Tradinghouse Creek Reservoir - 2008 Survey Report

Prepared by John E. Tibbs and Michael S. Baird
Inland Fisheries Division
District 2-B, Waco, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 26-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 2008 using electrofishing and in 2009 using gill nets. 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 located in an agricultural area, 15 miles east of Waco in McLennan County, Texas. Average reservoir depth is 19 feet with a maximum depth of 42 feet. The reservoir is eutrophic, with water transparencies typically ranging from 2 to 4 feet. The 2,012-acre reservoir was constructed in 1968 by Texas Utilities Generating Company (TXU) to serve as a cooling-reservoir for electrical power generation. Other water uses include recreation.

Management History

Important sport fish include largemouth bass, red drum, white bass, white and black crappie, and channel catfish. The management plan from the 2004 survey report included strategies to improve crappie angling, monitor hydrilla coverage, maintain red drum numbers, and plans to work with TXU and McLennan County to construct bathrooms and handicapped-accessible facilities.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Forage species such as threadfin shad, gizzard shad, bluegill, longear, and redear sunfish were all caught in good numbers indicating abundant forage in the reservoir.
• Channel catfish: Channel catfish were collected in record numbers and most were in good condition. Recruitment of smaller individuals was much higher than previous surveys.
• White bass: White bass were present in the reservoir in large numbers, providing a significant fishery.
• Largemouth bass: The largemouth bass electrofishing catch rate was lower than the previous two surveys, but still indicative of a quality population.
• Crappies: White and black crappie are present in the reservoir in small numbers, but trap netting was not conducted in 2008.

Management Strategies

• Continue managing Tradinghouse Creek Reservoir with statewide regulations.
• Continue redfish stockings unless reservoir conditions become unfavorable.
• Conduct general monitoring with electrofisher and trap nets in 2012 and gill nets in 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