Amon G. Carter Reservoir - 2020 Survey Report

Prepared by Corey Clouse and Dan Bennett
Inland Fisheries Division
Denison District, Pottbsobor, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 29-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 2020 using electrofishing and trap netting and in 2021 using gill netting and bass-only electrofishing. Historical data are presented with the 2020-2021 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. Water level was below conservation elevation from 2011 to 2015 but has been near conservation level since 2015. Habitat features consisted of rocky shoreline, standing timber, and native submersed aquatic vegetation.

Management History

Important sport fish include Channel Catfish, White Bass, Largemouth Bass, and White Crappie. The reservoir has always been managed with statewide harvest regulations. Over 680,000 Florida Largemouth Bass have been stocked since 1982 to enhance the trophy potential of the bass population.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Electrofishing catch of Threadfin Shad and Gizzard Shad declined since the previous survey, and fewer Gizzard Shad were available as prey to most sport fish. Electrofishing catch of Bluegill was still above average for the reservoir, with a variety of sizes available to predators.
• Catfishes: Gill netting results for Channel Catfish was a catch of record, with most of the population over the legal length. Flathead Catfish were present in the reservoir.
• White Bass: White Bass abundance has declined since 2013, with the gill net catch rate below the historical average.
• Largemouth Bass: Electrofishing catch of stock-length Largemouth Bass has increased since the previous survey; however, few legal length fish were available to anglers. A spring bass-only electrofishing survey showed a higher proportion of legal length bass.
• White Crappie: Trap netting resulted in a catch of record for White Crappie. Most crappie were between 7 and 9 inches but should be legal length by fall 2021.

Management Strategies

• Amon G. Carter Reservoir should continue to be managed with existing harvest regulations.
• Florida Largemouth Bass stockings should continue.
• Inform the public about the negative impacts of aquatic invasive species.
• Conduct general monitoring surveys with trap nets, gill nets, electrofishing, and bass-only electrofishing surveys in 2024-2025.
• Access and vegetation surveys will be conducted in 2024.

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