Ray Roberts Reservoir - 2015 Survey Report

Prepared by Dan L. Bennett and John H. Moczygemba
Inland Fisheries Division
District 2-A, Pottsboro, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 29-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Ray Roberts Reservoir were surveyed in 2015 using electrofishing and trap nets, and in 2016 using gill nets. Habitat and vegetation surveys were conducted in 2015. This report summarizes the survey results and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Ray Roberts Reservoir is a 25,600-acre impoundment on the Elm Fork Trinity River north of Dallas-Fort Worth in Denton, Grayson, and Cooke Counties. The conservation elevation of Ray Roberts Reservoir is 632.5 feet above - mean sea level. Ray Roberts Reservoir is moderately productive. Habitat features consisted mainly of flooded timber, rocky shoreline, native and non-native submerged vegetation, and riprap along the dam and railroad bridges.

Management History

Important sport fishes included Blue and Channel Catfish, White Bass, black basses, and White Crappie. A 14- to 24-inch slot length limit, 5 fish daily bag limit for Largemouth Bass was changed in 2009, in favor of the statewide 14-inch minimum length limit, 5 fish daily bag limit. Florida Largemouth Bass fingerlings were stocked in 2011 and 2013. Statewide fish harvest regulations apply to all sport fishes in Ray Roberts Reservoir.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin Shad were high in abundance and catch rate of prey size (<7 inch) Gizzard Shad was above average. Sunfishes such as Bluegill and Longear also provided forage for sport fishes.
• Catfishes: Abundance of Channel Catfish continues to gradually decline, while abundance of Blue Catfish continues to increase. Flathead Catfish are also present.
• White Bass: White Bass were abundant, and catch rate increased by 50% in each of the past two surveys.
• Black basses: Although not stocked by TPWD, two lake-record Smallmouth Bass were caught by anglers in 2010 and 2011, and a small number have been collected during fisheries surveys. Spotted Bass are also present in moderate abundance. The Largemouth Bass population was dominated by sub-stock fish in 2015. The reservoir has produced catches of trophy Largemouth Bass.
• White Crappie: White and Black Crappie are present in the reservoir; although, White Crappie are higher in abundance.

Management Strategies

• Conduct additional bass-only electrofishing survey in spring 2018 to monitor abundance of larger bass (>14 inches).
• Conduct standard monitoring in 2019 with electrofishing and trap nets, and gill nets in 2020.
• Conduct a vegetation survey 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