Weatherford Reservoir - 2019 Survey Report

Prepared by Dan Bennett and Greg Cummings
Inland Fisheries Division – Denison District

This is the authors' summary from a 25-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Weatherford Reservoir were surveyed in 2019 using electrofishing and trap netting. Shoreline habitat was surveyed in 2015 and vegetation was surveyed in 2019. Historical data are presented with the 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

Weatherford Reservoir is a 1,158-acre impoundment on the Clear Fork Trinity River in Parker County. The reservoir refilled in 2015 after several years of drought. Since 2015, the water level has remained near the conservation elevation of 896.0 feet above mean sea level (ft-msl). The reservoir is increasingly eutrophic resulting from agricultural and domestic runoff in the watershed, and raw water transfer from Benbrook Reservoir. Habitat features consisted mainly of bulkhead and rocky and natural shoreline with numerous boat docks and piers.

Management History

Important sport fishes included Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, and White Crappie. In 1999, a 14- to 18-inch slot limit was removed for Largemouth Bass and replaced with the statewide regulation. All sport fishes are now managed with statewide regulations. Channel Catfish, Threadfin Shad, and Florida Largemouth Bass have been stocked periodically. Eurasian watermilfoil used to be problematic on the reservoir, but since flooding and Grass Carp stockings in the early 1990s, aquatic vegetation has been minimal. The management plan for the 2016 survey report included recommendations to promote the Largemouth Bass and White Crappie fisheries and educate the public about invasive species.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin Shad were present in the reservoir. Electrofishing catch of Gizzard Shad was a new record and almost all were available to predators. Electrofishing catch of Bluegill was similar to the previous survey, and few Bluegill were over 6-inches long.  
• Catfishes: Due to coronavirus travel restrictions, gill netting for Channel and Flathead Catfish did not occur for this report. Historically, they have been present and available to anglers.
• White Bass: Due to coronavirus travel restrictions, gill netting for White Bass did not occur for this report. Historically, they have been present in low abundance.
• Largemouth Bass: Electrofishing catch rate of stock-length Largemouth Bass increased since 2015. The amount of legal-length bass available to anglers has doubled.
• White Crappie: Trap net catch rate of White Crappie was a new record. The catch rate of legal-length crappie was also a new record, with 58% of the sample population 10 inches and larger. White Crappie body condition and growth were excellent.

Management Strategies

Request a Florida Largemouth Bass (FLMB) stocking in 2024. Promote the improving Largemouth Bass and White Crappie fisheries on Weatherford Reservoir. Conduct general monitoring surveys with trap nets and electrofishing surveys in 2023 and gill net surveys in 2024. Access and vegetation surveys will be conducted in 2023. Continue public education about invasive species.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-6 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program