Lake Palestine - 2021 Survey Report

Prepared by Jacob Norman and David R. Smith
Inland Fisheries Division - Tyler South District

This is the authors' summary from a 41-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Lake Palestine were surveyed in 2021 using electrofishing and in 2022 using lowfrequency electrofishing and gill netting. Anglers were surveyed with a creel survey from June 2021 through May 2022. Historical data are presented with the 2021–2022 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

Lake Palestine is a 25,560-acre impoundment located on the Neches River approximately 15 miles southwest of Tyler, Texas. Water level has remained within 3 feet of conservation pool since 2012. Lake Palestine has high productivity. Habitat features consisted of standing timber, rocks, aquatic vegetation, and boat docks.

Management History

Important sport fish include White Bass; Hybrid Striped Bass; Largemouth Bass; White and Black Crappie; and Blue, Channel, and Flathead Catfish. The management plan from the 2017 survey report included stocking Hybrid Striped Bass at 10 fish/acre every year and Florida Largemouth Bass annually at 1,000/km of shoreline. Channel and Blue Catfish were intensively sampled in 2022 as part of a statewide effort to characterize important catfish fisheries as well as conduct a gear evaluation of TPWD standardized gill net surveys. A revised trophy Blue and Channel Catfish harvest regulation allowing 25 fish per day (of which no more than five could be greater than 20 inches, and one could be greater than 30 inches) replaced the Blue and Channel catfish regulation on Lake Palestine in September 2021.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin Shad were abundant and comprised the bulk of the reservoir forage base. Electrofishing catch of Gizzard Shad was moderate and approximately 87% of Gizzard Shad were available as prey to most sport fish. Electrofishing catch of Bluegill was moderate and most were less than 5-inches long serving as supplemental prey.
• Catfishes: Blue, Channel, and Flathead Catfish are present within the reservoir. Blue and Channel Catfish were abundant and provide excellent angling opportunities. Approximately 9% of anglers were targeting catfishes during the 2021/2022 creel survey.
• Temperate basses: Hybrid Striped Bass (Palmetto Bass and Sunshine Bass) were recently stocked at approximately 15 fish/acre in 2021 and catch rates substantially increased during the most recent spring gill net survey. White Bass catch rates were moderate, with the relative abundance of White Bass increasing from previous surveys, indicative of a rebounding population from a significant fish kill in 2018. Angling effort was low with approximately 3% of anglers targeting temperate basses during the 2021/2022 creel survey.
• Black basses: Largemouth Bass were moderately abundant and displayed good body condition (mean Wr = 94). Largemouth Bass growth to legal length was fast (age at 14 inches long was 1.8 years) and size structure was excellent (PSD = 63). Black basses were the most sought-after species with approximately 43% of anglers targeting black basses during the 2021/2022 creel survey.
• Crappie: Black and White Crappie were present in the reservoir and historically have provided a popular fishery. Angling effort for crappie was high (2nd most sought-after species) with approximately 33% of anglers targeting crappie during the 2021/2022 creel survey.

Management Strategies

• Continue annual stockings of Hybrid Striped Bass at 10 fish/acre and Florida Largemouth Bass at 1,000/km of shoreline.
• Monitor the spread of invasive non-beneficial aquatic species with annual vegetation surveys and continue to apply consistent treatments on areas where salvinia species are abundant.
• Conduct a bass-only spring electrofishing survey in 2023, fall electrofishing survey in 2025, and spring gill net survey in 2026. Inform the public about the negative impacts of aquatic invasive species.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-3 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program