Lake Waxahachie - 2017 Survey Report

Prepared by Jacob D. Norman and Richard Ott
Inland Fisheries Division - Tyler South District

This is the authors' summary from a 28-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Lake Waxahachie were surveyed in 2016 using low-frequency electrofishing, in 2017 using electrofishing, hoop netting and trap netting, and in 2018 using gill netting. Historical data are presented with the 2016-2018 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

Lake Waxahachie is a 656 acre impoundment located on Prong Creek in the Trinity River Basin approximately 4 miles south of Waxahachie, Texas. Water level has fluctuated up to 6 feet below spillway elevation since 2008. Lake Waxahachie has high productivity. Habitat features consisted of standing timber, rocks, boat docks and native emergent and floating aquatic plants.

Management History

Important sport fish include White Bass, Largemouth Bass, White and Black Crappie, and catfish. Blue Catfish were stocked in 2003, 2005 and 2007. The management plan from the 2014 survey report primarily focused on monitoring the sport and prey-fish populations through a combination of low-frequency electrofishing in 2016, trap netting, hoop netting and electrofishing in 2017 and gill netting in 2018.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin Shad were present in the reservoir. Electrofishing catch of Gizzard Shad was poor and very few (9%) were available as prey to most sport fish. Electrofishing catch of Bluegill was high and most were less than 6-inches long.
• Catfishes: Blue, Channel and Flathead Catfish are present within the reservoir; Blue and Channel Catfish were abundant and have the potential to provide angling opportunities.
• White Bass: White Bass were present in the reservoir. Recruitment is inconsistent, likely due to variable water levels and associated inflow.
• Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass were abundant and displayed moderate body condition. Largemouth Bass growth to legal length was moderate (average age at 14 inches long was 2.8 years)
• Crappie: Black and White Crappie are present in the reservoir and historically have provided a popular fishery.

Management Strategies

• Draft a proposal for an artificial habitat improvement project through the Conservation License Plate (CLP) grant system.
• Contact the city of Waxahachie and local angling groups about interest in partnering in any habitat improvement efforts

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-3 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program