Lake Placid - 2016 Survey Report

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

This is the authors' summary from a 31-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Lake Placid were surveyed in fall 2016 using electrofishing and trap netting and in spring 2017 using gill netting, low frequency electrofishing, and baited tandem hoop nets. Historical data are presented with the 2016-2017 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 Placid is a 214-acre reservoir 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 water willow, American lotus, and spatterdock.

Management History

Important sport fish include Largemouth, Guadalupe, and Spotted Bass, Channel, Blue, and Flathead Catfishes, and Crappies. The management plan from the 2012 survey report included additional surveys (Electrofishing in 2010; Trap netting in 2011) to assess and monitor declines in prey abundance and poor body condition of important sport fish species. Historically, nuisance aquatic vegetation has caused access and recreational problems, however herbicide and grass carp introductions have been used to manage this. Florida Largemouth Bass were most recently stocked in 2017. Angler harvest of all sport fishes has been regulated per statewide size and bag limits.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Gizzard Shad, Bluegill, and Bullhead Minnows comprised the bulk of the forage base for the predator assemblage. Redbreast, Redear, and Longear sunfishes were also present. While relative abundance decreased for most prey species, population size structure for Bluegill was suitable to support sport fish populations.
• Catfishes: Blue, Channel, and Flathead Catfishes were present in the reservoir. Relative abundance of Blue and Channel Catfishes decreased substantially over the study period. Several Flathead Catfish were collected and a high percentage of the sampled population consisted of legal-sized (≥18-in) fish.
• Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass abundance was moderate and similar over the study period, and catch rates in 2016 remained above the historical average. Several legal-sized (≥14-in) fish were collected and size structure indices indicated a balanced population. Largemouth Bass growth slowed in 2016, and mean age at 14 inches was 3.1 years.
• Crappies: Both White and Black Crappie were present in the reservoir; however White Crappie were more abundant. Relative abundance of White Crappie decreased in 2016 relative to 2014. Roughly half of crappie collected were legal-size (≥10-in) and available to anglers. Body condition for legal-sized fish was poor. Crappie growth at 10 inches averaged 1.8 years.

Management Strategies

• Continue to manage sport fish populations with existing harvest regulations.
• Conduct additional electrofishing in 2018 to monitor Largemouth Bass population dynamics and prey abundance and additional gill netting and tandem hoop-netting in 2019 to assess apparent declines in abundance of catfish species.
• Monitor success of native vegetation plantings and replant as necessary.
• Monitor non-native exotic species as needed.

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