Lake Naconiche - 2011 Survey Report

Prepared by Dan Ashe and Todd Driscoll
Inland Fisheries Division
District 3-D, Brookeland, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 16-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Lake Naconiche were surveyed in 2010-2012 using electrofishing and in 2011 using trap netting. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Lake Naconiche is an impoundment of Naconiche and Telesco creeks, tributaries of the Attoyac Bayou in the Neches River Basin. The lake was constructed by the County of Nacogdoches for recreation and flood control. This reservoir has a surface area of 692 acres at conservation pool (348 feet msl), a shoreline length of 13.1 miles, and an average depth of 13 feet. Access is available with a two lane boat ramp and two ADAapproved fishing piers. Bank access is adequate. Lake Naconiche was impounded in 2009 and will open for fishing in September 2012.

Management History

Fish stockings began in 2009 and included threadfin shad, channel catfish, bluegill, Florida largemouth bass, and white and black crappie. Largemouth bass harvest will be regulated with an 18-inch minimum length limit. All other sport fish will be regulated with statewide regulations. Hydrilla was documented in 2009 and current coverage is 15% of the reservoir surface area.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Electrofishing surveys indicated an adequate forage base for sport fishes. Forage species consisted of threadfin shad, gizzard shad, warmouth, bluegill, longear sunfish, redear sunfish, and redspotted sunfish. Bluegill were stocked in 2009 and 2011. Threadfin shad were stocked in 2010 and 2011.
• Catfishes: Channel catfish were stocked in 2009 and 2011. A gill net survey (the method for assessing catfish abundance) has not been conducted.
• Largemouth bass: Largemouth bass were abundant and numerous age classes of fish were present. Increasing catch rates from electrofishing surveys indicated adequate spawning and fish survival. Size structure has also improved, as the most recent survey reflected an abundance of fish > 12 inches in length, including some fish > 18 inches.
• Crappies: White crappie and black crappie were stocked in the reservoir in 2010. A trap net survey conducted in 2011 sampled black crappie only. Black and white crappie have been observed during electrofishing surveys.

Management Strategies

• Open the lake for public fishing on September 1, 2012.
• Manage largemouth bass harvest with an 18-inch minimum length limit.
• Continue to monitor trends of hydrilla coverage through annual aquatic vegetation surveys (2012-2014).
• Conduct annual electrofishing surveys (both fall and spring) through 2013/2014.
• Beginning in 2014/2015, conduct biennial spring surveys and a fall survey every four years.
• Monitor initial angler catch and harvest with a fall 2012 (September - November) and spring 2013 (March – May) creel survey.
• Beginning in 2016, conduct a spring quarter creel survey every four years.
• Conduct the initial gill net survey in 2014, and beginning in 2016, conduct surveys every four years.

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