Texoma Reservoir - 2008 Survey Report

Prepared by Bruce Hysmith and John H. Moczygemba
Inland Fisheries Division
District 2-A, Pottsboro, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 37-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Texoma Reservoir were surveyed in 2008 using an electrofisher and trap nets and in 2009 using gill nets. Habitat was surveyed in 2004. 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 River between Texas and Oklahoma. Water level closely paralleled conservation elevation (617 feet-mean sea level) June 2005 to May 2009 except for a flood event July 2007. Texoma Reservoir has moderate productivity. Habitat features consisted mainly of rocky shoreline, submerged boulders, boat docks, and native emergent vegetation.

Management History

Important sport fish included blue and channel catfish; white bass; striped bass; smallmouth, spotted, and largemouth bass; and black and white crappie. The management plan from the 2004 survey report included: continue gill net monitoring the striped bass population annually and continue monitoring golden alga/toxin by collecting water samples from established sites; supplemental electrofishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass in response to apparent declines in both populations. Finally, we recommended updating the Texoma Reservoir web page as required.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin shad continued to maintain their presence in the reservoir at adequate numbers. Electrofishing catch rate of gizzard shad declined from previous surveys, however, over one-half the population was ideal prey for a variety of sizes of sportfish. Electrofishing catch of prey-size bluegills was the highest on record.
• Catfishes: Gill net catch of blue catfish increased over previous surveys. Most of the population was legal size and larger, in fair condition, and recruitment was evident. Gill net catch of channel catfish remained similar to previous catches. About one-half the population was legal size and larger and in good condition. Recruitment was excellent, but growth was slow.
• Temperate basses: Gill net catch of white bass was good and over one-half were legal size. Gill net catch of striped bass has changed very little over the past four years, body condition was good, and recruitment was excellent. Growth in both species was good.
• Black basses: Largemouth bass were the most abundant, followed by spotted bass and smallmouth bass. Size structure and body condition was adequate for all three species. Growth was good for largemouth and smallmouth bass. Florida largemouth bass alleles continue to be present.
• Crappie: Abundance and body condition of white crappie continued to be good. No legal-size black crappie were caught.
• Golden alga: Golden alga showed up in the Lebanon Pool in record concentrations, 198,000 cells/cc producing fish kills. Other sites near Lebanon Pool had moderate concentrations.
• Mussels: Live adult zebra mussels, Dreissena polymorpha, were found at three locations in Texoma Reservoir.

Management Strategies

• Based on current information, only one blue catfish 30 inches or longer should be included in the daily bag limit of catfish and limit alligator gar harvest to only one per angler per day.
• Close Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge and Texoma Reservoir west of US377 to alligator gar fishing in May.
• Continue annual gill net monitoring of striped bass.
• Continue monitoring golden alga and zebra mussels.
• Conduct routine fish stock assessment in 2012/2013.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-30-R-34 Statewide Freshwater Fisheries Monitoring and Management Program