Passport to Texas

Possum Kingdom Lake

Possum Kingdom Lake Bounces Back after Golden Algae Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Possum Kingdom Lake, approximately 75 miles west of Fort Worth, had a golden algae problem.

10-Golden algae is an algae that gives off a toxin to fish and inhibits their uptake of oxygen by eating away at their gills.

Fisheries biologist Robert Mauk, out of Wichita Falls, says they first noticed fish kills from the algae in 2001. When that happened, it was monitor and wait.

12- There’s nothing we really can do but wait it out. Luckily at Possum Kingdom, it seems like the intervals between the blooms have been lengthening, and we haven’t had a major fish kill since 2010.

The jury’s still out on what causes golden algae blooms to occur. Meanwhile, according to recently completed gill net surveys by the Wichita Falls Texas Parks and Wildlife fisheries office, fish populations in the reservoir have bounced back since 2010.

19- Since it’s been five years, we have five-year-old–especially striped bass–out there. There are a lot of them up in the 30-inch range. So, we’re starting to see bigger, heavier fish out there. And, for the angler that likes to catch a big, bragging sized trophy–they’re out there now.

Check out fishing conditions and reports for Possum Kingdom on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

The Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series, and reminds Texans that Saturday, June 6th, is Free Sport Fishing Day.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Zebra mussels

Beating Down Zebra Mussels in Lake Waco Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

In September 2014, when City of Waco employees found zebra mussels near a boat ramp in Lake Waco, Texas Parks and Wildlife, the City of Waco, and Texas Army Corps of Engineers moved quickly to stop this non-native aquatic invasive in its tracks.

06-The City of Waco ordered up tarps, they hired commercial divers, set the plan, and last fall we put ’em all in place.

Brian Van Zee, Inland Fisheries Regional Director, says there wasn’t time to obtain permits for chemical treatments, so divers and staff positioned the eight thick, rubber tarps on the lake bottom over the infested area to block sunlight and oxygen below.

15- We just recently pulled those tarps from lake Waco, and it was really looking very good; we could tell by the condition of the tarps– underneath them–that we had reached anoxic conditions. You could smell the hydrogen sulfide smell and these black conditions you typically see when you have anoxic conditions.

Although divers found two live zebra mussels on rocks they brought up, Van Zee is optimistic.

14-Maybe we knocked back the number of zebra mussels that were in that area, far enough to where they cannot create a viable, reproducing population. We don’t know if that’s the case or not. We really won’t know probably until this spring or summer, actually; maybe even next fall.

Until then, all partners will continue to monitor the lake and enforce the clean, drain and dry law for all boaters. Learn more on the TPW website.

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series. Learn about combating zebra mussels and other aquatic invasives at texasinvasives.org.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Clean, drain and dry your boats to prevent the spread of zebra mussels.

Combating Zebra Mussels in Lake Waco Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Before zebra mussels appeared in Lake Waco, Texas Parks and Wildlife, the City of Waco and the Army Corps of Engineers worked on ways to prevent an infestation, which involved close monitoring of arriving vessels.

06–They city hired summer interns to conduct boater education and boater surveys and inspections, in an effort to try and prevent the introduction [of zebra mussels] to Lake Waco.

Brian Van Zee, Texas Parks and Wildlife Inland Fisheries Regional Director, says despite their best efforts, in the summer of 2014, a vessel previously in zebra mussel infested Lake Belton evaded their scrutiny and launched in Lake Waco. In September, City of Waco employees found zebra mussels near the boat ramp. And everyone mobilized.

27– [We thought] if we can act quickly, before the water temperature begins cooling down in the fall again, we might be able to get on top of these things. And, we had heard and seen studies where they had used these big, heavy, thick pond liners and covered an area; and you can suffocate them [zebra mussels]. So, we knew that we could get approval from the Corps of Engineers to install those and get that done pretty quickly, So, the City of Waco ordered up the tarps, they hired commercial divers, set the plan, and last fall we put ’em all in place.

Brian Van Zee shares the results of their efforts tomorrow.

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series. Get  more information about zebra mussels at texasinvasives.org.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Fun at the Toyota Texas Bass Classic

Attending the Toyota Texas Bass Classic Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

The long Memorial Day weekend is the perfect time to gather the family and head to the Toyota Texas Bass Classic at Lake Fork, 65 miles east of Dallas. It’s a professional bass fishing tournament….

11– Fishing is just one part of it. It’s an awesome time to bring your family and come listen to country and western music. Also a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoor adventures area supported by Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Dave Terre is with Inland Fisheries.

19– Your kids can meet with some of our fisheries biologists; maybe learn how to cast, how to shoot a bow, how to camp. There are lots of hands on activities for kids and families. Is there a cost to go to the event? There is a small cost to the event, but there is no charge for parking. You can get information at the toyotatexasbassclassic.com website.

If you’re looking for more of a hands-on opportunity, the event always needs volunteers.

15– You can register to be a volunteer for the tournament, at toyotatexasbassclassic.com. If you would like to work with Texas Parks and Wildlife specifically, indicate that there on the site. And, as a benefit to that, you’ll get into the Toyota Texas Bass Classic for free.

The Toyota Texas bass Classic is Memorial Day Weekend at Lake Fork.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Toyota Texas Bass Classic

Toyota Texas Bass Classic Sets the Standard Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

The Ninth Annual Toyota Texas Bass Classic returns to Lake Fork Memorial Day Weekend.

07– It’s an event that helps showcase some of our great fisheries across the state–Lake Fork being one of the best bass fisheries.

Dave Terre, with Inland Fisheries, says this professional bass tournament raises the bar with regards to the  handling of  fish.

27– One thing that’s really unique about the Toyota Texas bass Classic is that it employs a totally new tournament format. The format, itself, allows for the fish that are caught during the tournament to actually be weighed in the boat and immediately released, rather than coming to the stage and being weighed in front of an audience, which puts stress on fish. So, this tournament really revolutionized the way
tournaments might be held in the future.

Lake Fork is known for its lunkers–largemouth bass that tip the scales at more than 13 pounds.  While the pros have yet to catch one during the 8 years of the tournament, Terre says: this might be their lucky year.

15–I’ve been promising a lunker for a pretty good number of years right now. But you know what? I think this is the year. We’ve had numerous fish caught over 10 pounds; we’ve never broken that 13 pound barrier. But I think Lake Fork–it could happen this year.  But you need to be there to witness it yourself.

Go to toyotatexasbassclassic.com for ticket information and a schedule of activities for the Toyota Texas Bass Classic Memorial Day Weekend.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife’I’m Cecilia Nasti.