Bastrop Reservoir - 2022 Survey Report

Prepared by Patrick Ireland and Mukhtar Farooqi
Inland Fisheries Division - San Marcos/Austin District

This is the authors' summary from a 28-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Bastrop Reservoir were surveyed in 2022 using electrofishing and tandem hoop netting. Historical data are presented with the 2019-2022 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

Bastrop Reservoir is a stable-level 906-acre impoundment of Spicer Creek, a tributary of the Colorado River, and is located northeast of the City of Bastrop, Bastrop County, Texas. The dam was constructed in 1965 to supply water for cooling a natural-gas-fired power plant operated by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA). The reservoir has a shoreline development index of 10.5 and lies within a unique ecological area known as the Lost Pines, a 70 square mile area of the Post Oak Savannah ecological area comprised of loblolly pine forests.

Management History

Important sport fish include Largemouth Bass and Channel Catfish. Florida Largemouth Bass were last stocked in Bastrop Reservoir in 1992 to increase Florida Largemouth Bass genetic influence. A 14- to 21-inch slot length limit and a 5-fish daily bag limit (only one greater than 21 inches) for Largemouth Bass was implemented in 1993.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Electrofishing catch of Gizzard Shad was very low. The fish that were caught were too large to be available as prey for most sport fish. Electrofishing catch of Bluegill was high. While other prey species were in very low abundance, the Bluegill population was sufficient for existing predators.  
• Channel Catfish:The Channel Catfish population was very low and had decreased significantly compared to the results of the 2018 survey.    
• Largemouth bass:
• Largemouth Bass were abundant. Population size structure had shifted to a greater number of fish within the slot. Body condition of fish in 2022 was good for all length classes and was an improvement from the 2020 and 2018 surveys. Growth was slow.

Management Strategies

The reservoir should continue to be managed under current regulations. Aquatic plant coverage should be monitored annually. Conduct a year-long creel survey in 2025-2026. Electrofishing surveys should be carried out in 2024 (bass-only, collecting otoliths for a category-3 age-and-growth analysis) and in 2026. Sampling with hoop nets should continue, concurrent with experimental jug line surveys in summer 2024 and 2026 to evaluate the Channel Catfish fishery. Inform the public about 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-5 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program