Big Creek Lake - 2023 Survey Report

Prepared by Quintin Dean
Inland Fisheries Division – Marshall District

This is the authors' summary from a 21-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Big Creek Reservoir were surveyed in 2023 using electrofishing, low-frequency electrofishing, and hoop netting. Historical data are presented with the 2023 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

Big Creek Reservoir is a 520-acre impoundment located on Big Creek in the Sulphur River Basin approximately 1 mile north of Cooper, Texas. Primary water uses include municipal water supply and recreation. Big Creek Reservoir has moderate productivity. Habitat features consisted of natural shoreline, standing timber and limited emergent aquatic vegetation.

Management History

Important sport fish include Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, and Blue Catfish. Florida Largemouth Bass were initially stocked in 1988 and last stocked in 2007. All sportfish are managed under the statewide harvest regulation. An angler access project was completed in 2017 to improve parking, boating access, and fishing from the pier.

Fish Community

• Prey species:  Gizzard Shad were moderately abundant, and nearly all observed were available as prey to most sport fish. Sunfish relative abundance was very low, and all were less than 6-inches long.    
• Catfishes:  Channel Catfish were abundant; fish up to 21 inches were collected. The majority of Channel Catfish had poor condition suggesting prey limitation and potential overcrowding. Blue Catfish have been periodically stocked, most recently in 2017. Natural reproduction of Blue Catfish was confirmed in 2023 and warrants future monitoring.  
• Largemouth Bass:  Catch of Largemouth Bass was very low and few legal-size fish were available to anglers. The low catch of Largemouth Bass is most likely due to a combination of limited littoral habitat, sedimentation, and poor water clarity.

Management Strategies

Improve littoral habitat through re-establishing vegetation and consider projects to reverse negative effects of reservoir ageing. Evaluate the Blue Catfish population with a low-frequency electrofishing survey in 2027. Promote the Channel Catfish fishery. Continue managing all sport fish with statewide harvest regulations.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-2 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program