Lake Athens - 2017 Survey Report

Prepared by Richard A. Ott and Jacob D. Norman
Inland Fisheries Division — Tyler South District

This is the authors' summary from a 31-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Lake Athens were surveyed in 2017 using electrofishing. Anglers were surveyed from June 2017 through May 2018 with a creel survey. Historical data are presented with the 2017-2018 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

Lake Athens is a 1,799-acre reservoir on Flat Creek, a tributary of the Neches River approximately 5 miles east of Athens, Texas. Water level has not fluctuated more than 5 feet from conservation pool level since 2006. Lake Athens has high productivity. Habitat features consisted of standing timber, rocks, native aquatic plants and hydrilla.

Management History

Important sport fishes include sunfishes, Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Channel Catfish, and Black Crappie. The length limit for Largemouth Bass was changed in 1996 from the statewide 14-inch minimum length to a 14- to 21-inch slot-length limit. Monitoring of the Largemouth Bass growth rate has continued. Invasive aquatic plant species, hydrilla, water hyacinth, and alligatorweed have been present in the system historically and are under management by the controlling authority and TPWD. Giant salvinia and crested floating heart was identified in Lake Athens in early 2018 and is currently being managed by the TPWD AHE team as a tier I infestation.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Electrofishing catch of Bluegill was high and made up most of the forage base. Few Bluegill over 6-inches long were collected but they did support a limited fishery. Threadfin Shad and Gizzard Shad are present, but few Gizzard Shad were available as prey to most sport fish.
• Largemouth bass: Largemouth Bass exhibited an excellent size distribution and fish longer than the protected size range of 14-21 inches were collected. Relative weight has stabilized and improved compared to previous years indicating good prey availability. Most anglers at Lake Athens targeted Largemouth Bass and total angling pressure per acre was like other high-quality fisheries.
• Crappie: Black Crappie continue to support an excellent fishery with relatively high angler catch and harvest rates.

Management Strategies

Continue stocking surplus Florida Largemouth Bass as available. Maintain the 14- to 21-inch slot-size limit. Collect data on trophy-sized Largemouth Bass from the revised ShareLunker program; promote through social media and on the AMWA web site. Conduct annual vegetation surveys and cooperate with the controlling authority in vegetation management. Revise the Lake Athens Aquatic Vegetation Plan as necessary. Continue timely review of AVTPs. Maintain outreach regarding the negative impacts of aquatic invasive species.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-3 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program