Twin Buttes Reservoir - 2011 Survey Report

Prepared by Mandy K. Scott and Mukhtar Farooqi
Inland Fisheries Division
District 1-C, San Angelo, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 22-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Twin Buttes Reservoir were surveyed in 2009 and 2011 using electrofishing and trap nets, and in 2009-2010 using an access creel survey. Planned gill net sampling was not conducted due to low water levels in 2012. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Twin Buttes Reservoir is a 9,080-acre (currently 689-acre) impoundment located 3 miles southwest of San Angelo, Texas in Tom Green County. The reservoir consists of two pools (“North Pool” and “South Pool”) connected by an equalization channel. This hypereutrophic reservoir experiences dramatic water level fluctuations, and has extensive fish habitat mostly in the form of flooded terrestrial vegetation. Boating access was poor due to low water levels.

Management History

Important sport fish include white bass, largemouth bass, white crappie, and catfishes. Striped bass were stocked in 1995, and are still occasionally caught by anglers or in gill nets. Sport fishes have been managed with statewide regulations.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Gizzard shad abundance was good, but their availability to predators dropped to 37%. Bluegill abundance has decreased substantially over the past three surveys.
• Catfishes: Channel catfish provided a good fishery, as evidenced in the creel survey. No gill net data are available due to low water levels.
• Temperate basses: White bass also provided a good fishery, with many harvested individuals in the 12- to 13-inch length range. No gill net data were available due to low water levels. No striped bass or hybrid striped bass were encountered.
• Largemouth bass: Catch rate of largemouth bass remained stable over the past three surveys. Size structure improved slightly towards more individuals greater than 8 inches in length.
• White crappie: Crappie catch rates increased over the survey period and size structure of the population was good. Angler catch rate was good (1.1/angler-h).

Management Strategies

• Communicate with San Angelo Parks Department to voice angler concerns over potential blockage of angler access sites, as well as impacts of declining water levels on the fishery.
• As soon as water level rises to the point where boat launching is possible, conduct additional electrofishing, trap netting, and gill netting.
• Conduct standard monitoring in 2015-2016.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-2 Statewide Freshwater Fisheries Monitoring and Management Program