Lavon Reservoir - 2006 Survey Report

Prepared by Bruce Hysmith and John H. Moczygemba
Inland Fisheries Division
District 2-A, Pottsboro, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 25-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Lavon Reservoir were surveyed in 2006 using an electrofisher and trap nets and in 2007 using gill nets. Habitat was last surveyed in 2002. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Lavon Reservoir is a 21,400-acre impoundment located on the East Fork Trinity River approximately 8 miles east of McKinney. Water level has been below conservation elevation (492 feet above mean sea level) since May 2003. The lowest level of record occurred October, November, and December 2006. Lavon Reservoir has moderate productivity. Habitat features consisted mainly of riprap along the dam and railroad bridges, dead trees and stumps, and rocky shoreline. Standing dead timber was the major habitat feature.

Management History

Important sport fish included blue and channel catfish, white bass, striped bass, largemouth bass, and white crappie. The management plan from the 2002 survey report included investigating the resumption of striped bass stocking to augment recreational angling and develop a potential brood fish source, stock Florida largemouth bass fingerlings in 2004 and 2005, and updating the Lavon Reservoir web page on the TPWD web site. Palmetto bass were stocked in 1976 at 2/acre. In 1976 walleye fry were stocked at 4/acre. Adult threadfin shad were stocked in 1980 and 1984 and a reproducing population currently exists. Florida largemouth bass were first stocked in 1988 with fingerlings at 3/acre and fry at 17/acre. Florida largemouth bass fingerling stockings continued in 1997, 2004 and 2005 at 12 to 25/acre. In 1989 striped bass fingerlings/fry were stocked at 10/acre, in 1994 with 20 fingerling/fry/acre, and 2004, 2005, 2006 with 1/acre to 10/acre fingerlings. Blue catfish fingerlings were first stocked in 1989 at 10/acre; fingerling stockings continued in 1997 and 1998 at 10/acre. Statewide fish harvest regulations apply to sport fishes in Lavon Reservoir.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin shad continued to be present in the reservoir and showed a significant increase in abundance. Electrofishing catch of gizzard shad remained unchanged since 1996. Nearly 75% of the gizzard shad were available as prey to most sportfishes. Electrofishing catch of desirable prey-size bluegills was high, but there were also good numbers of harvestable-size bluegills.
• Catfishes: Gill net catch of blue catfish was high with about one-half of the sampled population being legal size and in excellent condition. Recruitment was good and they appeared to outcompete channel catfish. Gill net catch of channel catfish was low, but consistent with previous years. Flathead catfish were present in the reservoir; two were collected.
• Temperate basses: Gill net catch of white bass and striped bass was extremely low and was consistent with gill net catches in 2003. White bass may have been up lake in response to inflow and temperature and the striped bass population is in the early stages of rebuilding.
• Largemouth bass: Largemouth bass were abundant, with good recruitment and fair body condition. Florida largemouth bass alleles were high. One-third of the sample population was legal size and larger.
• White crappie: Abundance and body condition of white crappie were very good. Almost one-half of the sample population was legal size and larger.

Management Strategies

• Continue stocking striped bass fingerlings at 10/acre.
• Conduct special gill netting for striped bass in 2009.
• Conduct general monitoring with electrofisher, trap nets, and gill nets in 2010-2011.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-30-R-32 Statewide Freshwater Fisheries Monitoring and Management Program