Lake Whitney - 2023 Survey Report

Prepared by Michael S. Baird
Inland Fisheries Division – Waco District

This is the authors' summary from a 45-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Whitney Reservoir were surveyed in 2023 using electrofishing, and in 2024 using gill netting. Anglers were surveyed from March 2023 through May 2023 with a creel survey. Historical data are presented with the 2023-2024 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

Whitney Reservoir is a 23,200-acre impoundment of the Brazos River, in Bosque and Hill Counties. Water level has varied from 8.4 feet below conservation pool (approximately 524.6 feet above mean sea level (MSL)) to 13.3 feet above conservation pool (approximately 546.3 feet above MSL) since January 2020. Water levels were nearly 9’ low during the 2023 electrofishing survey and slightly above conservation pool during the 2024 series of gill netting surveys. Habitat at time of sampling was dominated by natural and rock shoreline, rock bluff, with a few piers and boat docks. Aquatic vegetation was either absent or dry due to the reservoir water level when the survey was conducted.  

Management History

Important sport fish include catfishes, Striped Bass, White Bass, and Largemouth Bass. All have been impacted by periodic toxic golden alga blooms since 2001; however, Golden alga has not been an issue during the four years covered by this report. Sport fish have always been managed with statewide regulations. The statewide regulation for Blue and Channel Catfish changed on September 1, 2021; the current regulations are in this report. Management efforts focusing on aquatic invasive species (AIS) (e.g., ensuring appropriate signage at access points, educating marina owners and constituents) have been ongoing for over a decade. Other management efforts have focused on creating freshwater reefs in appropriate areas, consisting of artificial habitat like Georgia structures, PVC cubes and commercially available Mossback structures. Eighty-eight artificial structures have been placed into six freshwater reef locations since 2021. Recent management efforts have consisted of monitoring the Striped Bass recruitment, AIS education, habitat enhancement, and rebuilding the black bass populations through stockings.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Collected prey species included Gizzard Shad, Threadfin Shad, Bluegill, Longear Sunfish, Redbreast Sunfish, and Green Sunfish. Catch rates for all prey species were below historical averages. Only about one-half of all Gizzard Shad were available as prey to sport fish.    

• Catfishes: The Blue Catfish population structure, although less dense than previous surveys, remained good and individuals had excellent body condition. The Channel Catfish population structure was depressed from the previous survey, but individuals still had good to excellent body condition. Flathead Catfish were collected in average numbers.

• Temperate Bass: White Bass were observed in low numbers, yet Striped Bass were abundant. Body condition for both species was good to excellent for most length classes.     

• Black Bass: Collected black bass included Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass. Catch rates for both species were below historical averages. Low water level and poor sampling conditions likely contributed to low catch rates. Body condition was good to excellent for Largemouth Bass, and Florida Bass genetic influence remains good at 64%. Only one Smallmouth Bass was observed in the sample.  

• Crappie: Crappie were not sampled during 2023-2024 however, nearly six percent of the angling effort reported in the spring 2023 angler creel was directed at the group. Black Crappie were harvested nearly twice as often as White Crappie according to the survey.

Management Strategies

• Continue managing sport fishes at Whitney Reservoir with statewide regulations.
• Continue annual monitoring for golden algae from November through April.
• Conduct additional electrofishing and gill netting surveys in fall 2025 and spring 2026, angler access, vegetation, and electrofishing surveys in late-summer and fall 2027, and trap netting and gill netting surveys in late winter and spring 2028.
• Conduct a year-long creel survey from June 1, 2025, through May 31, 2026.
• Request annual stockings of Striped Bass at 15 fingerlings/acre.
• Continue annual requests for Smallmouth Bass stockings and request additional Lonestar Bass stockings during two of the next four years.
• Perform additional habitat enhancements in cooperation with interested partners and continue working to inform the public about the negative impacts of AIS.

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