Lake Travis - 2018 Survey Report

Prepared by Mukhtar Farooqi and Marcos J. De Jesus
Inland Fisheries Division - San Marcos-Austin District

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 Travis Reservoir were surveyed in 2018 using electrofishing and in 2019 using gill netting. Anglers were surveyed from September 2017 through August 2018 with a creel survey. Historical data are presented with the 2018-2019 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

Travis Reservoir is an 18,622-acre impoundment of the Colorado River located in Travis and Burnet Counties, approximately 12 miles northwest of Austin, Texas. It was constructed in 1942 by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) for purposes of flood control, municipal and industrial water supplies, irrigation, and hydroelectric power. Travis Reservoir has a shoreline development index of 18.3. The basin is steep-sided with relatively few shallow coves and shoal areas. This reservoir experiences extreme water level fluctuations and lies within the Edwards Plateau ecological area. Land use is predominantly ranching in the upper reservoir, with residential properties common in the lower reservoir. Significant stands of aquatic vegetation have never been documented in the reservoir. In June 2017, zebra mussels Dreissena polymorpha were discovered in the reservoir, and since have established a sustained population.

Management History

The sport fish composition includes White Bass, Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass, crappies, and catfishes. Florida Largemouth Bass were originally stocked in the reservoir in the late 1980’s to increase Florida Largemouth Bass genetic influence in the population. Blue and Channel Catfish were stocked in the 1970’s to help establish a sustainable population. Striped Bass have often been stocked since 1973. The lake is managed under statewide regulations.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin Shad, Gizzard Shad, Bluegill, and Redbreast Sunfish were the predominant prey species. Overall, the forage base was adequate to support sport fish.
• Catfishes: Blue Catfish were the predominant species of catfish surveyed in 2019. Large Flathead Catfish and Blue Catfish were available to anglers. Channel Catfish abundance improved since the previous survey. Directed effort for catfishes was approximately 6% of the total angler effort for the reservoir.
• Temperate basses: White Bass and Striped Bass were present in the reservoir. White Bass fishing becomes popular during the spring spawning run up the Pedernales and Colorado rivers. Angler effort for White Bass was 1.4% of the total directed effort on the reservoir. Striped Bass abundance continued to decline. Angling effort was not captured for Striped Bass during the creel survey, but anecdotal reports of directed effort outside the creel survey hours (night) were seasonal.
• Black Basses: Largemouth Bass abundance rebounded from historic lows during the last survey, caused by extreme drought conditions. Plenty of legal-size fish were available to anglers due to reservoir flooding in 2015 and population boom. More than 70% of all anglers at Travis Reservoir fished for black basses (Largemouth and Guadalupe Bass).
• Crappies: Black and White Crappie were present in the reservoir. Angling effort for crappies accounted for 2.4% of the total directed effort.

Management Strategies

• Discontinue Striped Bass stocking regime.
• Temporarily discontinue Florida Largemouth Bass stockings, monitor water quality as it relates to productivity, and monitor Largemouth Bass performance.
• Educate the public about the negative impacts of aquatic invasive species, monitor and record potential impacts of zebra mussels on sport fish in the reservoir.
• Conduct bass-only electrofishing survey in 2002 and general monitoring electrofishing survey in 2022.
• Access and vegetation surveys will be conducted in 2022.
• Conduct a full-reservoir creel survey in 2021-2022.

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