Lake Placid - 2020 Survey Report

Prepared by Dusty McDonald and Greg Binion
Inland Fisheries Division
Corpus Christi District, Mathis, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 36-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Placid Reservoir were surveyed in 2018 using electrofishing, 2019 using gill netting and hoop netting, 2020 using electrofishing, and 2021 using gill netting and low frequency electrofishing. Historical data are presented with the 2017-2021 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

Placid Reservoir is a 214-acre impoundment located on the Guadalupe River in Guadalupe County, one-half mile southwest of Seguin. This small impoundment, constructed in 1928, is fed by the Guadalupe River watershed and used for water supply, hydroelectric generation, and recreation. Habitat features consisted of boat docks, piers, bulkhead, riprap, and several native aquatic species including spatterdock, water willow, and cattail.

Management History

Important sport fish include Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish and White Crappie. Florida Largemouth Bass were most recently stocked in 2017. Angler harvest of all sport fishes has been regulated per statewide size and bag limits. The management plan from the 2016 survey report included additional electrofishing in 2014 to maintain trend data on the Largemouth Bass population, monitoring for zebra mussels and planting native aquatic vegetation. Historically, nuisance aquatic vegetation has caused access and recreational problems, however herbicide and grass carp introductions have been used to manage excessive vegetative growth, as needed.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Gizzard Shad and Bluegill were the primary forage species for sport fish populations. Longear, Redbreast, and Redear sunfishes were also present. Gizzard Shad abundance increased while Bluegill abundance decreased relative to 2018. Population size structure for Gizzard Shad and Bluegill were suitable to support sport fish populations.
  
• Catfishes: Blue, Channel, and Flathead Catfish were each present in the reservoir and provided quality angling opportunities. Several large Flathead Catfish were collected, including several that measured ≥ 25-inches. New waterbody records were established for Blue Catfish in 2018 with rod and reel (40.5 inches, 35.9 pounds); 2019 with jug line (42 inches, 39.7 pounds), and a new waterbody record for Flathead Catfish was submitted in 2017 (37.5 inches, 24.5 pounds).
  
• Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass abundance was good and similar over the study period. Catch rates in 2020 remained above the historical average. Several legal-size (≥14 inches) fish were collected, and size structure indices indicated a balanced population. Largemouth Bass growth was adequate (age at 14 inches total length was 2.5 years).
  
• Crappies: Both White Crappie and Black Crappie are present for anglers to target within the reservoir based on gill netting and electrofishing surveys.

Management Strategies

• Continue to manage sport fish populations under existing harvest regulations.
• Continue to work with Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) on controlling water hyacinth, water lettuce and hydrilla and inform the public about the negative impacts of aquatic invasive species.
• Continue to provide GBRA with signage, make social media posts and press releases to educate and inform the public to help prevent the spread of zebra mussels and other invasive species to other waterbodies.
• Continue with electrofishing, gill netting and low frequency electrofishing to monitor population abundance of Largemouth Bass and catfishes.

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