Big Creek Lake 2019 Survey Report (PDF 627.5 KB)
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Big Creek Lake - 2019 Survey Report
Prepared by Jacob Norman
Inland Fisheries Division – Tyler North District
This is the authors' summary from a 19-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 2019 using electrofishing and hoop netting. An aquatic vegetation survey was conducted during summer 2019. Historical data are presented with the 2019 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 smartweed.
Management History
Important sport fish include Largemouth Bass and Channel Catfish. The management plan from the 2016 survey report included stocking Blue Catfish at 100 fish/acre in both 2017 and 2018; stocking only occurred in 2017. Recent efforts to improve fish habitat have included planting American waterwillow and giant bulrush.
Fish Community
- Prey species: Electrofishing catch of Gizzard Shad was moderate, and most were available as prey to most sport fish. Electrofishing catch of sunfish was very low and all were less than 6-inches long.
- Catfishes: Channel Catfish were abundant; fish up to 22 inches were collected. Many fish were legal size and available to anglers. The majority of Channel Catfish were thin suggesting prey limitation and potential overcrowding. Blue Catfish have been periodically stocked, most recently in 2017. Very few Blue Catfish have been collected suggesting poor survival from previous stockings.
- Largemouth Bass: Catch of Largemouth Bass was very low. Few legal-size fish were available to anglers. The low catch of Largemouth Bass is most likely due a combination of limited littoral habitat, sedimentation and poor water quality.
Management Strategies
Promote the potential Channel Catfish fishing opportunities through district Facebook page. Continue to manage all sport fish with statewide 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