Survey of O.C. Fisher Reservoir Yields Encouraging Results

SAN ANGELO, TX — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department personnel recently surveyed O.C. Fisher Reservoir and found encouraging results in the lake at San Angelo State Park.

O.C. Fisher was below 1% capacity as recently as last year, but heavy rain in July helped it rise to over 19%. It is currently at about 15%.

After the lake began to refill last year, efforts were made to restock it with fish. 

TPWD stated that the prey base in the reservoir, primarily bluegill sunfish and gizzard shad, are in “great shape.”

“We collected Bluegill ranging from 2 to 5 inches with the majority measuring 4 inches,” TPWD announced in a Facebook post. “Gizzard Shad were abundant and ranged from 5 to 8 inches, the majority measured 6-7 inches, ideal eating size for Largemouth Bass and other predators.”

TPWD also stocked the lake with fingerling Lone Star Bass, the offspring of pure Florida largemouth bass, which “have the proven genetics to reach trophy size in Texas waters.”

“The (Lone Star Bass) we collected today ranged in size from 7 to 11 inches and were in excellent shape,” the post stated. “Otoliths were removed from a few individuals to check for age, confirming that these fish were the ones stocked 5 months ago. 

“Overall body condition was well above the standard we use to assess Largemouth Bass. This is likely the result of an abundance of food resources and the lack of competition from other predators, aside from Channel Catfish which were stocked last fall. These Largemouth Bass are growing very fast and will make for some excellent fishing opportunities in the near future; we should see legal-sized fish by the spring!”