Cedar Creek Reservoir - 2015 Survey Report

Prepared by Jacob Norman and Richard Ott
Inland Fisheries Division – Tyler South District

This is the authors' summary from a 38-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Cedar Creek Reservoir were surveyed in 2015 using electrofishing and trap netting and in 2016 using gill netting. Anglers were surveyed from June 2015 through May 2016 with a creel survey. Historical data are presented with the 2015/2016 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

Cedar Creek Reservoir is a 32,623-acre impoundment of Cedar Creek, a tributary of the Trinity River approximately 14 miles northeast of Athens, Texas. The reservoir was constructed by the Tarrant Regional Water District in 1965 to provide water for municipal and industrial use. Boat access is adequate, but public access for bank anglers is limited. Littoral habitat varies with water level, but currently contains abundant flooded terrestrial vegetation.

Management History

Important sportfish include Hybrid Striped Bass, White Bass, Largemouth Bass, Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, and White and Black Crappies. The management plan from the 2012 survey report included stocking Hybrid Striped Bass at 10/acre and periodic stocking of Florida Largemouth Bass at 15/acre to improve large fish numbers. Hybrid Striped Bass were stocked in 2013-2015 at ~5/acre and Florida Largemouth Bass were stocked in 2015 at ~0.9/acre.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin Shad were present in the reservoir. Electrofishing catch of Gizzard Shad was high, and most were available as prey to sport fish. Bluegill were also abundant, and over 50% were less than four inches long.
• Catfishes: Historically, catfish have been a popular fishery on Cedar Creek. Flathead, Blue and Channel Catfish are all present within the reservoir. Blue Catfish continue to be the most abundant and sought after catfish species.
• Temperate basses: White Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass were present in the reservoir. Hybrid Striped Bass numbers fluctuated over the previous gill net surveys, reflective of inconsistent stocking densities.
• Largemouth bass: Largemouth Bass were the most sought after species at Cedar Creek, accounting for 41% of all directed effort. Largemouth Bass displayed fast growth (mean age at 14 inches long was 1.8 years)
• Crappie: Both Black and White Crappie are present in Cedar Creek reservoir and remained a popular fishery; anglers harvested an estimated 37,335 crappie from June, 2015-May, 2016. Black Crappie displayed fast growth (most reached legal length by age 1).

Management Strategies

• Continue stocking Hybrid Striped Bass at 15 fish/acre and Florida Largemouth fingerlings at 1000/km of shoreline.
• Inform the public about the negative impacts of aquatic invasive species.
• Conduct additional gill net survey in 2018, and general monitoring surveys with trap nets, gill nets, and electrofishing surveys in 2019/2020.
• Access and vegetation surveys should be conducted in 2019.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-6 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program