Brady Creek Reservoir 2018 Survey Report (PDF 468.2 KB)
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Brady Creek Reservoir - 2018 Survey Report
Prepared by Lynn D. Wright
Inland Fisheries Division - San Angelo District
This is the authors' summary from a 22-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.
Fish populations in Brady Creek Reservoir were surveyed in 2018 using electrofishing, trap netting and in 2019 using tandem hoop netting. Historical data are presented with the 2018-2019 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
Brady Creek Reservoir is a 2,021-acre impoundment on Brady Creek located in the Colorado River basin. It was constructed in 1963 to provide water for municipal, recreational, and flood control purposes. From 2000 to 2018, water level ranged from 2 to 16 feet below conservation pool elevation before filling in October 2018. Boat and angler access is adequate, however launching larger boats becomes restricted at water levels <1,733 feet above mean sea level (10 feet below conservation pool). Primary habitat was submersed terrestrial vegetation and limited areas of standing timber. In winter 2012 and 2014, the reservoir was impacted by toxic golden alga bloom that severely impacted fish populations.
Management History
Important sport fishes have included Largemouth Bass, White Bass, White Crappie, and Blue and Channel Catfishes. Smallmouth Bass were stocked in 1984 and 1986, but a selfsustaining population failed to develop. Bluegill and Largemouth Bass were stocked in 2016 and 2017 to help these populations recover from the golden alga fish kill. Angler harvest of sportfishes has been managed under statewide length and daily bag limits. Management of the reservoir was transferred from the San Antonio district office to the San Angelo district office in 2011.
Fish Community
- Prey species: Gizzard Shad catch rates were higher than previous surveys and 77% of the Gizzard Shad were available to most predators. Electrofishing catch rate of Bluegill was similar to past surveys.
- Catfishes: Channel Catfish continued to be present in the reservoir with fish up to 18 inches observed during sampling.
- White Bass: White Bass continued to be present in the reservoir.
- Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass abundance remained low with few legal size fish. Largemouth Bass up to 20 inches were observed. Florida strain genetics were high (81% FLMB alleles) owing to successful stockings in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
- White Crappie: White Crappie were low in abundance and still recovering from a golden alga fish kill in 2014. Crappie up to 12 inches were observed in the survey.
Management Strategies
Stock Largemouth Bass at 1000/km shoreline in 2020. Stock fingerling Channel Catfish in 2020. Conduct additional electrofishing and trap netting surveys in 2020, additional hoop netting in 2021, and general monitoring surveys with trap nets, hoop nets, and electrofishing surveys in 2022-2023. Access and vegetation surveys will be conducted in 2022/2023.
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