Grapevine Reservoir 2011 Survey Report (PDF 471.6 KB)
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Grapevine Reservoir - 2011 Survey Report
Prepared by Raphael Brock and Thomas Hungerford
Inland Fisheries Division
District 2-D, Fort Worth, Texas
This is the authors' summary from a 29-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.
Fish populations in Grapevine Reservoir were surveyed in 2008-2011 using electrofishing, in 2011 using trap nets, and in 2012 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
Grapevine Reservoir is a 6,684-acre impoundment constructed on Denton Creek, a tributary of the Trinity River by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1952 to provide flood control, municipal and industrial water, and recreation. Grapevine Reservoir is surrounded by urban development and is 20 miles northwest of Dallas, Texas in Tarrant County. The reservoir contains 188,550 acre-feet of water at conservation elevation (535 ft. above mean sea level) and has an average depth of 28.2 feet and a maximum depth of 65.0 feet. Angler and boat access is adequate. There is one handicap specific facility on the reservoir. At the time of sampling the fishery habitat was primarily rocky and gravel shorelines.
Management History
Important sport fish include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass spotted bass, white crappie, white bass, and blue and channel catfish. The largemouth bass population has been managed with a 14- to 18-inch slot-length limit since 1994. All other species have been managed with statewide regulations. Grapevine Reservoir was part of the TPWD Habitat Improvement Initiative; however, because of water level fluctuations there has been limited success.
Fish Community
- Prey species: Gizzard shad were in great abundance in the reservoir. Threadfin shad were also available in large abundance for predators. Bluegills and longear sunfish were also very abundant as prey but few fish over 6 inches are available for anglers.
- Catfishes: The blue catfish were abundant and the population continues to improve. The channel catfish population was average.
- White bass: White bass catch rates were below the average of other district reservoirs.
- Black basses: The smallmouth bass population appeared to be developing as a result of annual stockings. The largemouth bass and spotted bass populations had good abundance and size structure.
- Crappie: The white crappie population improved from last sample but continued to be average in abundance when compared to other district reservoirs.
Management Strategies
- Spring exploratory electrofishing will be conducted annually to monitor smallmouth bass spawning activity.
- A category 4 age and growth survey will be conducted in 2015 to better analyze age and growth statistics of largemouth bass population.
- A creel survey along with electrofishing, trap netting and gill netting surveys will be conducted in 2015-2016.
Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-2 Statewide Freshwater Fisheries Monitoring and Management Program