Amon G. Carter Reservoir - 2024 Survey Report

Prepared by Greg Cummings and Dan Bennett
Inland Fisheries Division
Denison District, Pottbsobor, Texas

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 Amon G. Carter Reservoir were surveyed in 2024 using electrofishing and trap netting and in 2025 using gill netting and bass-only electrofishing. 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

Amon G. Carter Reservoir is a 1,848-acre impoundment on Big Sandy Creek in Montague County. The water level has remained within a few feet of the conservation elevation since 2015 and also experienced high water events in 2024 and 2025. Habitat features consisted of rocky shoreline, standing timber, and native submersed aquatic vegetation.

Management History

Important sport fish include White Bass, Largemouth Bass, White Crappie, and Channel Catfish. The reservoir has always been managed with statewide harvest regulations. Over 700,000 Florida Largemouth Bass have been stocked since 1982 to enhance the trophy potential of the bass population. ShareLunker Bass were stocked in 2013, and Lone Star Bass were stocked in 2022.

Fish Community

• Prey species: The electrofishing catch rate of Gizzard Shad was a catch of record, yet the threadfin catch rate declined since the previous survey. Bluegill were abundant along with Longear Sunfish and Redear Sunfish.
• Channel Catfish: Channel Catfish remained abundant with many fish over 20 inches.
• White Bass: White Bass abundance remained stable, with the gill net catch rate near the long-term average.
• Largemouth Bass: Electrofishing catch of Largemouth Bass was a catch of record dominated by sub-stock bass. A high proportion of legal-length bass were also observed with bass up to 23-inches collected during a spring survey.
• White Crappie: Trap netting resulted in lower catch rates for White Crappie; however, a third of the crappie collected were of legal length.

Management Strategies

• Amon G. Carter Reservoir should continue to be managed with existing harvest regulations. Florida Largemouth Bass stockings should continue to enhance the trophy potential of the Largemouth Bass population. Inform the public about the negative impacts of aquatic invasive species. Conduct general monitoring surveys with trap nets, gill nets, and electrofishing in 2028-2029. Conduct a spring/summer creel survey in 2026. Access and vegetation surveys will be conducted in 2028.

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