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Kurth Reservoir 2022 Survey Report

If you have difficulty accessing the information in this document, contact the TPWD Inland Fisheries Division for assistance.

 

Kurth Reservoir - 2022 Survey Report

Prepared by Dan Ashe and Todd Driscoll
Inland Fisheries Division - Jasper District

This is the authors' summary from a 23-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Largemouth Bass in Kurth Reservoir were surveyed in 2021 and 2023 using spring electrofishing. Reservoir permit holders from 2022 were surveyed in 2023 with a mail-out questionnaire. Historical data are presented with the 2019-2023 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

Kurth Reservoir is an impoundment on a small, unnamed tributary of the Angelina River in the Neches River Basin. The City of Lufkin is the controlling authority and primary use of the reservoir is recreation. At conservation pool, Kurth Reservoir is 726 acres in size, has a shoreline length of 15 miles, and a mean depth of 15 feet. Boat and bank access is adequate, with one boat ramp present. Habitat in the lake consists of flooded timber and aquatic vegetation (primarily hydrilla). Most of the land surrounding the reservoir is used for timber production.

Management History

Important sport fish include Largemouth Bass and Black Crappie. Largemouth Bass are managed with a 16-inch maximum length limit, which was implemented in 2013. All other sport fish are managed with statewide regulations. Hydrilla was first documented in Kurth Reservoir in 1999, and coverage reached 34% of reservoir surface area by 2002. In 2002, at the request of the controlling authority, 2,000 triploid Grass Carp were stocked at a rate of 5 fish/vegetated acre in an attempt to reduce hydrilla coverage to 10-15%. This stocking had little effect on hydrilla coverage. During the last five years, hydrilla coverage has been relatively consistent, ranging from 26 to 38% of the reservoir surface area.

Fish Community

Management Strategies

Sport Fish Restoration Logo

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-5 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program



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