Coleto Creek Reservoir - 2016 Survey Report

Prepared by Greg Binion and Dusty McDonald
Inland Fisheries Division
Corpus Christi District, Mathis, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 44-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Coleto Creek Reservoir were surveyed in 2016 using electrofishing and in 2017 using gill nets and baited tandem hoop nets. Creel surveys were conducted from 1 January 2017 through 30 June 2017. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Coleto Creek Reservoir is a 3,100-acre (averaged 2,923 acres in 2016-2017) reservoir located on Coleto Creek in the Guadalupe River Basin, 13 miles southwest of Victoria, Texas. Regulated by the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA), the reservoir receives water from Coleto and Perdido creeks as well as several smaller tributaries. Primary uses include power plant cooling and recreation. Approximately 600 acres are used for cooling ponds and inaccessible to anglers. Water level is typically stable; however, over the survey period water levels fluctuated 2.5 feet from conservation pool. Substrate is composed primarily of clays, deep loams and small rock. Littoral habitat consisted primarily of flooded terrestrial vegetation, floating-leaved native vegetation, water hyacinth, and flooded timber.

Management History

Important sport fish species include Blue and Channel catfishes, White Bass, Largemouth Bass, and White and Black crappies. Angler harvest of all sport fishes has been regulated according to statewide size and bag limits. Palmetto Bass and Red Drum were previously stocked in the reservoir but these stockings were discontinued due to low directed angling effort. Recent management efforts focused on control of nuisance aquatic vegetation, compiling catch and harvest statistics on important sport fish populations, and exploratory use of low-frequency electrofishing to collect population data on catfishes. District staff also conducted additional Largemouth Bass sampling to estimate total annual mortality and compiled tournament data records to document catches of larger fish. Historically, invasive aquatic vegetation (hydrilla, water milfoil, and water hyacinth) has restricted access. District staff worked with GBRA and herbicides were utilized as needed.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Gizzard and Threadfin Shad abundance was low. Abundant sunfish (Bluegill and Redear Sunfish) populations formed the forage base.
• Catfishes: Blue and Channel Catfish were present in the reservoir in high abundance. Good numbers of legal-size catfish were available for angler harvest. Catfishes ranked 2nd in angler preference, yet harvest was relatively low.
• White bass: White Bass decreased in abundance over the survey period. All White Bass collected in 2017 exceeded the 10 inch minimum length limit. Directed angling effort and harvest was low.
• Largemouth bass: Largemouth Bass abundance remained high over the survey period. Mean age at legal length in 2017 was 2.6 years. Largemouth Bass were the most sought species in the reservoir and supported numerous live-release tournaments.
• Crappie: Black and White Crappies were present in the reservoir. Crappies were the 3rd most sought sport fish in the reservoir and provided excellent angling opportunity.

Management Strategies

• Continue to manage sport fish populations under existing harvest regulations.
• Conduct creel survey to collect quantitative data on angler use.
• Monitor coverage and potential expansion of non-native vegetation and continue to work with GBRA on all vegetation control activities.
• Promote and disseminate information on current angling opportunities.

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