Lake Waxahachie - 2021 Survey Report

Prepared by Jacob D. Norman and Richard Ott
Inland Fisheries Division - Tyler South District

This is the authors' summary from a 21-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Lake Waxahachie were surveyed in 2021 using electrofishing. Historical data are presented with the 2021 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

Lake Waxahachie is a 656-acre impoundment located on Prong Creek in the Trinity River Basin approximately 4 miles south of Waxahachie, Texas. Water level has fluctuated up to three feet below spillway elevation since 2018. Lake Waxahachie has high productivity. Habitat features consisted of standing timber, rocks, boat docks and native emergent aquatic plants.

Management History

Important sport fish include White Bass, Largemouth Bass, White and Black Crappie, and catfishes. Blue Catfish were stocked in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2018. The management plan from the 2017 survey report primarily focused on monitoring the sport and prey-fish populations through a combination of electrofishing and trap netting in 2021, and gill netting in 2022.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Threadfin Shad were present in the reservoir. Electrofishing catch of Gizzard Shad was poor, and few (14%) were available as prey to most sport fish. Electrofishing catch of Bluegill was poor and most were less than 6-inches long.
• Catfishes: Blue, Channel and Flathead Catfish are present within the reservoir; however, no sampling was conducted to describe these fisheries due to low water levels.
• White bass: White Bass are present in the reservoir. Recruitment is inconsistent, likely due to variable water levels and associated inflow. Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass were less abundant and displayed moderate body condition. Largemouth Bass growth to legal length was moderate (average age at 14 inches long was 2.6 years)
• Crappie: Black and White Crappie are present in the reservoir and historically have provided a popular fishery. No sampling was conducted to describe these fisheries due to low water levels.

Management Strategies

• Continue standard surveys on four-year rotation.
• Continue to manage the fishery with current harvest regulations.
• Contact the city about possible boat ramp improvements to improve access during low water levels.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-3 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program