Bass Continuing to Progress in Size at O.C. Fisher 

SAN ANGELO, TX — The bass continue to show encouraging growth at O.C. Fisher Reservoir as the lake recovers from nearly going dry in 2024.

The lake at San Angelo State Park, which dropped to as low as 0.8% percent capacity in 2024, has been the target of efforts to revive its fish population.

The lake now sits at over 14% capacity thanks to some periodic heavy rains in the last 17 months.

TPWD’s Inland Fisheries Department first stocked the lake with largemouth bass fingerlings in late 2024. Since then, it has also introduced channel catfish, bluegill sunfish and white crappie.

While stocking more largemouth bass fingerlings Wednesday, TPWD’s crew sampled the bass population with electrofishing to see how the bass were progressing.

They reported that they observed fish in the range of 8 to 13 inches, with the largest-size class in the 11- to 12-inch range. When they did a sample in the fall of 2025, most fish were in the 9- to 10-inch range.

They said there were likely some legal bass present in the reservoir (which is 14 inches), with more to come later this year as they continue to grow.

They also observed abundant small gizzard shad and some small bluegill sunfish, which should provide forage for the up-and-coming largemouth bass.