The best time to go fishing;
little forward movement on Falcon Lake issues

There were no major tournaments held at Falcon during February, but 14 clubs held their monthly events amid cold fronts, rain, and winds gusting out of the north to 37 mph. Results ranged from an average of 10 lb. to 21 lb. stringers for Saturday and half-day Sunday efforts. The big tournament bass of 9.63 lbs. was caught by Gary Stacy from the Uvalde Bass Club (see Picture right) but the big bass of the month was actually a tie between the 10 lb. bass caught in the Río Grande River below the Falcon Dam and a bass of exactly the same size which was caught in the Veleno arm of Falcon Lake near the Zapata Highway 83 bridge. Read more about this river fishery in the last part of this report.
The lake has remained stable this month at around 268.50 ft., or about 32.70 feet low. Bass have continued to work the nests, and some significant early spawning has already occurred. One thing has been evident this month as regards fishing patterns and pressure. It does not matter how hard you try or how many fishermen and women are here pressuring the fish. It (the spawn) and the associated bite is just not going to happen until the temperature is right. At Falcon, the magic number is somewhere around 68 to 70 degrees. We saw temperatures reach that level for a few days in February, and fishermen lucky enough to be here enjoyed some exceptional results.
So, my recommendation for timing on a good fishing trip would be to watch the moon and catch the lake under a full moon phase when the water temperature is 70 degrees. Many of our bass club tournaments are scheduled accordingly and that is why we had nine tournaments here on one weekend and none here on the last weekend of the month.
Of course, the best time to go fishing is when you can get away and regardless of the moon, the temperature, or what the Farmer's Almanac predicts, as long as you have a bait in the water there is a chance that you may hang on to that fish you have always dreamed about catching. For the last few months, plastic watermelon red lizards worked in hardwoods from 3 to 8 ft. have been the ticket. Spinnerbaits have been reserved for warm days when fish are more active and water reaches 68 to 70 degrees. A few crankbait fish have been caught on baits resembling shad when bounced off roots of hardwoods being fished with plastics. Some bass are beginning to show up on points, rock ledges, and drop-offs using Carolina rigged plastics and crankbaits. Stripers have been hitting both the spinnerbaits and crankbaits when thrown into an area they are working. Catfishing has averaged anywhere from good to fair with 10 to 18 fish average per boat. The bigger cats are still being caught in major river holes on live bait, which is obtained by use of a cast net.
Ramps at the Zapata County (Falcon Lake Estates) launching area are working, as are the State Park and Beacon Lodge launching areas. Most of the hazardous rocks, bridges, and houses are sufficiently covered with water so as to be non-factors in traveling the main lake channels. However, care must still be exercised when not in the main channel. Also, continuing abuses by Mexico's illegal commercial netters working the US side of the lake constitute risks for fishermen and boaters from entanglement and lower unit damage. This abuse will continue until such time as effective enforcement is implemented by Texas Parks and Wildlife. Reports of nets being seized and cut up are being received daily, and we have the following numbers published for contact and reporting of illegal activities:

Border Patrol
Report Illegal Drug and
Alien Smuggling Activity
Local Number: 765-9335
24 Hour Number: 800-343-1994
Johnny Morris:
cell phone 956-740-6985

Game Wardens
Report Illegal Netting Activity
Kevin Frazier:
cell phone 956-285-2275

Sheriff Dispatch: 765-9960
Leave message for Game Warden if above cell phone not reached

Not too many people are aware of the great fishery we have below the Dam. This fishery extends down south quite some distance and the fishermen in the McAllen Bass Club and other fishermen both north and south of McAllen have been enjoying this great fishery for a number of years. This past month a number of good fish, including a ten-pounder, were caught below the Dam. Now it appears that the TPW is about to level their Anti-Aquatic Vegetation guns at this fishery. They are preparing a full frontal assault with grass carp designed to wipe out the hydrilla and other aquatic vegetation that has contributed positively to a thriving black bass fishery. We are attending a hearing in Weslaco to give input, as are representatives from the TABC, SMART, and TBBU organizations, but this may just be a formality, because I understand the wheels are now in motion. The Mexican commercial netters and TPWD appear to be on the same side of this issue. The netters dislike vegetation because it is an impediment to both legal and illegal netting. They (Mexico) have stocked 50,000 grass carp in Falcon and there are other lakes that serve as examples where stocking has frustrated fishing groups and elated water sports enthusiasts. The wisdom and value of the grass carp issue appears to depend on which group you support or are part of.
I do know one thing and I know it to be true at Falcon. When we had a stand of hydrilla, fishing was excellent in and around the cover. I also know that we requested a vegetation program for Falcon and TPWD agreed to implement a study immediately, but that agreement was in direct response to a question from Senator Judith Zaffirini to Philip Durocher in the October hearing. As far as I know, nothing has been done in response to that commitment as of this date and the Task Force chaired by Donato Ramos appearsto have no momentum. The stability of Falcon's lake level during spawning was the number one priority and that has so far been achieved. The stocking of fish in the reservoir has been partially committed, but that commitment is far from the restorative restocking we requested. Beyond that, little forward movement has been seen. The last meeting was in December and nothing has transpired relative to hazards, facilities for all-level access or any of the other issues raised.

(Larry E. Bridgeman is the owner of Falcon Lake Tackle in Zapata, TX. Visit the Falcon Lake Tackle website at www.tackleandrods.com.)