Lake Welsh - 2023 Survey Report

Prepared byTimothy J. Bister and Quintin Dean
Inland Fisheries Division – Marshall District

This is the authors' summary from a 24-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Lake Welsh were surveyed in 2021 and 2023 using an electrofishing survey. Anglers were surveyed from December 2023 through February 2024 with a creel survey. Historical data are presented with the 2020-2024 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 Welsh is a 1,333-acre cooling reservoir for coal-fueled power generation located on Swaunano Creek in the Big Cypress River Basin. The reservoir is in Titus County. Habitat features consist of standing timber, rocky shoreline, riprap, and aquatic vegetation.

Management History

Largemouth Bass is the primary sport fish in Lake Welsh. Largemouth Bass have been managed under an 18-inch minimum length limit, 5 fish daily bag limit since September 1994. All other sport fishes in Lake Welsh have been managed with statewide regulations. Florida Largemouth Bass stockings in 1975 and 1976 were successful in establishing the Florida Largemouth Bass genetics in the population.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin and Gizzard Shad were present in the reservoir in low abundance, similar to past surveys. Electrofishing catch rate of Bluegill increased considerably between 2021 and 2023. No Bluegill over 6-inches in length observed. Additional sunfish species were present at lower abundances.
• Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass abundance remained high in 2021 and 2023. The population was balanced, with a good number of stock-sized fish (>8 inches), and fish above the legal 18-inch limit. All anglers interviewed at Lake Welsh targeted Largemouth Bass.

Management Strategies

• Conduct electrofishing surveys in 2025 and 2027, and an aquatic vegetation survey in 2027.
• Additional vegetation surveys will be conducted annually from 2024-2027 to monitor non-native aquatic vegetation.
• Largemouth Bass will continue to be managed under the current 18-inch minimum length limit while all other sport fish will be managed under statewide harvest regulations.

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