E. V. Spence Reservoir - 2019 Survey Report

Prepared by Lynn D. Wright
Inland Fisheries Division – San Angelo District

This is the authors' summary from a 31-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in E. V. Spence Reservoir were surveyed in 2017 and 2019 using electrofishing, inn 2019 using trap netting, and in 2018 and 2020 using gill netting. Historical data are presented with the 2017-2020 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

E. V. Spence Reservoir is a 14,950-acre reservoir located on the Colorado River near Robert Lee, Coke County, Texas. It has a history of prolonged water level declines and has never filled to conservation pool. Golden alga Prymnesium parvum blooms caused substantial fish kills in the 2000’s that effectively eliminated the fish community. Subsequently, low and moderate toxic conditions have been recorded on an annual basis.

Management History

The management of this reservoir has been impacted by chronic toxic golden alga blooms since 2001 and persistent low water levels. Florida strain Largemouth Bass, White Crappie, White bass, Bluegill, and Blue Catfish were stocked in years following significant water level rises in 2015 and 2018.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Electrofishing catch of Gizzard Shad was higher than historical levels and most Gizzard Shad were available as prey. Electrofishing catch of Bluegill was low and similar to previous surveys.
• Catfishes: The Blue Catfish population had the highest gill net catch rate on record, owing to stockings from 2016 to 2019. The catch rate of Channel Catfish significantly declined from 2016 to 2020. No Flathead Catfish were observed during sampling.
• Temperate basses: White Bass were present in the reservoir in low abundance. White Bass had not been collected over the previous two surveys.
• Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass were very abundant with the highest electrofishing catch rate on record for E. V. Spence. A strong year-class of fish from 2018 dominated the sample. Growth was fast with fish averaging 1.5 years old at 14 inches in 2017.
• White Crappie: White Crappie were in low abundance, but presence of young crappie indicated natural reproduction is occurring.

Management Strategies

• Conduct additional electrofishing, trap netting, and gill netting surveys in 2021-2022, and general monitoring surveys with trap nets, gill nets, and electrofishing surveys in 2023-2024.
• Access and vegetation surveys will be conducted in 2023.
• An access-point creel survey will be conducted from June 2020 through May 2021.

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