Lake Pinkston - 2015 Survey Report

Prepared by Dan Ashe and Todd Driscoll
Inland Fisheries Division – Jasper District

This is the authors' summary from a 25-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Pinkston Reservoir were surveyed in 2015 and 2016 using electrofishing. Historical data are presented with the 2015-2016 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

Pinkston Reservoir is an impoundment of Sandy Creek, a tributary of the Attoyac Bayou in the Neches River Basin. The City of Center is the controlling authority. Primary uses are water supply and recreation. This reservoir has a surface area of 447 acres at conservation pool (300 feet msl), a shoreline length of 4 miles, and an average depth of 20 feet. Water level fluctuations average 1 - 5 feet annually. Boat access is available with two boat ramps present, but they are in need of repair. Bank access is limited to areas around the public boat ramps and the dam.

Management History

Largemouth Bass are the primary sport fish, but crappies are also present. The 14-18 inch slot-length limit for Largemouth Bass (implemented in 1991) was changed to a 14-21 inch slot-length limit in 2001. Hydrilla has been problematic over the years, and coverage has exceeded 50% of the reservoir surface area. In 1997, triploid Grass Carp were stocked at a rate of 7 fish/vegetated acre (2,100 fish total) in an attempt to reduce hydrilla coverage to 30%. Hydrilla coverage declined to less than 1% coverage in 2015. Although giant salvinia was discovered in the reservoir in 2006, it was eradicated via manual removal several months after introduction.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Gizzard Shad, Threadfin Shad, and Bluegill were the most abundant prey species and provided ample forage for sport fish.
• Catfishes: Although Channel Catfish were stocked in 1987, no Channel Catfish have been collected from monitoring surveys since 1989. Channel Catfish recruitment has likely been limited by predation from the abundant Largemouth Bass population.
• Largemouth bass: Largemouth Bass were abundant. Size structure has remained consistent from past surveys with a high abundance of fish within the protective slot length limit. Largemouth Bass had good growth rates and were in average condition. The current Largemouth Bass water body record is 16.90 pounds set in February 1986.
• Crappies: Historically, anecdotal information indicates that the crappie fishery was cyclical but productive during some years. However, no directed angling effort was observed during spring creel surveys in 2008 and 2012. Trap netting was discontinued in 2003 due to low catch (<0.6/nn).

Management Strategies

• Continue to manage Largemouth Bass with 14-21 inch slot-length limit.
• Continue to monitor trends of hydrilla coverage through annual aquatic vegetation surveys (2016-2019).
• Conduct additional biennial spring electrofishing surveys in 2018 and 2020 and a spring quarter (March-May) creel survey in 2018.
• Conduct standard fall electrofishing in 2019.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-6 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program