Cedar Creek Reservoir - 2019 Survey Report

Prepared by Jacob Norman
Inland Fisheries Division – Tyler South District

This is the authors' summary from a 39-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Cedar Creek Reservoir were surveyed in 2019 using electrofishing and trap netting.  Planned gill netting in spring 2020 was cancelled due to COVID-19. Anglers were surveyed from June 2019 through February 2020 with a creel survey.  The spring quarter angler creel survey (March through June 2020) was cancelled due to COVID-19. Historical data are presented with the 2019-2020 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

Cedar Creek Reservoir is a 32,623-acre impoundment of Cedar Creek, a tributary of the Trinity River approximately 14 miles northeast of Athens, Texas. The reservoir was constructed by the Tarrant Regional Water District in 1965 to provide water for municipal and industrial use. Boat access is adequate, but public access for bank anglers is limited. Littoral habitat varies with water level, but currently contains flooded terrestrial vegetation.

Management History

Important sport fish include Hybrid Striped Bass, White Bass, Largemouth Bass, Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, and White and Black Crappie. The management plan from the 2015 survey report included continued stocking of Hybrid Striped Bass at 15/acre and annual stocking of Florida Largemouth Bass at 1,000/km of shoreline. Hybrid Striped Bass were stocked in 2016-2018, but fish were not available during 2019.  Florida Largemouth Bass were stocked from 2016-2019.

Fish Community

• Prey species:  Threadfin Shad were present in the reservoir. Electrofishing catch of Gizzard Shad was moderate, and most were available as prey to sport fish. Bluegill abundance was lower than previous surveys.    
• Catfishes:  Historically, catfish have been a popular fishery on Cedar Creek. Flathead, Blue and Channel Catfish are all present within the reservoir. Blue Catfish continue to be the most abundant and sought-after catfish species. 
• Temperate basses:  White Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass were present in the reservoir. Hybrid Striped Bass numbers fluctuated over the previous gill net surveys, reflective of inconsistent stocking densities. 
• Largemouth Bass:  Largemouth Bass abundance has declined compared to previous surveys.  This is likely due to limited aquatic vegetation and poor habitat in areas of sampling locations.
• Crappie:  Both Black and White Crappie were present in Cedar Creek Reservoir and remained a popular fishery.

Management Strategies

• Continue stocking Hybrid Striped Bass at 15 fish/acre and Florida Largemouth Bass fingerlings at 1000/km of shoreline. 
• Inform the public about the negative impacts of aquatic invasive species. 
• Continue managing all sport fish under statewide harvest regulations.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-6 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program