Lyndon B. Johnson Reservoir - 2016 Survey Report

Prepared by Mukhtar Farooqi and Marcos J. De Jesus
Inland Fisheries Division
San Marcos/Austin District

This is the authors' summary from a 35-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) Reservoir were surveyed in 2016 using electrofishing and in 2017 using gill netting. Historical data are presented with the 2016-2017 data for comparison. This report summarizes results of the survey and contains a fisheries management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

LBJ Reservoir is a stable-level 6,502-acre impoundment of the Colorado and Llano Rivers in Burnet and Llano counties, Texas. It was constructed in 1951 by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) for purposes of hydro-electric and steam-electric power, flood control, and water conservation. The reservoir has a drainage area of approximately 36,290 square miles and a shoreline length of about 270 miles. Residential and commercial properties border most of the shoreline area.

Management History

Important sport fish include Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish and White Bass. Fisheries management plans for 2013 were to contact organized constituent groups and try to involve them in partnerships to restore shoreline areas and coves with small-scale planting projects and to stay aware of funding opportunities to conduct large-scale habitat improvement projects applicable to LBJ Reservoir. Management activities included Florida Largemouth Bass stockings from 2011 to 2016 to improve the potential for trophy Largemouth Bass, and conducting annual aquatic vegetation surveys to monitor exotic invasive species. The reservoir is managed under statewide regulations. Prior to 2012, low vegetative coverage has been descriptive of LBJ Reservoir.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin Shad, Bluegill, Gizzard Shad, and Redbreast Sunfish were the predominant prey species. Catch rates for Bluegill, Gizzard Shad, and Redbreast Sunfish decreased since the previous survey.
• Catfishes: Channel Catfish was the predominant catfish species. Total catch rate was slightly higher than in the previous survey. Blue Catfish and Flathead Catfish were present in low densities and most were over harvestable-size.
• White Bass: White Bass were present in low density, fish up to 16 inches in length were present.
• Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass abundance was moderate; population size structure was good, and overall body condition for most fish was close to optimal.

Management Strategies

Based on current information, the reservoir should continue to be managed with existing regulations. Aquatic vegetation surveys should continue to be conducted annually to monitor coverage of non-native water hyacinth, Eurasian watermilfoil, and hydrilla. Standard gill netting and electrofishing surveys will be conducted in 2020 – 2021, and an additional electrofishing survey in fall 2018 to monitor Largemouth Bass population dynamics.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-2 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program