Moss Reservoir - 2022 Survey Report

Prepared by Greg Cummings and Dan Bennett
Inland Fisheries Division - Denison District

This is the authors' summary from a 33-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Moss Reservoir were surveyed in 2022 using electrofishing and trap netting and in 2023 using gill netting and bass-only electrofishing. Historical data are presented with the 2022-2023 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

Moss Reservoir is a 1,140-acre impoundment on Fish Creek, a tributary of the Red River, in Cooke County. Water level declined to roughly three feet below the conservation in 2022 but experiences periodic flood conditions with substantial rain. Habitat features consisted mainly of rocky shoreline and native submerged and emergent vegetation.

Management History

Important sport fish include Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, and White Crappie. The management plan from the 2018 survey report included encouraging the city to offer a daily access permit, manage the spread of Yellow floating-heart, consider changing the harvest regulations on black bass, and educate the public on the threats of invasive species.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin Shad were present in the reservoir yet catch rate was low. Electrofishing catch of Gizzard Shad was also low, and few Gizzard Shad were available as prey to most sport fish. Electrofishing catch of Bluegill was high, but very few Bluegill were over 5-inches long. Redear and Longear Sunfish also add to the forage base.
• Catfishes: Gill net catch rate of Channel Catfish increased with higher lake levels since 2015. One Flathead Catfish was also collected.
• White Bass: White Bass were present in the reservoir.
• Black basses: Largemouth Bass were abundant, but the size structure continued to be dominated by smaller bass. Spotted Bass were also abundant, with few fish over 12-inches present.
• Crappie: The trap net catch rate of crappie was low in 2022, possibly due to temporary low water levels in fall 2022. Crappie were collected in greater numbers using gillnets. A Black Crappie was also collected for the first time.

Management Strategies

• Encourage the City of Gainesville to offer a daily or shorter-term boat access permit.
• Continue efforts to monitor and manage yellow floating-heart.
• Continue encouraging anglers to harvest Spotted Bass.
• Encourage anglers to report qualifying catches to the ShareLunker program and submit tournament results.
• Inform the public about the negative impacts of aquatic invasive species.
• Conduct general monitoring surveys with trap nets, gill nets, electrofishing surveys and a creel survey in 2026-2027.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-5 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program