Benbrook Reservoir - 2013 Survey Report

Prepared by Thomas Hungerford and Raphael Brock
Inland Fisheries Division
District 2-D, Fort Worth, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 27-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Benbrook Reservoir were surveyed in 2013 with electrofishing and trap netting, and in 2014 using gill netting. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Benbrook Reservoir is a 3,635-acre impoundment located on the Clear Fork of the Trinity River approximately 10 miles southwest of Fort Worth. Water level fluctuates widely in the reservoir. Benbrook Reservoir has consistently been hypereutrophic. Habitat consisted of standing timber and rocks.

Management History

Important sport fishes included White Bass, Palmetto Bass, Largemouth Bass, White Crappie, and catfishes. The management plan from the 2009 survey report included stocking Palmetto Bass at 10 fingerlings/acre, annually. Largemouth Bass have been managed with state-wide minimum length limit of 14 inches. Florida Largemouth Bass were introduced in the mid-to-late 1970s and stocked again in 2007. Blue Catfish were stocked in 1990 and 1991 to capitalize on the abundant prey base. Recent efforts to improve the fish habitat and angler success have included planting aquatic vegetation.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin Shad continued to be abundant. Electrofishing catch of Gizzard Shad was high. Electrofishing catch of Bluegill and Longear Sunfish was much higher than the previous survey.
• Catfishes: Blue Catfish numbers in Benbrook Reservoir declined from the previous sample. The Channel Catfish catch rate dropped from the 2010 sample.
• Temperate basses: White Bass, Yellow Bass, and Palmetto Bass were present. White Bass were collected at a higher rate than in previous years. Yellow Bass, which may have been introduced through a pipeline connecting Cedar Creek Reservoir and Richland-Chambers Reservoir to Benbrook Reservoir, were collected in gill nets for the first time in 2006 and reached historic highs in 2014. Palmetto Bass abundance remained average over the past two surveys, despite sporadic stocking.
• Largemouth bass: Largemouth Bass were captured in moderate abundance. Abundance of fish over 14 inches was high. Largemouth Bass body condition was average. Florida influence remains high despite the last stocking being in 2007.
• Crappies: Size and body condition of White Crappie continued to be good, and abundance was much higher the two previous samples. Black Crappie were sampled for the past two surveys, but in low numbers.

Management Strategies

• Stock Palmetto Bass at alternating rates of 50 and 100 fry per acre annually.
• Conduct standard sport fish monitoring in 2017-2018 with an additional gill netting survey in 2016.
• Continue habitat improvements through shoreline emergent vegetation plantings, concentrating on the areas of Rocky Creek Park and the northwestern shore near Dutch Branch.
• Conduct year-long creel survey in 2017-2018.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-4 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program