Pat Mayse Reservoir - 2024 Survey Report

Prepared by Thomas Pullen, Logan Robison, and Jake Norman
Inland Fisheries Division
Tyler District, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 26-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Pat Mayse Reservoir were surveyed in 2024 using electrofishing and in 2025 using gill netting. Access and aquatic vegetation surveys were conducted in August 2024. 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

Pat Mayse Reservoir is a 5,638-acre impoundment located in Lamar County, Texas, on Sanders Creek, a tributary of the Red River. It was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1967 for flood control, and as a municipal and industrial water supply. Pat Mayse was eutrophic with a mean TSI chl-a of 59.02. Aquatic vegetation coverage was less than 1% of reservoir surface area and was composed of native emergent species. Although hydrilla has been reported in the past, none was observed during the summer 2024 vegetation survey.

Management History

Important sport fish include Largemouth Bass, crappie, Channel Catfish and White Bass. Hybrid striped bass stocking was discontinued in 2000 following low observed directed angling effort in spring creel surveys from 1998 - 2000. The fisheries management plan from the 2020-2021 survey report recommended evaluating Florida Largemouth Bass stocking and monitoring the Largemouth Bass population every four years through fall electrofishing.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Clupeid (Threadfin and Gizzard Shad) and sunfish populations provide the major prey species for sport fish populations. The body conditions of Largemouth Bass and Channel Catfish indicated adequate availability of prey fish populations.
  
• Catfishes: Channel Catfish remained abundant in the reservoir, and numerous fish over 20-inches were collected in the 2025 gill net survey. The results of the last three surveys suggest a stable population with consistent recruitment. The relative abundance and size structure of Channel Catfish indicates the potential for a quality fishery.
  
• White Bass: White Bass populations have been subject to periodic fish kills and subsequent reductions in abundance. The 2025 gill net survey suggested White Bass continued to exist in the reservoir in low densities.
  
• Black basses: Catch rate of Largemouth Bass in the most recent sample suggests a stable population that is dominated by fish below the minimum length limit. However, growth rates were good with an average age of 1.4 years at 14 inches. Historically, Spotted Bass have been present in the reservoir, but none have been collected since 2012.
  
• Crappie: Although White Crappie and Black Crappie are present in the reservoir, no sampling was conducted for these species in 2024 due to low and variable catch rates in previous surveys.

Management Strategies

Continue biennial stocking of Lone Star Bass in 2027 and 2029, promote Channel Catfish fishery, reinitiate vegetation establishment efforts.

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