Limestone Reservoir - 2024 Survey Report

Prepared by Michael S. Baird and Andrew L. Althoff
Inland Fisheries Division
Waco District, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 30-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Limestone Reservoir were surveyed in 2024 using electrofishing, and in 2025 using trap netting and gill netting. Historical data are presented with the 2024-2025 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

Limestone Reservoir is a 12,486-acre reservoir within the Navasota River system in Limestone, Robertson, and Leon Counties, Texas. Water level was 1-2 feet below conservation pool (363 feet above mean sea) level during vegetation, electrofishing, trap netting and gill net surveys. Habitat features mainly consisted of natural shorelines, bulk-headed shorelines, boat docks and piers and emergent aquatic vegetation.

Management History

Important sport fishes include catfishes, White Bass, White Crappie and Largemouth Bass. The 2012 management plan included sharing information about the reservoir’s loss of volume with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s habitat branch and others who could potentially take-on the issue on a larger scale. Noxious vegetation is monitored annually and occasionally requires control measures from the Aquatic Habitat and Enhancement crew; water hyacinth was treated by the AHE during 2021 and 2022. Efforts are ongoing to maintain and post appropriate aquatic invasive species signage at access points and to provide technical support and informational materials to partners for the ongoing “Clean, Drain and Dry” campaign. In 2019, the Brazos River Authority funded a cooperative effort to build and deploy fish attracting structures near Limestone Lake Park on the lower end of the reservoir, and five new freshwater reefs were created and placed at that location at the time. The statewide regulation for Blue and Channel Catfish changed on September 1, 2021; the current regulations are in this report. A recent evaluation of trap netting, gill netting and three different sampling seasons (fall, late winter and early spring) determined late winter trap netting was the best option for collecting crappies on Limestone Reservoir; late winter trap netting is now the standard for Limestone Reservoir.

Fish Community

• Prey Species: Collected prey species included Gizzard Shad, Threadfin Shad, Bluegill, Longear Sunfish, Green Sunfish, and Warmouth. Catch rates for Threadfin Shad and Bluegill were below historical averages. Ninety percent of all Gizzard Shad were available as prey to sport fish.
• Catfishes: Blue Catfish catch rates were above the historical average while Channel Catfish catch rates were below. Both species maintained good to excellent mean relative weight. Flathead Catfish were collected in low numbers.
• White Bass: White Bass were observed in historically low numbers, yet body condition was excellent for all length classes..
• Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass were collected in lower numbers than the previous two surveys, yet the catch rate and proportion of legal-length fish doubled from the previous survey. Mean relative weight was excellent and Florida Largemouth Bass influence decreased from 31% to 28%.
• Crappies: White Crappie catch rates were the highest on record, mean relative weight was excellent, and a good proportion of legal-length fish were available to anglers. Black Crappie were also collected in relatively high numbers.

Management Strategies

The sport fishes in Limestone Reservoir will continue to be managed with statewide regulations and we will continue all aquatic invasive species efforts. Access, vegetation, and electrofishing surveys will be conducted in summer and fall 2028 and trap netting and gill netting surveys will be conducted in 2029. Lonestar Bass will be requested for two years prior to the next report. We will also continue to coordinate with the Brazos River Authority on habitat projects pending future funding and reservoir priorities.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-2 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program