Coleto Creek Reservoir - 2013 Survey Report
Prepared by Greg Binion and John Findeisen
Inland Fisheries Division
District 1-E, Mathis, Texas
This is the authors' summary from a 41-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.
Fish populations in Coleto Creek Reservoir were surveyed in 2013 using trap nets and electrofishing and in 2014 using electrofishing (bass-only) and gill nets. Creel surveys were conducted from 1 June 2012 through 31 May 2013. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.
Coleto Creek Reservoir is a 3,100-acre (averaged 2,570 acres in 2013-2014) reservoir located on Coleto Creek in the Guadalupe River Basin 13 miles southwest of Victoria. Regulated by the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, it receives water from Coleto and Perdido creeks as well as several smaller tributaries and is used for power plant cooling and recreation. Approximately 600 acres are used for cooling ponds and inaccessible to anglers. Water level is typically stable; however, over the survey period water levels fluctuated within 4 feet of conservation pool. Substrate is composed primarily of clays, deep loams and small rock. Littoral habitat consisted of many native and exotic species of aquatic vegetation and flooded timber.
Important sport fish species include Blue, Channel, and Flathead catfishes, White Bass, Largemouth Bass, and White and Black crappies. Palmetto Bass and Red Drum were previously stocked in the reservoir but these stockings have been discontinued due to low gill net catch rates and low directed angling effort. The 2010 management plan focused on nuisance aquatic vegetation control, collecting fishery dependent data through creel surveys to estimate angling effort, catch, and harvest, conduct additional Largemouth Bass sampling via spring bass-only electrofishing, and compile tournament data records to further assess Largemouth Bass population dynamics and abundance/catch of preferred-size (≥15 in) fish. Hydrilla, milfoil and water hyacinth have historically restricted access to some areas of the reservoir and these problematic areas have been treated with herbicides and bio-control organisms.
- Prey species: Gizzard and Threadfin shad abundance was low. Abundant sunfish (Bluegill and Redear) populations formed the reservoirs forage base.
- Catfishes: Blue and Channel catfish were present in the reservoir in low abundance. All catfish collected in 2014 were > 12 inch minimum length limit.
- White bass: White Bass increased in abundance over the survey period. The majority of individuals collected were > 10 inch minimum length limit; however, directed angling effort was low.
- Largemouth bass: Largemouth Bass abundance remained high over the survey period. Largemouth Bass were the most sought species in the reservoir and the population continued to provide excellent angling opportunities. Mean age at legal length in 2013 was 3.1 years.
- Crappie: Black and White crappies were present in the reservoir. Crappies were the third most sought species in the reservoir.
- Continue to manage sport fish populations under existing harvest regulations.
- Conduct creel survey to collect quantitative data on angler use.
- Determine if poor catches and low relative abundance of catfishes and crappies are accurate.
- Monitor coverage and potential expansion of non-native vegetation and continue to work with GBRA on all vegetation control activities.
Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-4 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program