Sulphur Springs Reservoir - 2017 Survey Report

Prepared by Kevin Storey and Evan Cartabiano
Inland Fisheries Division - Tyler South District

This is the authors' summary from a 30-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Sulphur Springs Reservoir were surveyed in 2017 using low-frequency electrofishing, daytime electrofishing, and trap netting and in 2018 using gill netting. A vegetation survey was conducted in August 2017. Historical data are presented with the 2017-2018 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

Sulphur Springs Reservoir is a 1,340-acre impoundment located in Hopkins County, Texas, on White Oak Creek, a tributary of the Sulphur River. It was constructed by the City of Sulphur Springs in 1973 as a municipal water supply. Habitat consists primarily of featureless banks with a variety of native emergent and inundated terrestrial or marginal species. Water clarity in the reservoir is extremely low due to high levels of suspended, colloidal particles.

Management History

Important sport fishes include Largemouth Bass, White Crappie, Blue Catfish, and Flathead Catfish. Turbid conditions in the reservoir have limited the fishery and the effectiveness of management activities. Fingerling Blue Catfish and Channel Catfish were stocked in 2015. A genetics sample of Largemouth Bass collected in 2013 indicated the population had a high incidence of Northern Largemouth Bass (NLMB), 29 of 30 fish sampled, despite a single stocking of Florida Largemouth Bass in 1978. In October 2015, 84 Largemouth Bass were collected from the reservoir as potential NLMB broodfish for TPWD’s hatchery system.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Electrofishing catch of Gizzard Shad was low, but most fish were available as prey to sport fish. No Threadfin Shad were collected in surveys. Electrofishing catch of Bluegill was low and all fish were under 5-inches in length. High turbidity in the reservoir likely impairs visibility of fish thereby reducing electrofishing catch rates.
• Catfishes: The Blue Catfish population has improved in abundance presumably influenced by a fingerling stocking in 2015. Although Channel Catfish were stocked as well, these fish were scarce in samples. The Flathead Catfish population was sampled for the first time using low-frequency electrofishing and samples revealed a range of fish sizes from recruits to legal-sized fish.
• Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass abundance has declined since improvements seen in population in the previous sampling in 2013. High turbidity and degraded aquatic habitat limit spawning and survival of Centrarchids such as Largemouth Bass.
• White Crappie: White Crappie are the dominant species, but the population is overly-abundant and dominated by small fish. Growth rates are slow.

Management Strategies

• Encourage the angler utilization of the catfish fisheries resources in Sulphur Springs Reservoir.
• Devise a strategy to reduce the over-abundance of small crappie to decrease competition and improve the fishery.
• Conduct general monitoring surveys with daytime electrofishing, trap netting, and gill netting 2021-2022.
• Access and vegetation surveys will be conducted in 2021.

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