Lake Cypress Springs - 2014 Survey Report

Prepared by Lynn D. Wright and Timothy J. Bister
Inland Fisheries Division - Marshall District

This is the authors' summary from a 32-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 2014 using electrofishing and in 2015 using gill netting. Anglers were surveyed from June 2014 through May 2015 with a creel survey. 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 bulkhead, boat docks, rocky shoreline, riprap, and limited aquatic vegetation.

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, first discovered in the reservoir in the 1970s, has been absent since 2007. Triploid Grass Carp were stocked in 1997 and 2006 to control hydrilla. Additionally, a native aquatic plant restoration project was initiated by Franklin County Water District in 2003 to increase plant diversity and provide additional habitat. Environmental conditions and Grass Carp herbivory have resulted in unstable submersed aquatic plant coverage in the reservoir.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin Shad were present in the reservoir. The electrofishing catch rate of Gizzard Shad was lower than previous surveys with 27% available as prey to most sport fish. Bluegill and Redear Sunfish were also available as prey.
• Catfishes: The Channel Catfish population had many fish above legal length and provided excellent angling opportunities. Over 16,000 Channel Catfish were harvested during the 2014/2015 survey period.
• White Bass: White Bass were present, but lack of suitable spawning habitat limits their numbers in the reservoir.
• Black bass: The Spotted Bass population has remained consistent in the reservoir over the last several years. The abundance of Largemouth Bass is limited by the lack of submerged vegetation. Anglers spent over 19,000 hours fishing for Black Bass during the 2014/2015 creel period.
• Crappie: Both White and Black Crappie were present in the reservoir. Only 7.9% of all fishing effort was directed toward crappies, which was lower than previous surveys.

Management Strategies

Conduct additional electrofishing surveys in 2016 and required sampling with electrofishing, hoop nets, and tandem trap nets in 2018/2019. Aquatic vegetation surveys will be conducted annually to monitor for the presence of hydrilla and alligatorweed. Technical guidance will be given to the controlling authority regarding an integrated approach to invasive aquatic vegetation management when applicable. Vegetation surveys will also help monitor the return of submersed aquatic vegetation for the opportunity to stock Florida Largemouth Bass 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-221-M-5 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program