Redfish in Lake Bryan

I was looking at the stocking history for Lake Bryan on the TPWD website and was shocked to see they have been stocking hundreds of thousands of redfish fingerlings for the past 3 years. I tried to do a little research to see if anyone has actually caught some as they should be at a catch-able size now but can't find anything. Does anyone know of if people have been catching them or if they even survived stocking. Any information will be helpful as I'm about to make it my mission to catch one before I graduate in May.

Very interesting. I hope someone in the know responds. I've only met a few people who bass fish out there on a semi-regular basis. The place seems to be dominated with bank fisherman seeking prey for the frying pan...not your typical TFF posters.

Yeah not really expecting anyone here to know anything, but there's always the chance. If I get lucky and end up catching one I'll be sure to post a report.

Does Lake Bryan's power plant generate continually or intermittently as so many plants have gone to? If so I would guess the fish would just die during winter shut dows. Would be a waste of money by the state to stock them so they could freeze to death. (State waste money?! )

Wow. I used to catch some fish out there when I was at A&M, but I don't see how the lake could maintain a decent population of reds. Of all the lakes to stock with them........

Lake Bryan stocking history
https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/action/stock_bywater.php?WB_code=0886

2013 Fisheries Management Report for Lake Bryan
https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/lake_survey/pwd_rp_t3200_1257_2013.pdf

For further information:
College Station-Houston
Mark Webb
District Supervisor
P.O. Box 427
Snook, Texas 77878
(979) 272-1430
mark.webb@tpwd.texas.gov
Find College Station Fisheries Management on Facebook

I have more than once scratched my head as to TPWD's stocking choices. The only lake that I believe could possibly maintain a redfish population is Fayette County. But since it is a coal fired plant, I am not sure about FCL's generating future either.

I spoke to a local game warden who told me about it. Even he had no idea if anyone was catching them.

I'm headed that way next week. I might stop by and try my luck.

They have reds in Braunig and Calveras on he south side of San Antonio. They’re both power plant lakes.

I sent Mark an email, hopefully he knows something. If anyone is interested in targeting them sometime soon PM me.

Holy smokes! I hope they know what they are doing.

Thanks for posting this. The lake is supplied by well water and it sounds like that water is somewhat salty. I guess that's the justification. I wonder if there will be enough forage to support the fish. The report suggests that overall fish abundance is a little bleak.

Lake is so malnurished that nothing grows to size. Your average bass is 14-16”. Catfish not much larger than 12-14”. Only thing that strives is carp. I havent seen tilapia caught in several years. The plant barely keeps the water above 50° during winter months. Id give those redfish about a .00001% chance of making it. They should just restock fairfield...

A similar post came up a few months back. Hook-line-n-sinker on TFF knows some history about reds in that lake. Send him a IM.

50 degree water should kill redfish........but if tilapia are surviving then there’s a chance. Ive always understood that these coal burning power plant lakes with tilapia in them would loose them in the winter when the plants closed for good. Maybe not?

Used to catch the heck out of bass there in the summer time. Ran a crank bait in deep water in the heat of summer and for some reason absolutely wore them out day in and day out. Don't think a lot of people fish the lake so it was easy. I enjoyed it. Some of the best years of my life.

50F will not kill redfish. Water temps below 44F will start to increase mortality.

Got an email back from the TPWD district supervisor, he told me a couple of 18 inch fish were caught in the fall and they will continue stocking this year. That sounds like they are surviving and promising.

Gibbons Creek to follow since they turned off that plant. Except for the stocking part.

Do you have a heavy shad or tilapia forage base ?

If you do the reds will make it. Otherwise you won't see
much of a redfish fishery in your lake.

The baitfish population in Lake Bryan historically has been very low overall. Growth rates of all fish is very slow. Takes nearly 3 years to grow a 10 inch crappie. A few years back I caught something close to 300 crappie in the spring of the year but 280 of them were 9 inches or less. Two years later we harvested 100+ 11 to 12 inch crappie from the channel & rocks which was probably too many for that lake. The next spring we were back to lots of undersize crappie and fewer of them. I haven't fished Lake Bryan much since 2014 and can't remember the last time I bass fished it.

Apparently something is going right now, used to catch nothing but dinks on the bass side

I witnessed the stocking Red Drum in there. Little Bitty guys, only about 1" long

I was before I was married, so had to have been around 1980.

A Red is just a Drum, so they should be ok if they can find forage. I have only caught smaller Bass but did get one that looked close to 4# on a square bill a few weeks ago.

Yes, red drum were stocked in Lake Bryan.
Page 10 on attached report.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/lake_survey/pwd_rp_t3200_1257_2017.pdf

It’s November… need to get the flounder running! Lol

what is needed to catch red's in fresh water?