Ray Roberts Reservoir - 2019 Survey Report

Prepared by Dan L. Bennett and Greg Cummings
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 2019 using electrofishing and trap netting, and in 2020 using gill netting.  A bass-only spring electrofishing survey was also done in 2017.  Anglers were surveyed from March through August 2018 with a roving creel survey.  Historical data are presented with the 2017-2020 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

Ray Roberts Reservoir is a 28,646-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.  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 Crappie.  A 14- to 24-inch slot length limit, 5 fish daily bag limit for Largemouth Bass was dropped in 2009, in favor of the statewide 14-inch minimum length limit, 5 fish daily bag limit. Statewide fish harvest regulations currently apply to all sport fishes in Ray Roberts Reservoir. Florida Largemouth Bass fingerlings have been stocked periodically since 1985.   

Fish Community

• Prey species:  Threadfin Shad and Gizzard Shad provide forage for sport fish along with sunfish species dominated by Bluegill and Longear Sunfish.   
• Catfishes:  Channel Catfish and Blue Catfish are present, and the abundance of Blue Catfish continues to increase.  Flathead Catfish are also present. 
• White Bass:  Young White Bass were abundant indicating good recruitment in recent years.
• Black basses:  Black bass were the 2nd most sought after species group at Ray Roberts in spring and summer 2018.  Although not stocked by TPWD, Smallmouth Bass are occasionally caught by anglers, and a small number have been collected during fisheries surveys.  Spotted Bass are also present in moderate abundance.  The reservoir has produced catches of trophy Largemouth Bass.
• Crappie:  White Crappie are abundant and support the most popular fishery at Ray Roberts Reservoir.  Black Crappie are also present, yet abundance is much lower than White Crappie. 

Management Strategies

• Inform the public about the negative impacts of aquatic invasive species. 
• Conduct general monitoring surveys with trap nets, gill nets, and electrofishing in spring 2021 and fall 2023. 
• Stock Florida Largemouth Bass in 2022. 
• Access and vegetation surveys will be conducted in 2023.

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