Lewisville Reservoir - 2019 Survey Report

Prepared by Thomas Hungerford and Cynthia Holt
Inland Fisheries Division – Fort Worth District

This is the authors' summary from a 46-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Lewisville Reservoir were surveyed in 2019 using electrofishing and trap netting and in 2020 using gill netting. Anglers were surveyed from June 2018 through May 2019 with a creel survey. Historical data are presented with the 2019-2020 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

Lewisville Reservoir is a 29,592-acre impoundment constructed on the Elm Fork of the Trinity River by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1954 to provide flood control, municipal and industrial water, and recreation. Much of Lewisville Reservoir is surrounded by urban development and is 25 miles northwest of Dallas, Texas in Denton County. The upper end of the reservoir is experiencing rapid development as well. Zebra mussels were discovered in Lewisville in 2012. Angler and boat access is adequate. There is one handicap specific facility on the reservoir. At the time of sampling the fishery habitat was primarily natural shoreline, rocky shoreline, and standing timber.

Management History

Important sport fishes include Largemouth Bass, White Crappie, White Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass, and Blue Catfish. All species are managed with statewide regulations with the exception of Blue Catfish, which are managed by a 30- to 45-inch slot length limit. The daily bag limit for Blue and Channel Catfish remains 25 in the aggregate with only one Blue Catfish over 45 inches. Hybrid Striped Bass fingerlings are requested annually at a rate of 15 fish per acre. Sunshine Bass fry were stocked in April of 2020.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Prey availability has never been an issue in Lewisville Reservoir. Gizzard and Threadfin Shad are in abundant in the reservoir. Bluegill and Longear Sunfish are also available as prey.
• Catfishes:  The Blue Catfish population continues to be good and the relative abundance of Channel Catfish remained similar to previous surveys. Angling effort for Catfishes represented about 8% of all effort in 2018/2019. Flathead Catfish were sampled during annual gill netting and the water body record is 98.0 lbs (1986).
• Temperate basses: White Bass catch rates increased from the previous surveys. Hybrid Striped Bass catch rates decreased from the previous two surveys following several fry-only stockings. Angling effort for Hybrid Striped Bass represented 6.9% of all effort. Five year classes of Hybrid Striped Bass were collected in 2018. Growth of Hybrid Striped Bass was average.
• Black basses: Relative abundance of Spotted Bass population remained similar to previous surveys. The Largemouth Bass population increased in total abundance due to a strong year class, but stock-sized catch was lower than the previous survey. Largemouth Bass anglers represented 53% of all angling effort in 2018/2019.
• Crappie: The White Crappie population remained relatively consistent compared to the previous 2 surveys. Condition of White Crappie was good. Approximately 11% of all angling effort was for Crappies in 2018/2019. Black Crappie relative abundance decreased since the previous survey.

Management Strategies

• Request Hybrid Striped Bass fingerlings at a rate of 5/acre annually. 
• Inform the public about the negative impacts of aquatic invasive species.
• Gill netting will be conducted every two years to monitor Hybrid Striped Bass.
• Electrofishing and trap netting surveys will be conducted in 2023/2024, when the next report will be written.

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