Lake Holbrook - 2012 Survey Report
Prepared by Kevin W. Storey and Daniel L. Bennett
Inland Fisheries Division
District 3-B, Tyler, Texas
This is the authors' summary from a 26-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.
Fish populations in Lake Holbrook were surveyed in 2012 using electrofishing, and in 2013 using gill netting. Aquatic vegetation and habitat surveys were conducted on Lake Holbrook during August 2012. Additional assessments were conducted annually in July or August from 2009 through 2012 in order to monitor waterwillow colonies, which were initially planted in 2006 and 2007. Historical data are presented with the 2012-2013 data for comparison. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.
Lake Holbrook is a 650-acre impoundment located in Wood County, Texas, on Lankford Creek, a tributary of the Sabine River. The reservoir was constructed by Wood County in 1962 for flood control and recreation. The reservoir contains few aquatic plants, which amount to less than 3% of reservoir surface area. Structural habitat consists primarily of natural shoreline, dead trees, and piers and docks. The majority of the aquatic vegetation found in the reservoir is native emergent species, which are confined to the shoreline and immediately adjacent areas.
Largemouth Bass and crappie species are the most prominent sport fishes present. Florida Largemouth Bass were most recently stocked in 2008. Work began in 2006 to establish native emergent vegetation in Lake Holbrook to enhance littoral habitat. District personnel collaborated with the Lake Holbrook Association to construct and deploy fish attractors constructed from brush (2007 and 2008) and bamboo (2009 and 2012). District staff created a map for use by anglers, which is available for download from the agency website showing geo-referenced locations of fish attractors.
- Prey species: The predominant prey species include Bluegill, and other less abundant sunfish species. Gizzard and Threadfin Shad were also present, though they were of low abundance. An extensive fish kill was observed in April 2012 involving the loss of an estimated 2,321 yellow bass.
- Catfishes: Channel Catfish abundance was low but body condition was good. All of the fish collected were of legal size and the absence of sub stock-sized individuals indicates limited recruitment.
- Largemouth bass: Largemouth Bass were moderately abundant. Almost half of the fish collected in fall electrofishing were of stock size (8 inches), and of these, 17.5% were of legal size. Largemouth Bass tended to be of moderate body condition, indicating adequate prey availability and growth rates were fast. Spotted Bass were collected, though at much lower abundances than Largemouth Bass.
- Crappie: Both White and Black Crappie were documented in gill net catch, but no target population sampling was conducted because trap net catch rates have been historically low.
- Conduct additional vegetation assessments on an annual basis to monitor the introduced native emergent species and redistribute plants within the reservoir as appropriate.
- Continue working with the local homeowner’s association to enhance fish habitat in the lake by supplementing existing fish attractors and constructing new ones as opportunities arise.
- Continue with standard fisheries monitoring using electrofishing and gill netting surveys in 2016-2017. A roving creel survey will be conducted in spring 2017 to monitor angler effort, catch, and harvest rates.
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