Sam Rayburn Reservoir - 2022 Survey Report

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

This is the authors' summary from a 42-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Sam Rayburn Reservoir were surveyed in 2020 and 2022 using electrofishing and in 2021 and 2023 using gill netting. Anglers were surveyed from June 2022 through May 2023 with a creel survey. Historical data are presented with the 2019-2023 data for comparison. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir.

Reservoir Description

Sam Rayburn Reservoir is a 114,500-acre impoundment of the Angelina River in Angelina, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Sabine, San Augustine, and Tyler counties in southeast Texas. Water level fluctuations average 6 to 7 feet annually. Aquatic habitat consists of aquatic vegetation (primarily hydrilla and American lotus) and standing timber.

Management History

The black bass fishery is the most popular at Sam Rayburn Reservoir (75 to 80% of annual angling effort, which includes over 400 bass tournaments per year). Approximately 10 to 15% of anglers target crappie and < 10% target catfish. Angler interest in more restrictive length limits for Largemouth Bass and potential biological and economic impacts of bass tournaments prompted research from 2004 to 2009. Results indicated that the proportion of the Largemouth Bass population harvested was relatively low (9%) and more restrictive length limits would provide little benefit. In addition, impacts of tournaments on the Largemouth Bass population were low (only 5% of population retained by tournament anglers) but tournament expenditures were high (66% of total). To increase abundance of large Largemouth Bass (> 8 pounds), fingerlings have been annually stocked since 1994 (Florida Largemouth Bass from 1994 to 2021 and Lone Star Bass from 2022 to 2023). Giant salvinia was found in the reservoir in 2008 and is now present in a majority of creeks and embayments. Coverage exceeded 4,000 acres in 2014, but aggressive herbicide treatments along with high inflows and flushing have reduced abundance to < 1,500 acres during most years.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Gizzard Shad, Threadfin Shad, and Bluegill were the most abundant prey species and provided ample forage for sport fish.
• Catfishes: Over the last three survey years, Blue Catfish were moderately abundant with variable catch rates, and Channel Catfish numbers steadily increased. Angler catch rates averaged 3.2 fish/hour. Blue and Flathead Catfish provided trophy opportunities for anglers.
• Temperate basses: Historically, White Bass abundance has been low. Gill net catch rates ranged from 0.5 to 2.7 fish/nn over the last three sample years. Yellow Bass were present in moderate numbers. Few anglers target temperate bass.
• Black basses: Few Spotted Bass were sampled with electrofishing. Largemouth Bass abundance was relatively high. Electrofishing catch rates were consistent, ranging from 152.3 to 174.0 fish/hour over the last three sampling years. Size structure and fish condition were favorable and stable. The black bass fishery was most popular (78.4% of anglers targeted bass), and angler catch rate was high (1.4 fish/hour).
• Crappie: White and Black Crappie were present in the reservoir. Angler catch (3.1/hour) and total annual harvest (155,554 fish) increased and reflected an abundant crappie population.

Management Strategies

• Continue to manage Largemouth Bass harvest with a 14-inch minimum length limit.
• Collect angler catch of trophy Largemouth Bass via the tournament-monitoring program, ShareLunker Program, and creel surveys to justify Lone Star Bass stockings.
• Request annual stockings of Lone Star Bass to maximize trophy fish abundance.
• Maintain information signs, conduct annual aerial vegetation surveys, and apply herbicides when appropriate to minimize impacts of giant salvinia.
• Continue to promote fish handling procedures that minimize tournament-related mortality to reduce impacts on the Largemouth Bass population and conflicts with non-tournament anglers.
• Consult with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding potential to expand parking lots and install courtesy docks at popular access points, and to construct additional fishing piers.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-5 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program