Future Looks Bright for Lake Fork

Written by Larry Hodge, TPW

Saturday, 27 October 2007

Fishermen working deep water structure at Lake Fork in October. Fisheries Biologists, Reservoir Manager Say Lake Is in Great Shape ATHENS, Texas - Lake Fork got rave reviews from everyone involved in its management at a meeting at A.J.'s Fish House October 23. The annual meeting, sponsored by the Lake Fork Sportsman's Association, the Lake Fork Area Chamber of Commerce and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, included presentations on the state of the fishery, the future of water supplies in the lake and a preview of the 2008 Toyota Texas Bass Classic, which will return to Lake Fork next April. A crowd of about 50 was visibly pleased with the presentation by Danny Choate, the Sabine River Authority's regional manager in charge of the lake. Choate noted that the lake is the highest it has ever been in October and clarified misconceptions about the impact of planned withdrawals of water from the reservoir by the city of Dallas beginning in 2009. "The amount of water Dallas can pump in a calendar year is 131,860 acre-feet, which would lower the lake level approximately 5 feet if there were no inflow from rainfall during the year," he said. "That is less than the amount lost annually to evaporation, which is about 6.5 feet." Choate stated that if the area receives its average annual rainfall of 44 inches, the impact on the lake level obviously would not be as severe. In response to a question from the audience regarding a rumor that just filling the pipeline between Lake Fork and Lake Tawakoni would drop the lake level by 5 feet, Choate noted that most of the pipeline has already been filled and pressure tested with water from Lake Tawakoni. "We are very aware of the value of this lake not only to this community but to the nation as the best bass fishing lake in the country, and we intend to do all we can to maintain it," Choate said. As the water starts to cool in October, fishermen try the shallow docks to catch largemouth bass. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department fisheries biologists gave a state of the lake report that noted that the largemouth bass fishery in the lake remains by far the best in the nation. TPWD monitors the lake constantly, and its surveys show that the catch rate of largemouth bass weighing 7 pounds and more has remained steady for the past several years. Biologists expect good reproduction and growth with the high water levels, which should keep fishing at or above its present level for some time. TPWD biologists also presented information on how to recognize both native and invasive exotic aquatic plants and asked everyone's help in keeping plants such as water hyacinth and giant salvinia from becoming a problem on Lake Fork. "Report any suspected infestations to me, and we will check it out immediately," said Howard Elder of Jasper, TPWD's aquatic vegetation biologist. Also speaking at the meeting was Lenny Francoeur of Rogers, Arkansas, an event manager for Octagon Worldwide, Inc., which handled the Toyota Texas Bass Classic held at Lake Fork in April. Francoeur stated that he would like to see the event remain at Lake Fork rather than move to other locations in Texas, but that community involvement and support for the tournament would be the key to making that happen.

Last Updated ( Saturday, 27 October 2007 )

 

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