While government authorities in drought stricken Texas and Mexico struggle with drinking water problems and mandatory limits on lawn watering, fishable waters in those areas are being stressed also. Many rivers, like the Blanco in central Texas, are being reduced to a collection of pools, while several reservoirs, like Falcon and Amistad in South Texas, are shrinking down to their original river channels. While the area has seen droughts before, no one we talked to could remember it quite as bad as this. Lake Falcon in south Texas usually covers about 80,000 surface acres, but is down to 20,000 surface acres and is 49 feet below conservation level. Texas Parks and Wildlife biologist Jimmy Dean says that while they're still catching lots of fish he is concerned that the reservoir could be losing its forage base.
Predators have an easier time chasing down prey in the now smaller body of water.
Predatory humans are having an easier time of for the time being, too. Falcon Lake guide Galen Gilbreath reports catching a 12 pounder the last week in July. The drought has made catching fish a little easier, says Gilbreath, but only temporarily. Besides that, a lot of folks won't come down here because they hear there's no water which makes it easier on those of us who know what we're facing. When it does come back up, it'll before 8 or 9 months before you'll be able to find fish again.