Lake Holbrook - 2020 Survey Report

Prepared by Jacob Norman, David Smith, and Quintin Dean
Inland Fisheries Division
Tyler North District, Tyler, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 23-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Lake Holbrook were surveyed in 2018 and 2020 using electrofishing. Historical data are presented with the 2018-2020 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 Holbrook is a 650-acre impoundment located on Lankford Creek in the Sabine River Basin approximately 5 miles northwest of Mineola, Texas. Primary water uses include flood control and recreation. Habitat features consist of natural shoreline, standing timber, boat docks, and submerged and emergent vegetation. Coontail and cutgrass were the predominant aquatic vegetation present in the reservoir in 2020.

Management History

Important sport fish include Largemouth Bass and crappie. Florida Largemouth Bass were initially stocked in 1978 and last stocked in 2020 to improve the trophy potential of the reservoir. Efforts were made to establish native emergent vegetation in the reservoir to enhance littoral habitat and district staff worked with the Friends of Lake Holbrook Association to construct and deploy natural brush piles (last deployed in 2014).

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 high and most were less than 6-inches long. Collectively, sunfish and Threadfin Shad are the primary forage in the reservoir. The reservoir contains a quality population of Redear Sunfish greater than 6-inhces.
• Catfishes: Channel Catfish were stocked most recently in 2018, 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 2.1 years).
• Crappie: Black and White Crappie are present in the reservoir and anecdotal information suggests a quality fishery is still present. Traditional sampling methods produced inconsistent results and were discontinued in 2008. A creel survey will be conducted in 2024 to make future inferences on the crappie population.

Management Strategies

• Begin stocking Florida Largemouth Bass fingerlings biennially at 1000/km of shoreline to increase the trophy potential in the reservoir.
• 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-2 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program