Graham Reservoir - 2017 Survey Report

Prepared by Tom Lang and Robert Mauk
Inland Fisheries Division
Wichita Falls District

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 Graham Reservoir were surveyed in 2017 using electrofishing and trap netting and in 2018 using gill netting. Historical data are presented with the 2017-2018 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

Graham Reservoir is a 2,396-acre impoundment located on Salt Creek in the Brazos River Basin approximately two miles northwest of Graham. The water elevation has been near full pool since 2015 when a record drought was ended by heavy precipitation resulting in the reservoir elevation rising 15 feet. Graham Reservoir has moderate to high productivity. Habitat features consisted of natural shoreline, standing timber, and rocks. Much of the reservoir is ringed by emergent aquatic vegetation. There are four public boat ramps and adequate bank-fishing access.

Management History

Important sport fish include White Bass, Palmetto Bass, Largemouth Bass, White Crappie and catfish spp. Palmetto Bass were stocked in 2015 and 2016. Palmetto and Sunshine Bass were stocked in 2017 and 2018 as part of a research project comparing their performance. Florida Largemouth Bass were stocked in 2015 and 2016 in response to poor population abundance caused by the prolonged drought.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin Shad continued to be present in the reservoir in great abundance. Electrofishing catch rates of Gizzard Shad were above the historical reservoir average and Gizzard Shad size structure was dominated by larger sized fish with only 20% of the population vulnerable to predators. This is a substantial change from previous surveys where most Gizzard Shad were vulnerable to predation. Bluegill abundance greatly improved from the two previous surveys but was still below the historical reservoir average. Redear Sunfish abundance was down compared to previous surveys.
• Catfishes: Blue Catfish abundance was at the historical average for the reservoir but down from the previous survey. Channel Catfish abundance has been consistently low the last few gill net surveys. Flathead Catfish have historically been present in the reservoir but were not collected during the 2018 survey.
• Temperate basses: White Bass were sampled in very low abundance with only one specimen captured during the 2018 survey. No White Bass were captured in the 2016 survey. No Palmetto Bass were sampled in 2018, despite stockings occurring in 2015, 2016, and 2017. This apparent low abundance could be a result of some of the stocked Palmetto Bass dispersing downstream into the Brazos River when heavy rains increased the reservoir elevation above full pool. A new lake record Hybrid Striped Bass of 12.7-pounds and 29-inches was caught on 5/31/2017.
• Largemouth Bass: The electrofishing catch rate of Largemouth Bass was below the historical reservoir average. However, it was higher than rate observed in the 2015 survey. Body condition was good for legal length fish.
• White Crappie: White Crappie abundance and size distribution continued to be good. The catch rate was the highest recorded at the reservoir with lots of legal length crappie present. Black Crappie, which were first sampled in 2005, are still present in low abundance but there has been a noticeable decrease in their abundance over the past three surveys. New lake records for White Crappie (2.26-pounds and 15.75-inches) and Black Crappie (1.47-pounds and 14.25-inches) were established in 2017.

Management Strategies

• Stock Palmetto (7/acre) and Sunshine Bass (7/acre) in 2019 as part of a special research project.
• Conduct gill netting in 2021 for Hybrid Striped Bass as part of the research project.
• Conduct electrofishing surveys for Largemouth Bass, sunfishes, and Threadfin and Gizzard Shad in 2019 and 2021.
• Conduct trap netting survey for crappie in 2021.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-3 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program