Buffalo Creek Reservoir - 2024 Survey Report

Prepared by James York and Wes Dutter
Inland Fisheries Division
Wichita Falls District

This is the authors' summary from a 27-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Buffalo Creek Reservoir were surveyed in 2022 and 2024 using electrofishing, 2024 using trap nets, and in 2025 using gill netting. Historical data are presented with the 2022-2025 data for comparison. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Buffalo Creek Reservoir is a 1,577-acre impoundment located on the North Fork of Buffalo Creek in the Red River Basin approximately 20 miles west of Wichita Falls. At full pool, its shoreline is characterized as natural with some rocks. Buffalo Creek would be characterized as turbid. This reservoir was under drought conditions from 2022-2025 with the water levels dropping to 10 feet below conservation level. Drought conditions for the reservoir ended in May 2025 with the reservoir catching 8 feet of water.

Management History

Important sport fish include Largemouth Bass, White Crappie, Channel, Flathead, and Blue Catfish. Buffalo Creek has always been managed with statewide regulations. Florida Largemouth Bass were stocked in 2016, 2017 and 2019. Bluegill and Channel Catfish were stocked in 2016 and Channel Catfish had an additional stocking in 2018. Blue Catfish and Flathead Catfish were stocked in 2021. ShareLunker Largemouth Bass were stocked in 2022.

Fish Community

• Prey species:Gizzard Shad and Bluegill were present in high abundance. The 2024 survey was the seventh highest electrofishing catch rate for Gizzard Shad and third highest for Bluegill with all being of a size easily consumed by predators.
• Catfishes: Flathead, Channel, and Blue Catfish were all present in the reservoir. Abundance of Blue Catfish was down from the 2011 survey, but all had excellent body condition. This was the highest gill netting catch rate for Channel Catfish with all being of good to excellent body condition.
• Largemouth Bass: ShareLunker Largemouth Bass were stocked in 2022. The electrofishing survey in 2022 showed good numbers of legal-length bass available to anglers with excellent body condition. The electrofishing survey 2024 resulted with low numbers of Largemouth Bass surveyed, with all of the bass being located on or just off the rocks of the dam.
• Crappie: White and Black Crappie were present in the 2024 trap net survey. Black Crappie were first observed in 2015 after the reservoir refilled. They probably originated from small ponds within the watershed that over-flowed allowing them to escape and take up residence in the reservoir. By 2018, they were well established in the reservoir and are still present to this day, though not as prevalent as in 2018. White Crappie rebounded nicely in 2020 after an algal bloom caused a reservoir wide mortality event in 2018. Low water levels from 2022-2024 contributed to the relative abundance of White Crappie being lower than in 2020. The 2024 trap net survey resulted in decent numbers of White Crappie with all exhibiting excellent body condition.

Management Strategies

• Monitor fish populations using electrofishing in 2028, trap nets in 2028, and gill nets in 2029.
• Request a stocking of Lonestar Largemouth Bass when water levels are adequate.
• Conduct an additional fall electrofishing survey in 2026.
• Examine age and growth to the legal length limit for Largemouth Bass in 2028.
• Place additional natural habitat in 2026 where it will not create boating hazards when water levels are low.

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