Ray Hubbard Reservoir - 2008 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 Ray Hubbard Reservoir were surveyed in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 using electrofishing, 2007 and 2009 using gill netting, and 2008 using trap netting. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Ray Hubbard Reservoir is a 22,745-acre impoundment constructed on the East Fork of the Trinity River by the City of Dallas in 1968 to provide water for municipal, industrial, and recreational purposes. Ray Hubbard Reservoir is located one-mile east of Rockwall and lies within Dallas, Collin, Rockwall and Kaufman counties. The reservoir is surrounded by urban development and is part of the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex. The reservoir has a 1,074 square-mile watershed that lies in the Blackland Prairies ecological region and is primarily used for agricultural and residential development. The reservoir is 13 miles long and 3 miles wide (widest point). It contains 490,000 acre feet of water at conservation elevation (435.5 ft-msl), and has a maximum depth of 40 feet. Angler and boat access is adequate.

At the time of sampling the fishery habitat was primarily dead trees, emergent vegetation, and eroded banks. Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) is present and provides fish habitat and currently has no detrimental effects on access or the fish populations. A creel survey was last conducted on Ray Hubbard Reservoir from June 1, 2004 to May 31, 2005.

Management History

Important sport fish include largemouth bass, white crappie, white bass, palmetto bass, blue and channel catfish. All species are managed with statewide regulations. Palmetto bass are stocked annually at a rate of 5 -15 fish per acre and provide a popular fishery. The reservoir has a population of large blue catfish and has produced ShareLunker largemouth bass. Florida largemouth bass were stocked in 2006 and 2007.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin shad were in great abundance. Gizzard shad are also present but not as abundant as in other district reservoirs. The number of smaller sized gizzard shad available to predator species continues to be low. Bluegill and longear sunfish are also very abundant as prey. Some bluegill over 6 inches are available for anglers.
• Catfishes: The blue catfish population continues to be good with large individuals available for anglers. The relative abundance of channel catfish declined since previous surveys. No flathead catfish were sampled during annual gill netting but are present.
• Temperate basses: White bass catch rates nearly doubled from the previous two surveys. Palmetto bass catch rate decreased over the previous survey. Striped bass were also caught but at a low rate.
• Largemouth bass: The largemouth bass population has remained good over the past several years with good size structure. The Florida largemouth bass influence is high.
• Crappie: The white crappie population declined greatly compared to previous surveys.

Management Strategies

• Stock palmetto bass at a rate of 5/acre annually.
• Continue to contact controlling authority regarding installation of courtesy docks at boat ramp and to mitigate the installation of bulk heads for erosion control.
• General monitoring with gill netting will be conducted every two years. Electrofishing surveys will continue to be conducted annually.
• Trap netting surveys will be conducted in 2009 to re examine the population after a below average catch in 2008 and also in 2012 as part of standard sampling.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-30-R-34 Statewide Freshwater Fisheries Monitoring and Management Program