Lake Hawkins - 2019 Survey Report

Prepared by Jacob Norman
Inland Fisheries Division – Tyler North District

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 Lake Hawkins were surveyed in 2019 using electrofishing. Anglers were surveyed from March – May 2020 with a creel survey. Historical data are presented with the 2019-2020 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

Lake Hawkins is a 634-acre impoundment located on Little Sand Creek in the Sabine River Basin approximately 5 miles northwest of Hawkins, Texas. Primary water uses include flood control and recreation. Habitat features consist of natural shoreline, standing timber, and submerged and floating vegetation. Coontail and Eurasian watermilfoil were the predominant aquatic vegetation present in the reservoir in 2019.  

Management History

Important sport fish include Largemouth Bass and crappie. Florida Largemouth Bass were initially stocked in 1975 and last stocked in 2010 to improve the trophy potential of the reservoir. Grass Carp were stocked in 2006, 2011 and 2014 to control hydrilla abundance.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin Shad were present in the reservoir. Electrofishing catch rate of Gizzard Shad was low. Electrofishing catch rate of Bluegill was moderate and most were less than 6-inches long. Collectively, sunfish are the primary forage in the reservoir.   
• Catfishes: Channel Catfish were stocked most recently in 1992, but very few fish have been collected during population surveys or documented during creel surveys. Catfish recruitment is likely limited by Largemouth Bass predation.
• Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass were moderately abundant and displayed both a balanced size structure and good body condition. Largemouth Bass growth to legal length was moderate (average age at 14 inches was 3.0 years). Largemouth Bass accounted for 74% of directed effort during the 2020 spring creel survey.
• Crappie: Black Crappie historically occurred in low abundance and very few were collected during population surveys. Black Crappie accounted for 14% of directed effort during the 2020 spring creel survey.

Management Strategies

• Evaluate length-at-age for Largemouth Bass up to 500mm.
• Collect tournament data to monitor frequency of Largemouth Bass larger than 500 mm caught.
• Conduct annual vegetation surveys to monitor coverage and distribution of hydrilla and Eurasian watermilfoil and make appropriate management recommendations based on survey findings.
• Inform the public about the negative impacts of aquatic invasive species and work with controlling authority as needed to provide technical guidance with aquatic nuisance species.
• Continue managing all sport fish under statewide harvest regulations. 

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