Gladewater City Lake - 2013 Survey Report

Prepared by Lynn D. Wright and Timothy J. Bister
Inland Fisheries Division
District 3-A, Marshall, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 26-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Gladewater City Lake were surveyed in 2013 using electrofishing and trap netting and in 2014 using gill netting. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings. Historical data are presented with the 2013-2014 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

Gladewater City Lake is a 481-acre reservoir on Glade Creek, and was constructed in 1953 by the City of Gladewater for use as municipal and industrial water supply. Habitat features consisted of inundated timber, brush, creek channels, and riprap. The lake has a history of limited aquatic vegetation. Water hyacinth, a non-native invasive plant, was detected at the reservoir in 2005. Periodic herbicide treatments have prevented the spread of water hyacinth in the reservoir.

Management History

Important sport fishes include Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, and crappie. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Inland Fisheries District 3A staff stocked Threadfin Shad in 2008 to improve the prey fish community. Even though the Largemouth Bass population has not met the requirements for Florida Largemouth Bass stocking by TPWD, the City of Gladewater has purchased (from a private fish retailer) and stocked the reservoir with 15,000 pure Florida Largemouth Bass fingerlings each year from 2008-2010.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin Shad continued to be present in the reservoir. Electrofishing catch of Gizzard Shad was lower than it was in the previous two surveys, and few fish were small enough to be available as prey to most sport fish. Bluegill catch was higher in 2013 than it was in the previous two surveys and are adequate as prey to most sport fish. Redear Sunfish serve as an additional prey source for predators and also grow to sizes desirable to anglers.
• Catfishes: The Channel Catfish population contained many fish above legal size. Gill net catch rates and size structure of Channel Catfish were higher in 2014 than they were in the previous surveys. Flathead Catfish were present in the reservoir.
• Temperate basses: Yellow Bass were the only temperate bass present in Gladewater City Lake.
• Black basses: Largemouth Bass electrofishing catch rates were similar to those of previous surveys. Largemouth Bass were collected up to 21 inches, and size structure was above average. Spotted Bass abundance was lower than it was in previous surveys, but size structure was satisfactory. These fish provide additional angling opportunities.
• Crappie: Both White Crappie and Black Crappie were collected, but in low numbers. Condition was poor for both species. Crappies have typically been in low abundance and condition in this reservoir.

Management Strategies

Conduct additional water hyacinth surveys annually from 2014- 2016. Conduct general monitoring with trap netting, electrofishing, and aquatic vegetation surveys in 2017 and gill netting in 2018.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-4 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program