Cisco Reservoir - 2015 Survey Report

Prepared by Natalie Goldstrohm and Michael Homer Jr.
Inland Fisheries Division – Abilene District

This is the authors' summary from a 37-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Cisco Reservoir were surveyed by electrofishing and trap netting in 2015 and gill netting in 2016. Anglers were surveyed from June 2014 through May 2015 with a creel survey. Historical data are presented with the recent 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

Cisco Reservoir is a 1,050-acre impoundment constructed in 1928 on Sandy Creek, in the Brazos River Basin. The reservoir’s functions are municipal water supply and recreation, and it is controlled by the City of Cisco. The reservoir has a history of extreme water level fluctuations. From 1999 to 2016, the water level fluctuated between 11 to 23-feet below conservation pool (CP). As of May 2016, the reservoir was full. Fish habitat during the most recent survey consisted primarily of rock, flooded terrestrial vegetation, boat docks, buttonbush, Chara sp., and smartweed. Boater access consisted of one public boat ramp. Bank fishing access was limited to the boat ramp area.

Management History

Important sport fish include Largemouth Bass, White Crappie, and catfishes. Redbreast Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, and White Bass are also present. Attempts to establish a Smallmouth Bass population in the 1990’s was unsuccessful. Florida Largemouth Bass were last stocked in 2012. Sport fish are managed with statewide harvest regulations.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Electrofishing catch of prey species was low and consisted primarily of Bluegill. Other species were also available as prey. Sunfish species were of sizes that were available to most sport fish. Low abundance of Gizzard Shad ≤ 7 inches could have negative implications on some predator species.
• Catfishes: Channel and Flathead Catfish were present in the reservoir but catch rates were low. No Blue Catfish were sampled since 2012. However, anglers reported catching Blue Catfish.
• White Bass : White Bass relative abundance in 2016 was low, and all fish sampled were harvestable size. Creel survey results indicate that all legal-sized White Bass were harvested.
• Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass relative abundance and number of large fish increased. Mean relative weight of Largemouth Bass was good. Nearly 50% of all anglers at Cisco Reservoir targeted Largemouth Bass. Harvest of Largemouth Bass was low.
• White Crappie: White Crappie relative abundance was poor and has decreased compared to previous years. Body condition was adequate. There were few legal-size fish available to anglers. Creel survey results indicate that all legal-sized White Crappie caught were harvested.

Management Strategies

• Largemouth Bass and White Crappie will be surveyed in fall 2017.
• Trap netting, electrofishing, tandem hoop netting, and low-frequency electrofishing will be conducted in 2019-2020 to determine relative abundance and size structure of important sport fish.
• Access and habitat surveys will be conducted in summer 2019.
• Florida Largemouth Bass stockings will be requested when suitable littoral habitat is available.
• Inform the public of the threat and impact of invasive species.

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