Wright Patman Reservoir - 2008 Survey Report

Prepared by Michael W. Brice and Timothy J. Bister
Inland Fisheries Division
District 3-A, Marshall, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 35-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Wright Patman Reservoir were surveyed in 2008 with electrofishing and trap netting and 2009 with gill netting. Anglers were surveyed from June 2008 through May 2009 using a roving creel survey. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Wright Patman Reservoir is a 20,143-acre impoundment located on the Sulphur River. The reservoir is located in Bowie and Cass Counties approximately 10 miles southwest of Texarkana. Habitat features consist of standing timber, flooded brush, riprap, native aquatic plants, and hydrilla.

Management History

Important sport fish include blue and channel catfishes, white bass, largemouth bass, and crappie. All sport fish in Wright Patman Reservoir have historically been managed with statewide harvest regulations. Florida largemouth bass have been stocked in this reservoir to improve the quality of the largemouth bass fishery. Palmetto bass were also stocked to increase angling opportunities. Hydrilla and waterhyacinth were discovered in the reservoir in 2000 and 2005 respectively, however; neither species have reached nuisance levels.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin shad were present in the reservoir. There were moderate numbers of gizzard shad available as prey to most sport fish. Sunfish were also available as prey with bluegill being the most abundant.
• Catfishes: Blue and channel catfish populations offer many fish above legal length and provide excellent angling opportunities. Flathead catfish are present in the reservoir and provide anglers with an additional sport fish. Catfish were the second-most popular sportfish at Wright Patman Reservoir, accounting for thirty-one percent of all angling effort.
• Temperate basses:White bass were present in the reservoir. Relative abundance of white bass is variable. There was no angler effort detected towards white bass.
• Largemouth bass: The largemouth bass population can be characterized as consistently low in abundance and exhibiting good growth and population structure. Twenty-four percent of all angler effort was directed at largemouth bass.
• Crappie: Both white and black crappie were present in the reservoir with white crappie being the dominant species. Crappie were abundant and provide excellent angling opportunities. Crappie species were the most popular sportfish at Wright Patman Reservoir, accounting for forty-one percent of all angling effort.

Management Strategies

Conduct general monitoring with electrofishing, trap netting and gill netting 2012-2013. Surveys of invasive aquatic vegetation will be conducted annually beginning in 2009. All sport fish will continue to be managed under statewide harvest regulations.

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