Hubbard Creek Reservoir - 2023 Survey Report

Prepared by Michael Homer Jr. and Thomas Johnson
Inland Fisheries Division – Abilene District

This is the authors' summary from a 41-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 2021 and 2023, gill netting and jug lining in 2021, and trap netting in 2023. An access creel survey was conducted from June 2020 – May 2021. Historical data are presented with the 2020-2024 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. From 2019-2021, the water level fluctuated between full capacity and about 3 ft. below conservation pool elevation but has steadily declined to nearly 12 ft. low by May 2024.  Fish habitat consisted of dead terrestrial vegetation, pondweed, standing timber, common button bush, cattail, and salt cedar. Hydrilla coverage declined rapidly during the survey period, and sparse coverage was observed by summer 2023. All ramps except for Peeler Park were open during the entire survey period.

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 and 2021.  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, though Redear Sunfish, Longear Sunfish, and Inland Silversides were also present. The percentage of Gizzard Shad of optimal prey sizes increased since the prior surveys. Bluegill catch fluctuated during the period. Relative abundances of sunfish species were adequate to support existing sportfish populations.
• Catfish:  Blue Catfish catch rates fluctuated in the most recent gill netting surveys. Most Blue Catfish had fair body condition. Channel Catfish catch rates continued to be low, and Flathead Catfish were present in the reservoir. Catfishes supported the third-most popular fishery at the reservoir. Anglers released about 19% of legal Blue Catfish and 16% of legal Channel Catfish in the 2020-2021 creel survey.
• White Bass:  White Bass catch rate increased since prior surveys. Catch of legal White Bass also increased in the most recent survey, and most individuals had fair to optimal body conditions. Anglers released about 43% of legal White Bass in the 2020-2021 creel survey.
• Largemouth Bass:  Largemouth Bass catch rates increased, and the sample suggested that the population size structure was balanced. Catch rates of legal Largemouth Bass fluctuated slightly but numbers appear to be good.  Mean relative weights were optimal. Largemouth Bass reached legal length in 2.5 years. Largemouth Bass supported the most popular fishery in the 2020-2021 creel survey, and anglers reported releasing about 76% of legal fish caught in the creel survey.
• White Crappie:  Catch rates of White Crappie and Proportional Size Distribution increased since the last monitoring period. Catch rate of legal fish slightly increased. Body conditions were mostly optimal. Only two Black Crappie were caught in the 2023 survey. Crappie supported the second-most popular fishery at the reservoir, and anglers reported releasing about 7% of legal fish caught in the creel survey.

Management Strategies

• Largemouth Bass and prey items will be surveyed with electrofishing in fall 2027. 
• Trap netting for White Crappie will be conducted in fall 2027.
• Gill netting will be conducted in spring 2028.  
• Hydrilla surveys will be conducted annually to determine location, density, and acreage of hydrilla. 
• Access and habitat surveys will be conducted in summer 2027. 
• 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