Brady Creek Reservoir 2010 Survey Report (PDF 516.4 KB)
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Brady Creek Reservoir - 2010 Survey Report
Prepared by John Dennis and Randy Myers
Inland Fisheries Division
District 1-D, San Antonio, Texas
This is the authors' summary from a 23-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.
Fish populations in Brady Creek Reservoir were surveyed in 2004, 2006, and 2010 using trap nets and electrofishing and in 2003, 2007, and 2010 using gill nets. This report summarizes survey results and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.
Reservoir Description
Brady Creek Reservoir is a 2,021-acre impoundment on Brady Creek located in the Colorado River basin. It was constructed in 1963 to provide water for municipal, recreational, and flood control purposes. From 1999 to 2011, water level ranged from 0.5 to 15.8 below conservation pool elevation (1,743 feet above mean sea level). Boat and angler access is adequate, however launching larger boats becomes restricted at water levels <1,733 feet above mean sea level and lower. In 2010, primary habitat was submersed aquatic vegetation and water level in spring 2011 averaged about 10 feet below conservation elevation.
Management History
Important sport fishes included largemouth bass, white bass, crappie, and blue and channel catfishes. Most fish stockings were conducted to establish species in the reservoir after impoundment. Florida largemouth bass were introduced in 1982 and were stocked again in 2007 to improve trophy potential of the bass fishery. Smallmouth bass were stocked in 1984 and 1986, but neither a self-sustaining population nor a fishery developed. Angler harvest of sportfishes has been managed under statewide length and daily bag limits. The City of Brady used grants from TPWD to repair boat ramps and make improvements to the city park adjacent to the reservoir in 2010-2011.
Fish Community
- Prey species: Gizzard shad, threadfin shad, bluegill, and other sunfishes were the primary prey species in the reservoir. Relative abundance of gizzard shad was adequate; however, most were too large to be suitable as forage for existing predators. Abundance and size structure of bluegill was adequate. Prey species were sufficient in size and number to support existing predators.
- Catfishes: Blue and channel catfishes exist in the reservoir. Their relative abundance in 2011 was lower than historic levels.
- White bass: Relative abundance of white bass has improved since 2006 and most of the fish collected exceeded 10 inches, the minimum length limit for harvest.
- Largemouth bass: Relative abundance was substantially greater in 2010 than in 2006. The population size structure was adequate and has been similar across time with many fish exceeding 14 inches. The stocking of Florida strain largemouth bass (FLMB) in 2007 did not increase the introgression of FLMB into the population.
- White crappie: Relative abundance and size structure of white crappie has declined over the past three surveys.
Management Strategies
Encourage the City of Brady to extend the boat ramps. Due to the proximity of this reservoir to the San Angelo District Office, all fisheries sampling and management responsibilities will be transferred to that office to better manage TPWD resources.
Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-1 Statewide Freshwater Fisheries Monitoring and Management Program