Lone Star Lake 2006 Survey Report (PDF 1.2 MB)
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Lone Star Lake - 2006 Survey Report
Prepared by Timothy J. Bister and Michael W. Brice
Inland Fisheries Division
District 3-A,
Marshall, Texas
This is the authors' summary from a 31-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.
Fish populations in Lone Star Lake were surveyed in 2006 using electrofishing and trap nets and in 2007 using gill nets. Anglers were surveyed from March 2006 to May 2006 with a roving creel. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.
Reservoir Description
Lone Star Lake is a 1,516-acre impoundment located on Ellison Creek in the Cypress River Basin in Morris County. Structural habitat is sparse, but is comprised of inundated timber, brush, riprap, creek channels, and boat docks. Native aquatic plant abundance has recently increased and hydrilla was discovered in the reservoir in 2006. A fish consumption advisory was issued due to PCB contamination in 2005.
Management History
Important sport fish include channel catfish, white bass, palmetto bass, and largemouth bass. All sport fish have historically been managed with statewide harvest regulations. Florida largemouth bass have been stocked in this reservoir to improve the quality of the largemouth bass fishery. Palmetto bass stocking was discontinued in 2006. Hydrilla was discovered in the reservoir in 2006 and the controlling authority has taken action to manage the infestation.
Fish Community
- Prey species: One threadfin shad was collected during the 2006 fall electrofishing survey. Electrofishing catch rates of gizzard shad were relatively low with 43% available as prey to most sport fish. Bluegill, redbreast sunfish, and redear sunfish were also available as prey and are abundant.
- Catfishes: There were many channel catfish collected above legal length (12 inches) during the 2007 gill net survey, but recruitment was low. Five percent of all angling effort at Lone Star Lake was directed towards catfish, but no catfish harvest was observed during the spring 2006 angler creel survey.
- Temperate basses: White bass and palmetto bass were present in the reservoir. Relative abundance of white bass has increased in recent years. Palmetto bass stocking was discontinued following a fish consumption advisory issued by the Texas Department of State Health Services. No anglers targeted white bass or palmetto bass during the spring 2006 angler creel survey.
- Largemouth bass: The largemouth bass population was good with high relative abundance, good size structure, and adequate recruitment. Relative weights were good for all inch groups indicating adequate prey availability. Largemouth bass had adequate growth rates, reaching legal-size in three growing seasons. Over 80% of the directed effort at Lone Star Lake was from anglers targeting largemouth bass during spring 2006.
- Crappie: Both white and black crappie were observed during fall trap net surveys, but only one fish of each species was collected. Ten percent of the directed angler effort at Lone Star Lake was for crappie during spring 2006.
Management Strategies
Conduct electrofishing surveys every other year beginning in 2008, and general monitoring with trap nets and gill nets 2010-2011. Hydrilla surveys will be conducted annually beginning in 2007. Technical guidance will be given to controlling authority regarding hydrilla 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-30-R-32 Statewide Freshwater Fisheries Monitoring and Management Program