Benbrook Reservoir - 2017 Survey Report

Prepared by Thomas Hungerford and Raphael Brock
Inland Fisheries Division
Fort Worth District

This is the authors' summary from a 40-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Benbrook Reservoir were surveyed in 2017 using electrofishing and trap netting and in 2018 using gill netting. 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

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 from year to year. Benbrook Reservoir has consistently been eutrophic. Habitat consisted of standing timber and rocks.

Management History

Important sport fishes include White Bass, Palmetto Bass, Largemouth Bass, White Crappie, and catfishes. The management plan from the 2014 survey report included stocking Palmetto Bass at 100 fry/acre and 50 fry/acre in alternating years. Efforts to mitigate the loss of fish habitat due to reservoir shoreline development have included planting water willow, cattail, and pickerel weed. However, plantings did not establish due to drastic water level fluctuations. A year-long, 36-day creel survey was conducted from June 2017 through May 2018.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin Shad continued to be very abundant. Electrofishing catch of Gizzard Shad was high and 92% were available as prey. Electrofishing catch of Bluegill and Longear Sunfish was lower than the previous survey.
• Catfishes: The catch rate of Blue Catfish increased over the previous two surveys. Condition of Blue Catfish was good. The Channel Catfish population remained similar to previous surveys. Catfishes were the fourth most sough-after species during the creel survey of 2017/2018. Total harvest of Channel Catfish decreased while harvest of Blue Catfish increased.
• Temperate basses: White Bass and Palmetto Bass were present in the reservoir. White Bass abundance was much lower than previous surveys. White Bass angling effort decreased Palmetto Bass abundance continued to decline as fry stockings appear to have been unsuccessful. Directed effort for Palmetto Bass decreased as well.
• Largemouth bass: Total catch of Largemouth Bass increased while catch of stock size fish remained similar. A strong year class appeared in 2017. Condition of Largemouth Bass was good. Florida genetic influence decreased slightly. Largemouth Bass were the most sought-after species during the 2017/2018 creel survey and effort more than doubled.
• Crappies: White Crappie abundance decreased while catch of legal-sized fish increased slightly. Mean relative weights of White Crappie were good. Black Crappie abundance increased. Crappies were the second most south-after species and effort more than doubled. Total harvest of White and Black Crappie increased.

Management Strategies

• Stock fingerling Palmetto Bass at 15 fish/acre.
• Inform the public about the negative impacts of aquatic invasive species.
• Conduct additional gill netting surveys in 2020, and general monitoring surveys with trap nets, gill nets, and electrofishing surveys in 2021-2022.

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