Brandy Branch Reservoir 2011 Survey Report (PDF 312.5 KB)
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Brandy Branch Reservoir - 2011 Survey Report
Prepared by Timothy J. Bister and Lynn D. Wright
Inland Fisheries Division
District 3-A, Marshall, Texas
This is the authors' summary from a 21-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.
Fish populations in Brandy Branch Reservoir were surveyed in 2011 using electrofishing and in 2012 using gill netting. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.
Reservoir Description
Brandy Branch Reservoir is a 1,257-acre impoundment of Brandy Branch Creek in the Sabine River Basin in Harrison County. It is used for power plant cooling and recreation. Structural habitat is mainly inundated timber. Native submersed aquatic vegetation and hydrilla were the most dominant plant types during the 2011 survey. Eurasian watermilfoil was discovered in 2007. Giant salvinia was introduced from a boat trailer in 2008 and immediate efforts to eradicate this invasive species were successful, as it has not been detected since the initial introduction.
Management History
Largemouth bass are the primary sport fish in this reservoir. All sport fish have historically been managed with statewide harvest regulations.
Fish Community
- Prey species: Threadfin shad and gizzard shad were collected during the 2011 fall electrofishing survey. Gizzard shad abundance was low, but threadfin shad were present. Bluegill was the most abundant prey species collected during the 2011 survey. There was adequate prey available to largemouth bass in recent surveys.
- Catfishes: Only three large channel catfish were collected during 2012 gill netting. Previous efforts to establish a reproducing channel catfish population have not been successful.
- Largemouth bass: The largemouth bass population exhibited high relative abundance, good size structure, and adequate recruitment. The number of fish >14 inches has increased in recent population surveys. Relative weights were good for most inch groups indicating adequate prey availability. Largemouth bass had fast growth rates; the average age of 14-inch fish was 1.7 years. Of 30 fish submitted for genetic testing in 2011, 87% were pure Florida largemouth bass.
Management Strategies
Conduct electrofishing surveys in 2013 and 2015, and a gill netting survey in 2016. Invasive vegetation surveys will be conducted annually. Technical guidance will be given to controlling authority regarding vegetation management. All sport fish will continue to be managed under statewide harvest regulations.
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