Lake Palestine - 2017 Survey Report

Prepared by Jacob Norman and Richard Ott
Inland Fisheries Division - Tyler South District

This is the authors' summary from a 35-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Lake Palestine were surveyed in 2017 using electrofishing, and 2018 using low-frequency electrofishing and gill netting. Anglers were surveyed at the Highway 31 Neches River access point from February 2018 through April 2018 with a creel survey. Historical data are presented with the 2017-2018 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 23,434 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, native submersed and emergent aquatic plants.

Management History

Important sport fish include White Bass, Palmetto Bass, Largemouth Bass, White and Black Crappie, and Blue, Channel and Flathead Catfish. The management plan from the 2014 survey report included stocking Palmetto Bass at 10 fish/acre every year and Florida Largemouth Bass at 50 fish/acre in 2015 and 2016. Flathead Catfish were intensively sampled in 2013, 2014 and again in 2018 to identify any population level changes within the reservoir following the legalization of hand-fishing. Efforts have been made to establish desirable native species of aquatic vegetation in the reservoir with a series of plantings within exclosure cages. Improvements were made to the Saline Bay boat ramp in 2017.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin Shad were present in the reservoir. Electrofishing catch of Gizzard Shad was moderate and almost 75% of Gizzard Shad were available as prey to most sport fish. Electrofishing catch of Bluegill was high and most were less than 6-inches long.
• Catfishes: Blue, Channel and Flathead Catfish are present within the reservoir; all three species were abundant and have the potential to provide excellent angling opportunities.
• Temperate basses: White Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass (Palmetto Bass and Sunshine Bass) were present in the reservoir. The spring spawning run is a popular fishery for both species in the reservoir’s upper tributaries.
• Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass were abundant and displayed good body condition. Largemouth Bass growth to legal length was fast (age at 14 inches long was 1.7 years) and almost 30% of fish were legal-length.
• Crappie: Black and White Crappie are present in the reservoir and historically have provided a popular fishery.

Management Strategies

• Continue stocking Palmetto Bass at 10 fish/acre and Florida Largemouth Bass at 1000/km of shoreline.
• Inform the public about the negative impacts of aquatic invasive species.
• Work with TPWD Kills and Spills Team to improve communication and collaborative efforts for potential fish kill investigations.

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