Brownwood Reservoir - 2024 Survey Report

Prepared by Michael D. Homer
Inland Fisheries Division
Abilene District

This is the authors' summary from a 35-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Brownwood Reservoir were surveyed in 2021 and 2024 by electrofishing, 2024 by trap netting, and in 2025 by gill netting. Historical data are presented with the 2021-2025 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

Reservoir Description: Brownwood Reservoir is a 6,814-acre impoundment constructed on Pecan Bayou and its tributary, Jim Ned Creek, in the Colorado River Basin about 70 miles southeast of City of Abilene and about 6 miles north of the City of Brownwood, Texas. The reservoir was constructed in 1933 and is used for municipal water supply, flood control, and recreation. The reservoir is controlled by the Brown County Water Improvement District. Prior to summer 2024, the reservoir had dropped to about 9 ft below conservation pool elevation. Rainfall during 2024 refilled the reservoir and increased water level to over conservation pool elevation. As of May 2025, the reservoir was about 0.5 ft above conservation pool. During the habitat survey, the areas surveyed in the reservoir were primarily featureless, though observed vegetation was mostly waterwillow, inundated terrestrial vegetation, coontail, and shoreline habitat was typically rocky. Boater access was available at all public ramps during the survey period, and bank angler access was limited to areas near the boat ramps and Lake Brownwood State Park.

Management History

Palmetto Bass were regularly stocked from the 1980’s through mid-1990’s, but stockings were discontinued because of the lack of directed fishing effort. Largemouth Bass harvest was managed with a 16-inch minimum length limit (MLL) from 1 September 1992 to 31 August 1999. Thereafter, the regulation was changed to a 14-inch MLL. Largemouth Bass were last stocked in 2024. Blue Catfish were stocked in 2022-2024 to improve catfish fishery.

Fish Community

• Prey Species: Bluegill, Gizzard Shad, Threadfin Shad, and Longear Sunfish comprised most of the prey species community. Shad and sunfish were available as prey to most sport fish, and Bluegill were the predominant prey in 2024.
• Catfishes: Blue, Channel, and Flathead catfishes were present in the reservoir. Relative abundance of Blue Catfish and Channel Catfish remained low in gill netting and low-frequency electrofishing surveys. The low-frequency electrofishing survey was not completed in full because of equipment issues; no fish were caught. Similar to previous gill netting surveys, most Blue Catfish sampled were legal size, and the 2025 catch rate remained low but was lower than the prior survey in 2021. Catfishes were the 2nd-most targeted species by anglers, particularly bank anglers. About 38.4% of legal catfishes were released by anglers.
• Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass catch rates fluctuated during the survey period but catch indicated adequate reproduction similar to other recent surveys. Catches of legal length fish were similar during the survey period. Two pure Florida Largemouth Bass were found in the genetics sample, and 60% of bass in the sample had Florida-strain alleles. Largemouth Bass was the most popular species targeted by anglers, and most legal fish were released. Largemouth Bass tournament angling accounted for 38.4% of the total effort towards the species.
• Crappie: Both White and Black Crappie are found in the reservoir, but White Crappie are more numerous. The White Crappie catch rate slightly increased but it is still substantially lower than reported in 2017. Crappie were the 3rd-most targeted species, and only 3% of legal fish were released.

Management Strategies

• Continue developing and maintaining partnerships for improving fish habitat within the reservoir.
• Continue to monitor zebra mussels and work with controlling authority and stakeholders to identify potential preventative and control measures.
• Conduct electrofishing and trap netting in fall 2028 and gill netting during spring 2029.
• Conduct a roving creel survey from summer 2028 – spring 2029.

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