Texoma Reservoir 2020 Survey Report (PDF 1.3 MB)
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Texoma Reservoir - 2020 Survey Report
Prepared by Dan Bennett and Greg Cummings
Inland Fisheries Division
Deniston District,
Pottsboro, Texas
This is the author's summary from a 45-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.
Fish populations in Texoma Reservoir were surveyed in 2017 and 2020 using low-frequency electrofishing, trap netting in 2020, electrofishing in 2021, and annually using gill netting. Anglers were surveyed from December 2018 through November 2020 with a joint creel survey conducted with Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC). 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
Texoma Reservoir is a 74,686-acre impoundment on the Red and Washita Rivers on the Texas and Oklahoma border with a conservation elevation of 617 feet above mean sea level (msl). Texoma Reservoir exhibits high productivity. Habitat features consisted mainly of natural features, rocky and gravel shoreline, and boat docks. Aquatic vegetation is typically limited. A small amount of yellow floating heart (<1 acre) has occurred near Sunset Camp Public Use area in Oklahoma since the early 2000’s. Buttonbush and flooded terrestrial vegetation provide fish cover during periods of high water.
Management History
Important sport fish included Blue and Channel Catfish, White Bass, Striped Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Largemouth Bass, and Black and White Crappie. A population of Alligator Gar are present, and portions of the reservoir are closed to harvest during May. Striped Bass were stocked between 1965 and 1985 and have been managed with a 10-fish bag limit, of which no more than two can be longer than 20-inches since 1996. In 2009, a special regulation was implemented for catfish. The 12-inch minimum length limit for Blue Catfish and Channel Catfish and the 18-inch minimum length limit for flathead catfish were removed in September 2020 to better align with Oklahoma statewide regulations. Smallmouth Bass were introduced through four separate stockings from 1981 to 1987. Zebra mussels were first identified in the reservoir in 2009, and are monitored in cooperation with other resource agencies, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD).
Fish Community
- Prey species: Threadfin Shad and Gizzard Shad provide an abundant forage base for sport fish and support numerous live-bait guides. Bluegill and other sunfish species also provide a diverse prey base.
- Catfishes: Blue Catfish and Channel Catfish are abundant. Many large Blue Catfish support a trophy fishery.
- Temperate basses: White Bass abundance fluctuates from year to year, and record catch rates of Striped Bass have been observed during the last three gillnet surveys.
- Black basses: Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass, and Largemouth Bass are present in Texoma Reservoir and support popular recreational and tournament fisheries.
- Crappie: White Crappie and Black Crappie provide
Management Strategies
Based on current information, Texoma Reservoir should continue to be managed with existing harvest regulations. Sampling will include annual gill netting at set locations to monitor Striped Bass in cooperation with ODWC (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation), and low-pulse electrofishing (LFE) for Blue Catfish will be conducted every third August. A joint electrofishing survey will be conducted with ODWC in spring 2023, and trap netting will be conducted in fall 2024 at randomly selected sites.
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