Tradinghouse Creek Reservoir - 2024 Survey Report

Prepared by Andrew L. Althoff and John Tibbs
Inland Fisheries Division
Waco District, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 24-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Tradinghouse Creek Reservoir were surveyed in 2024 using electrofishing, and in 2025 using trap netting and gill netting. Historical data are presented with the 2024-2025 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

Tradinghouse Creek Reservoir is a 1,793-acre reservoir located 15 miles east of Waco in McLennan County, Texas. The reservoir contains good bank and boat access. There is not a publicly available source for water level, but the lake can get quite low during late summer through winter and is slow to fill in spring. Habitat features were dominated by natural shorelines, with some gravel and riprap, as well as native emergent and submerged vegetation.

Management History

Important sport fish include Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, White Bass, and crappies. The Red Drum fishery was completely lost between 2009 and 2010 due to the dismantling of the power plant and consequent loss of artificially warm winter water temperatures. Red Drum stockings were discontinued, and Red Drum regulations were removed. The management plan from 2012 included annual monitoring of hydrilla and giant reed; both were monitored through 2014 but never required control efforts. More recent management efforts focused on posting appropriate aquatic invasive species (AIS) signage at access points and providing technical support and informational materials for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) “Clean, Drain and Dry” campaign. Approximately 20 Bamboo Crappie Condos were placed into the reservoir as part of an artificial fish habitat addition project during 2015. Management efforts from 2020-2021 include the addition of 5 PVC Cube artificial fish habitat structures into the reservoir and aquatic vegetation, boater access, electrofishing, and gill netting surveys. Aquatic vegetation, boater access, electrofishing, trap netting, and gill netting surveys were conducted as part of management efforts in 2024-2025.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Collected prey species included Gizzard Shad, Bluegill, Longear Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, and Green Sunfish. Catch rates for most prey species were below historical averages, while Longear and Green Sunfish were collected above historical rates. A majority of Gizzard Shad were available as prey to sport fish.
• Catfishes: Channel Catfish catch rates were well above historical average and mean relative weights were good to excellent. No Blue or Flathead Catfish were observed in surveys.
• White Bass: White Bass were collected at a rate slightly below the historical average and body conditions were slightly below average.
• Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass catch rates were below the historical average but catch rates of stock-sized Largemouth increased from the two previous surveys. Body conditions were average for most size classes.
• Crappies: Collected crappies included White Crappie and Black Crappie. White Crappie catch rates were well above average and body conditions were excellent across most length categories. Black Crappie were collected in very low numbers.

Management Strategies

• The sport fishes in Tradinghouse Creek Reservoir will continue to be managed with statewide regulations.
• AIS efforts will continue to be maintained.
• Access, vegetation, and electrofishing surveys will be conducted in summer and fall 2028 and trap netting and gill netting surveys will be conducted in 2029.
• We will also work with interested partners to complete additional artificial fish habitat projects pending funding sources and reservoir priorities.

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