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Lake Palestine - 2009 Survey Report

Prepared by Patrick A. Beck and Richard A. Ott, Jr., Ph.D.
Inland Fisheries Division
District 3-C, Tyler, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 34-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

The Lake Palestine fish community was surveyed from June 2009 through May 2010 using electrofishing, gill netting, and trap netting. A vegetation survey was conducted in September 2009. A roving creel survey, conducted from June 2009 through May 2010, collected angler use and harvest information. This report summarizes results of these surveys and contains a management plan based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Lake Palestine is a 23,434-acre reservoir on the Neches River, Texas, built to provide water for municipal and industrial purposes. Boat access is adequate, but public bank angler access is limited to public boat ramps or at bridge crossings (where parking is limited). None of the public boat ramps have facilities marked as handicap-specific, but the courtesy pier nearest the dam has guard rails making wheelchair accessibility possible. Overall coverage of submersed aquatic vegetation remains below 5%.

Management History

Important sport fish include sunfishes, largemouth bass, white bass, palmetto bass (white x striped bass), blue catfish, channel catfish, white crappie, and black crappie. Florida largemouth bass stockings were conducted in 2008 and 2009. The 12-inch length limit for white bass reverted to the statewide 10-inch limit in September 2003. Biennial monitoring of largemouth bass, temperate basses, and catfishes was conducted. Palmetto bass were stocked in 2007, 2008, and 2009 at a reduced rate due to limited hatchery production. Vegetation surveys identified water hyacinth and giant salvinia in the system; mechanical control of both species was successful.

Fish Community

Management Strategies

Sport Fish Restoration Logo

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-30-R-35 Statewide Freshwater Fisheries Monitoring and Management Program



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