O.C. Fisher Reservoir - 2020 Survey Report

Prepared by Lynn Wright
Inland Fisheries Division
San Angelo District

This is the authors' summary from a 27-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in O.C. Fisher Reservoir were surveyed in 2020 using electrofishing and trap netting and in 2021 using gill netting and tandem hoop netting. Historical data are presented with the 2020-2021 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

O.C. Fisher Reservoir is a 5,440-acre reservoir at conservation pool elevation and is located on the west side of San Angelo, Texas. Access to the reservoir is controlled by San Angelo State Park which surrounds most of the lake basin. The reservoir has a history of severe water level fluctuations. The reservoir went completely dry in 2013 and has not been above 50% capacity since 1988.

Management History

Important sport fishes have included Largemouth Bass, White Crappie, White Bass, and catfishes. Most management actions have revolved around stocking fishes to rebuild populations following droughts and fish kills. Sport fishes have been managed with statewide regulations.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin Shad were present in the reservoir. Electrofishing catch of Gizzard Shad declined from past surveys, but IOV’s remained high. Electrofishing catch of Bluegill was moderate and few Bluegill were over 6-inches long.
• Catfishes: The Blue and Channel Catfish population continued to show improvement in abundance and size structure following stockings. No Flathead Catfish were collected in the most recent survey.
• Temperate basses: White Bass were present in the reservoir with the highest gill net catch rate on record.
• Largemouth Bass: The abundance of Largemouth Bass has continued to improve. Largemouth Bass had good growth (age at 14 inches long was 2.0 years). Florida alleles composed 64% of the bass populations genetic makeup and nearly one-quarter were pure Florida Bass.
• White Crappie: White Crappie were abundant with many legal-size fish available to anglers. White Crappie growth was fast, most reached legal size in 1.4 years.

Management Strategies

• Continue to manage fish harvest with statewide regulations.
• Conduct electrofishing and trap netting in 2022 and 2024.
• Conduct gill net survey in 2025.
• Access and vegetation surveys will be conducted in 2024.

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