Moss Reservoir 2018 Survey Report (PDF 850 KB)
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Moss Reservoir - 2018 Survey Report
Prepared by Greg Cummings and Dan Bennett
Inland Fisheries Division - Denison District
This is the authors' summary from a 28-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.
Fish populations in Moss Reservoir were surveyed in 2018 using electrofishing and trap netting and in 2019 using gill netting and bass-only electrofishing. Historical data are presented with the 2018-2019 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
Moss Reservoir is a 1,140-acre impoundment on Fish Creek, a tributary of the Red River, in Cooke County. From 2016 through 2018, water level was at or below conservation level. Since fall 2018, water level has been at or above conservation level. Habitat features consisted mainly of rocky shoreline and native submerged and emergent vegetation.
Management History
Important sport fish include Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, and White Crappie. The management plan from the 2014 survey report included recommendations to stock Threadfin Shad, consider changing the harvest regulations on black bass, encourage the harvest of Spotted Bass, promote the fishery, and educate the public on the threats of invasive species.
Fish Community
- Prey species: Threadfin Shad were present in the reservoir with low abundance. Electrofishing catch of Gizzard Shad was moderate, and few Gizzard Shad were available as prey to most sport fish. Electrofishing catch of Bluegill was high, but very few Bluegill were over 5-inches long.
- Channel Catfish: Gill net catch rate of Channel Catfish was low in 2019; however, many were observed during spring electrofishing for bass. No Flathead Catfish were sampled.
- White Bass: White Bass were present in the reservoir in moderate abundance.
- Black basses: Largemouth Bass were moderately abundant, with limited legal-size fish available to anglers. Spring bass-only sampling revealed a few larger bass were available. Spotted Bass abundance was moderate, with few fish over 12-inches present.
- White crappie: White Crappie were moderately abundant with legal-size fish available to anglers. Most crappie reached legal size within three years.
Management Strategies
- Encourage the City of Gainesville to offer a daily boat access permit.
- Continue efforts to manage yellow floating-heart.
- Continue encouraging anglers to harvest Spotted Bass.
- Encourage anglers to report qualifying catches to the ShareLunker program and submit tournament results.
- Inform the public about the negative impacts of aquatic invasive species.
- Conduct general monitoring surveys with trap nets, gill nets, and electrofishing surveys in 2022-2023.
- Vegetation surveys will be conducted annually.
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