Hubbard Creek Reservoir - 2019 Survey Report

Prepared by Natalie Goldstrohm and Michael Homer Jr.
Inland Fisheries Division – Abilene 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 Hubbard Creek Reservoir were surveyed by electrofishing in 2017 and 2019 and by low-frequency electrofishing, tandem hoop netting, and trap netting in 2019.  Historical data are presented with the 2016-2020 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

Hubbard Creek Reservoir is a 15,250-acre impoundment constructed in 1962 on Sandy Creek and Hubbard Creek, in the Brazos River Basin.  The reservoir is used for municipal water supply, flood control, and recreation.  The reservoir is controlled by the West Central Texas Municipal Water District and has a history of extreme water level fluctuations.  Hubbard Creek was nearly full in 2008 but dropped to record low water level in May 2015 before refilling in 2016.  Fish habitat consisted of hydrilla, flooded terrestrial vegetation, pondweed, standing timber, common button bush, cattail, and salt cedar.  As of April 2016, all boat ramps were useable.  Bank-fishing access was limited to the boat ramp areas as well as near the U.S. Highway 180 Bridge.

Management History

Important sport fish include Largemouth Bass, White Bass, White Crappie, and catfishes.  Sport fishes are regulated by statewide harvest regulations.  Threadfin Shad were introduced in 1984.  Channel Catfish were introduced in 1970 and Blue Catfish were stocked in 2016.  Florida Largemouth Bass were introduced in 1979 and they were last stocked in 2020.

Fish Community

• Prey species:  Gizzard Shad and sunfish were the predominant sources of prey.  There was a decrease in the percentage of Gizzard Shad available for sportfish.  Relative abundance of sunfish species was good with many available as prey.  Number of prey should not be limiting sport fish growth.
• Catfish:  Gill netting was not conducted because of travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Blue Catfish were surveyed with low-frequency electrofishing and were present in moderate relative abundance.  Legal-length Blue Catfish were present and had fair (Wr  <90) to optimal (Wr ≥100) body condition.  The time it took for Blue Catfish to reach legal length in Hubbard Creek Reservoir was similar to Blue Catfish growth in other West Texas reservoirs.  Flathead and Channel catfishes were present in the reservoir.  Tandem hoop nets were not effective at sampling Channel Catfish at Hubbard Creek Reservoir.  Of the few Channel Catfish that were captured using tandem hoop nets, none were legal length.
• White Bass:  White Bass were present in the reservoir but were not sampled during this report period because of travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Largemouth Bass:  Largemouth Bass were present in moderate numbers and had a balanced population.  Mean relative weights were optimal (Wr >90).  No pure Florida Largemouth Bass were sampled.  Largemouth Bass reached legal length in 2.5 years.
• White Crappie:  Catch rates of White Crappie were fair and PSD indicated that there was a balanced population.  Mean relative weights were fair (Wr  <90) to optimal (Wr  >90).  White Crappie growth rates remained similar since the last survey.

Management Strategies

• Largemouth Bass and prey items will be surveyed in fall 2021 and 2023 with electrofishing. 
• Trap netting for crappie and gill netting for catfish and White Bass will be conducted in 2023-2024.  
• Discontinue hoop netting and low-frequency electrofishing surveys. 
• An access creel survey will be conducted from summer 2020 through spring 2021 to get baseline data for the reservoir. 
• Hydrilla surveys will be conducted annually to determine location, density, and acreage of hydrilla. 
• Access and habitat surveys will be conducted in summer 2023. 
• Discuss access improvement with controlling authority. 
• Inform the public of the threat and negative impacts of invasive species.

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