Kurth Reservoir - 2022 Survey Report

Prepared by Dan Ashe and Todd Driscoll
Inland Fisheries Division - Jasper District

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

Largemouth Bass in Kurth Reservoir were surveyed in 2021 and 2023 using spring electrofishing. Reservoir permit holders from 2022 were surveyed in 2023 with a mail-out questionnaire. Historical data are presented with the 2019-2023 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

Kurth Reservoir is an impoundment on a small, unnamed tributary of the Angelina River in the Neches River Basin. The City of Lufkin is the controlling authority and primary use of the reservoir is recreation. At conservation pool, Kurth Reservoir is 726 acres in size, has a shoreline length of 15 miles, and a mean depth of 15 feet. Boat and bank access is adequate, with one boat ramp present. Habitat in the lake consists of flooded timber and aquatic vegetation (primarily hydrilla). Most of the land surrounding the reservoir is used for timber production.

Management History

Important sport fish include Largemouth Bass and Black Crappie. Largemouth Bass are managed with a 16-inch maximum length limit, which was implemented in 2013. All other sport fish are managed with statewide regulations. Hydrilla was first documented in Kurth Reservoir in 1999, and coverage reached 34% of reservoir surface area by 2002. In 2002, at the request of the controlling authority, 2,000 triploid Grass Carp were stocked at a rate of 5 fish/vegetated acre in an attempt to reduce hydrilla coverage to 10-15%. This stocking had little effect on hydrilla coverage. During the last five years, hydrilla coverage has been relatively consistent, ranging from 26 to 38% of the reservoir surface area.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Prey abundance is normally assessed with fall electrofishing surveys for most Texas reservoirs. Fall surveys have not been conducted since 2003 due to gear inefficiency related to dense, matted vegetation coverage over 15 feet in depth. However, Threadfin and Gizzard Shad, Bluegill, and Redear Sunfish were observed during the spring electrofishing surveys. Largemouth Bass size structure, growth, and body condition reflected adequate prey abundance.
• Catfishes: Historically, catfish abundance at Kurth Reservoir has been limited. No Blue Catfish were caught during the last two gill net surveys. Channel Catfish catch rates from the last three survey years ranged from 0 to 0.8/nn. Gill netting was discontinued in 2015. No anglers surveyed in 2023 were targeting catfish.
• Largemouth Bass: The Largemouth Bass fishery was the most popular (89% of directed fishing effort). Spring electrofishing surveys reflected an abundant and high-quality Largemouth Bass population. Population size structure indicated high and consistent recruitment and an abundance of fish 10 to 18 inches in length. In 2023, catch rates of 6 to 10-inch fish increased considerably. The 2023 angler mail-out questionnaire indicated that trophy fish were also relatively abundant. A total of 692 Largemouth Bass 7-9.9 pounds and 29 fish > 10.0 pounds were estimated as caught.
• Crappies: Black Crappie were observed during spring electrofishing surveys in 2019, 2021, and 2023. Crappies are the second most popular fishery, accounting for 7% of the directed fishing effort.

Management Strategies

• Continue to manage Largemouth Bass harvest with a 16-inch maximum length limit to maintain angling quality.
• Collect angler catch of trophy Largemouth Bass via a mail survey in 2027 and promote participation in the
• ShareLunker Program to justify Lone Star Bass stockings.
• Request annual stockings of Lone Star Bass to maximize trophy fish abundance.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-5 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program