Lake Cypress Springs - 2006 Survey Report

Prepared by Michael W. Brice and Timothy J. Bister
Inland Fisheries Division
District 3-A, Marshall, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 28-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Lake Cypress Springs were surveyed in 2006 using electrofishing and trap nets and in 2007 using gill nets. Anglers were surveyed from June 2006 to May 2007 with a creel. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Lake Cypress Springs is a 3,461-acre impoundment located on Big Cypress Creek in the Cypress River Basin. The lake is located in Franklin County. Habitat features consist of standing timber, bulkhead, boat docks, rocky shoreline, riprap, native aquatic plants, and hydrilla.

Management History

Important sport fish include channel catfish, largemouth bass, and crappie. All sport fish at Lake Cypress Springs have historically been managed with statewide harvest regulations. Florida largemouth bass were stocked in this reservoir in 1980 and 1992 to improve the quality of the largemouth bass fishery. These initial stockings were successful in establishing the Florida largemouth bass genetics in the population. Hydrilla, introduced into the lake in the 1970s, was the most common aquatic plant in the lake. Nuisance levels of hydrilla have been treated with stockings of triploid grass carp in 1997 and 2006. Additionally, a native aquatic plant restoration project was initiated by Franklin County Water District in 2003 to increase plant diversity and provide additional habitat.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin shad were present in the reservoir. Electrofishing catch rates of gizzard shad were relatively low with the majority of fish not available as prey to most sport fish. Bluegill and redear sunfish were also available as prey and were abundant.
• Catfishes: The channel catfish population had many fish above legal length and provided excellent angling opportunities. Twelve percent of all angling effort at Lake Cypress Springs was directed towards catfish.
• Black bass: The largemouth bass population had high relative abundance, good size structure, and adequate recruitment. Condition was average for all inch groups and growth was good with fish reaching legal size in 3 growing seasons. The spotted bass population had good size structure and moderate body condition. Fifty-five percent of the directed effort at Lake Cypress Springs was from anglers targeting black bass.
• Crappie: Both white and black crappie were present in the reservoir. Very few crappie have been collected during trap netting surveys; however, angler survey data indicated an excellent crappie fishery. Angler catch rates were high and fish up to 16 inches were harvested. Twenty-four percent of the directed angler effort at Lake Cypress Springs was for crappie.

Management Strategies

• Conduct electrofishing surveys every other year beginning in 2008, and general monitoring with trap nets and gill nets in 2010-2011.
• Aquatic vegetation surveys will be conducted annually to monitor the hydrilla infestation. Recommend supplemental triploid grass carp stocking to maintain desired number of grass carp in reservoir based on hydrilla coverage.
• Recommend Florida largemouth bass stocking to enhance the quality and trophy potential of the fishery.
• All sport fish will continue to be managed under statewide harvest regulations.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-30-R-32 Statewide Freshwater Fisheries Monitoring and Management Program