Fishing is good in Central Texas

Monitoring fish populations over time can be similarly frustrating for TPWD, as some standardized gears and techniques are also less efficient than they would be during periods of normal water levels.

Despite tough conditions, TPWD observed some unusually high catches of popular sportfish during recent surveys. At Pat Cleburne, the 2012 channel catfish catch rate was the second highest on record for the reservoir, second only to the 1997 survey. In addition to large numbers of channels, individual condition, or plumpness, was good and improved with increasing length.

Most of the channel catfish observed during this survey were perfect eating size, two to four pounds. Populations of blues and flathead catfish can also be found in the reservoir, but are in much lower densities. There are currently no water body records for any of the catfishes in Pat Cleburne, because anglers have never brought these species in for certification.

Largemouth bass anglers should also be happy to learn the fall 2011 survey of Pat Cleburne observed the second highest catch rate of this species in nearly 20 years. Although the catch was dominated by 10-inch fish at the time, these fish are a harvestable size now and should offer black-bass anglers some good sport for the foreseeable future. The current water body record for largemouth bass in Pat Cleburne is 11 pounds.

Survey results for Lake Mexia were even more promising. The 2012 channel catfish catch rate was the highest on record for the reservoir. Large numbers of fish in excellent body condition were collected. Most of the channel catfish observed during this survey were in the two- to four-pound range. The current water body record for channel catfish in Lake Mexia is 7.4 pounds. Blues and flatheads can also be found in the reservoir, but in much lower densities. The water body record for blue catfish is over 25 pounds, while no record exists for flathead catfish.