.
Fish Community
- Prey species: Electrofishing catch rates of gizzard shad and bluegill were low. No threadfin shad were collected. Electrofishing sampling is impaired by the lake’s high turbidity.
- Catfishes: No channel catfish were collected during 2011 gill net sampling. Although blue catfish were collected in 2007, none were collected in 2011. No flathead catfish were collected.
- Largemouth bass: Largemouth bass have been collected in the past, but none were sampled in 2010. Largemouth bass density is very low based on past surveys. High lake turbidity made it difficult to observe fish during electrofishing sampling.
- Crappie: White crappie were the only crappie species collected during the survey. Size structure was poor, with the majority of fish collected being less than five inches in length.
Management Strategies
Continue with standard monitoring using trap netting, gill netting, and electrofishing in 2014-2015.
Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-1 Statewide Freshwater Fisheries Monitoring and Management Program