Bridgeport Reservoir - 2005 Survey Report

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Prepared by Bruce Hysmith and John H. Moczygemba
Inland Fisheries Division
District 2-A, Pottsboro, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 43-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Bridgeport Reservoir were surveyed in 2005 using an electrofisher and trap nets and in 2006 using gill nets. Habitat was surveyed in 2005. A creel survey was conducted from June 2003 to May 2004. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Bridgeport Reservoir is an 11,954-acre impoundment located on the West Fork Trinity River approximately 8 miles west of Bridgeport. Water level has been below conservation elevation (836 feet-mean sea level) since June 2002. Bridgeport Reservoir has moderate, but increasing, productivity. Habitat features consisted mainly of rocky shoreline and submerged boulders. There was some standing timber and a small amount of hydrilla.

Management History

Important sport fish included channel catfish, white bass, palmetto bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, largemouth bass, and white crappie. The management plan from the 2001 survey report included discontinuing stocking palmetto bass and monitoring the largemouth bass population annually. A creel survey in 2000 indicated low directed angler effort for palmetto bass. Directed angler effort for palmetto bass was second only to black basses in 2003 to 2004. Palmetto bass were stocked in 2002 at 5 per acre, and resumed in 2005 at 6 per acre. In 1992, a 14- to 18-inch slot length limit for largemouth bass was implemented and population structure improved. Smallmouth bass were stocked annually from 1982 through 1985. Florida largemouth bass were first stocked in 1982 and concluded in 1997. Threadfin shad were stocked in 1984 and 1985 and are still present.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin shad continued to be present in the reservoir. Electrofishing catch of gizzard shad declined following palmetto bass stocking. Half the gizzard shad were available as prey to most sportfishes. Electrofishing catch of desirable prey-size bluegills was high.
• Catfishes: Gill net catch of channel catfish was high with half the population being legal-size and in fair to excellent condition. Flathead catfish were present in the reservoir.
• Temperate basses: Gill net catch of white bass was low, but most were legal-size. Gill net catch of palmetto bass was also low. However they were still the second most fished-for species in the reservoir in 2003-2004. No palmetto bass were collected from the 2005 stocking.
• Black basses: Largemouth bass were the most abundant, followed by spotted bass and smallmouth bass. Size structure was adequate for largemouth and spotted bass. Largemouth bass had adequate growth rates and good condition, but Florida alleles were low. Most anglers were fishing for any of the black basses.
• White crappie: Abundance and body condition of white crappie continued to be good.

Management Strategies

• Stock palmetto bass at 5 per acre in 2007 and 2009.
• Monitor gizzard shad population with electrofishing surveys in 2006 and 2008.
• Stock Florida largemouth bass at 10 per acre in 2007 and 2008 to increase the percent Florida bass alleles in the largemouth bass population.
• Monitor hydrilla in 2007.
• Conduct general monitoring with electrofisher, trap nets, and gill nets in 2009-2010.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-30-R-31 Statewide Freshwater Fisheries Monitoring and Management Program