Pat Mayse Reservoir - 2012 Survey Report

Prepared by Dan Bennett and Kevin Storey
Inland Fisheries Division
District 3-B, Tyler, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 23-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 2012 using electrofishing and in 2013 using gill netting. Historical data are presented with the 2012-2013 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 5,940-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. The major habitat components observed were native submerged, floating, and emergent aquatic vegetation, and standing timber. Total vegetation coverage was 4% of reservoir surface area. Hydrilla has been reported in the reservoir since 2000, although coverage has remained below 1% of reservoir area. Hydrilla was not observed in the summer 2012 vegetation survey.

Management History

Largemouth bass, White Bass, and Channel Catfish provide important sport fisheries. Palmetto Bass stockings were discontinued in 2000. The fisheries management plan from the 2008 survey report recommended monitoring the Largemouth Bass population every other year through fall electrofishing, and monitoring the genetic influence of FLMB using fin-tissue samples from Largemouth Bass. The management plan also recommended continuing to monitor the reservoir’s hydrilla coverage.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Clupeid (Threadfin and Gizzard Shad) and sunfish populations provide adequate prey for sport fish populations. A mixture of sunfish species, including Bluegill and Redear Sunfish, also contribute to the prey base.
• Catfishes: The Channel Catfish population shows consistent recruitment to legal size, with fish greater than 25 inches observed in samples. Body condition of Channel Catfish was excellent.
• Temperate basses: White Bass populations have been subject to periodic fish kills, although the population appears to have recovered. Palmetto Bass stockings have not been conducted since 2000, and no Palmetto Bass were observed in 2013.
• Black basses: Largemouth Bass exhibit adequate natural recruitment, although low catch rates of legal-length (>14 inches) bass were observed. Low electrofishing catch rate in 2012 was likely influenced by poor sampling conditions, resulting from low water levels.
• Crappie: According to anecdotal reports, White Crappie and Black Crappie are present in the reservoir. However, trap netting was not conducted in 2012 due to low catch rates in previous years.

Management Strategies

Continue standard fisheries monitoring in 2016 and 2017. Monitor water level impact on recreational access and fish populations. Continue to monitor hydrilla coverage if expansion is reported, and during standard vegetation survey in 2016.

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