Lake Tyler East - 2007 Survey Report

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

The Lake Tyler East fish community was surveyed from June 2007-May 2008 using electrofisher, gill nets, and trap nets. A vegetation survey was conducted in August 2007. A roving creel survey, conducted from December 2004-February 2005 and March 2008–May 2008, collected angler use and harvest information. This report summarizes results of the surveys and contains a management plan based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Lake Tyler East is a 2,276-acre reservoir on Mud Creek, Texas, a tributary of the Angelina River. Boat access is good with 3 public ramps and bank angler access is adequate and is available at several city parks. Although facilities are generally accessible to handicapped, none of the facilities provided were specifically marked as ADA approved. Littoral habitat was sparse in the lower half of the reservoir, consisting mainly of featureless shoreline or featureless shoreline with boat docks. A narrow fringe of native emergent vegetation was present in the upper end (above the SH 64 bridge). Exotic emergent vegetation was locally abundant above the highway 64 bridge and in the backs of coves along the east side of the reservoir.

Management History

Important sport fish include sunfishes, largemouth bass, channel catfish, white crappie and black crappie. Supplemental largemouth bass sampling was conducted in 2005 and stockings were conducted in 2006. A supplemental hydrilla survey was conducted in August 2004; and was repeated at the beginning and end of each growing season beginning in 2005. A supplemental hydrilla management plan was submitted to Tyler Water Utilities in July 2006. A roving creel survey was conducted from December 2004 to February 2005 and from March to May 2008.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin shad were present in the reservoir and electrofishing catch rate was higher than in previous surveys. Electrofishing catch rates of gizzard shad and threadfin shad were good. Catch rates of sunfishes ≤4 inches were very high providing excellent prey availability for sport fishes.
• Catfishes: Channel catfish receive little directed angling effort and were present at low numbers. Catfish collected during gill netting were of harvestable size as were fish observed in creel surveys.
• Temperate basses: White bass were abundant in the reservoir as gill net catch rates increased to a historical high. All fish collected were in excellent condition and were of harvestable length.
• Largemouth bass: Largemouth bass were the most sought after species by anglers at Lake Tyler East during the 2004-2005 winter-quarter creel survey and the 2008 spring quarter creel survey. Electrofishing catch rate of fish 8 inches was similar to previous years, but recruitment rate in 2007 was higher than previous surveys. Body condition of largemouth bass remained good for all size classes.
• Crappie: Crappie were the second most sought after sportfish during creel surveys in 2004-2005 and 2008. Both white crappie and black crappie were present, but trap net catches of both species continue to be low. However, overall angler catch rate of crappie was good.

Management Strategies

• Conduct fall electrofishing in 2010 to assess largemouth bass population parameters and Florida largemouth bass stocking success in 2008.
• Implement vegetation management plan that was developed in coordination with the City of Tyler.
• Promote Lake Tyler East angling opportunities by way of news releases. Maintain crappie harvest regulation.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-30-R-33 Statewide Freshwater Fisheries Monitoring and Management Program