Gilmer Reservoir - 2020 Survey Report

Prepared by Timothy J. Bister and Margaret H. Stadig
Inland Fisheries Division
Marshall District, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 32-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Gilmer Reservoir were surveyed in 2018 and 2020 using electrofishing and in 2021 using tandem hoop netting. Anglers were surveyed from June 2020 through May 2021 with a creel survey. Historical data are presented with the 2018-2021 data for comparison. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Gilmer Reservoir is a 1,010-acre impoundment constructed on Kelsey Creek in the Big Cypress River basin and controlled by the City of Gilmer. Structural habitat consists primarily of natural shoreline features. Habitat is dominated by hydrilla and limited amounts of native aquatic plants.

Management History

Largemouth Bass have been managed with an 18-inch minimum length limit since the reservoir was opened to public fishing. The reservoir has developed a well-known trophy Largemouth Bass fishery. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has stocked Florida Largemouth Bass since 1996 and offspring of ShareLunker brood fish in 2011 to maintain this trophy fishery. Channel Catfish have been stocked in the reservoir, but a self-sustaining population failed to establish.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin and Gizzard Shad were present in the reservoir. Catch rates of Gizzard Shad, Bluegill, and Redear Sunfish were higher during the fall 2020 electrofishing survey compared to surveys in 2016 and 2018. A good number of both Bluegill and Redear Sunfish were greater than 6 inches creating a good angling opportunity.
• Catfishes: Channel Catfish were surveyed as part of the tandem hoop net survey for crappie. While a self-sustaining population has not been observed, the few channel catfish that were caught were greater than 15 inches with relative weights over 100.
• Largemouth Bass: The Largemouth Bass population has been stable over the last three electrofishing surveys. There were a good number of Largemouth Bass of legal harvest size available to anglers. Additionally, most size classes had adequate body condition (Wr ≥ 90) indicating abundant prey availability. The majority of all anglers at Gilmer Reservoir fished for Largemouth Bass.
• Crappie: Traditional fall trap netting has not been successful collecting adequate population data for Black Crappie in the past. The 2020 spring tandem hoop netting survey collected more than 100 fish and should be a useful gear to survey crappie in the future. Crappie were the second-most sought-after fish species by all anglers at Gilmer Reservoir. Most of the crappie reached legal harvest size within two years.

Management Strategies

• Continue stocking Largemouth Bass at 100 fish/acre every other year beginning in 2021.
• Conduct electrofishing surveys every other year beginning in 2022.
• Continue to investigate the use of baited tandem hoop nets in spring 2025 to collect and monitor Black Crappie.
• Monitor hydrilla and giant salvinia annually.
• Access and vegetation surveys will be conducted in 2024/2025.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-2 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program