Don't know if it died but as it relates to Share Lunkers, it is in decline.

28 years of the SAL program.

The first 14 years = 194

The last 14 years = 62

1986- 1
1987- 2
1988-8
1989- 15
1990- 18
1991- 21
1992- 21
1993- 18
1994- 19
1995- 22
1996- 18
1997- 6
1998- 7
1999- 9
2000- 7
2001- 1
2002- 7
2003- 6
2004- 9
2005- 5
2006- 8
2007- 6
2008- 3
2009- 4
2010- 3
2011- 2
2012- 2
2013- 5
2014- 1


I would ask the question: What the hell happened between 1996-1997 to start such a drastic decline in those numbers that never returned anywhere near what they were?

Somebody needs to figure out what was being done between 1989 - 1996 and replicate it. 60% of certified SAL's were caught in 8 consecutive years of the 28 total.




[b][/b]

LMB virus and the lake has aged

like anything else. age can cause impotence

Was the LMB virus around that 1996-1997 timeline. I don't know.

I get the aging part. I was wondering if the lack of removal of unders, sand bass, reduced bait fish, et al were in play also.

Until I pulled the numbers and did the math, I had no idea how significant the falloff was.

They caught it in 1998 in Fork. Probably started earlier... (lmb virus). http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/didyouknow/inland/lmb_virus.phtml

Will they continue to pump from lakes that have zebra muscles or that have new reportings of zebra muscles.

Do you see anglers taking action by cross contaminating lakes? I was just on Lake Belton and that lake has incredibly been taken over by zebra muscles except Stillhouse Hollow which is right down the road does not have any signs of Muscles. Which is weird since most central texas fishermen would fish both. I can tell you thou the Smallmouth Fishing on Belton is now amazing has to be from all the zebra muscles and the clarity is just wow makes you feel like your way up north.

Is there anyway for them to pump lakes that are affected?

Yep. Been using water from eagle mountain and other area lakes as well. Makes sense that all lakes are impacted by the drought. Makes me really consider where to buy lake front property. It could turn into an eye sore over a summer...

There is a lot that goes on up here at Fork that is kept under the rug. The year of the fish kill in 99 the TP&W sprayed to kill grass just 4 months before the kill. Not sure it had anything to do with the kill but it is a possibility that it did.

Right now the age of a 16 inch fish is 3.9 yrs old. To me that is not good when we have this much forage. With a short life span of a bass he may never reach trophy weight at this rate. IMO

I just wished through all the years of the SAL program they would have just kept the fish in the lake and I think we could have seen even better years of big fish over all. Cannot take all the genetics out of a school or herd and expect good results and big growth. IMO

WHAT MAG SAID/////

Join the club.

Mark couldn't have said it better. Lots of Sharelunkers caught and not turned in as well, including mine.

The decline in SALs has to be influenced by fishing pressure. With the number of anglers that fish it yearly I call it a minor miracle that TPWD can keep the fishing as good as it is. Hit the water the day after skeeter owners 2 years ago and we caught plenty. Put that many boats on someplace like ozarks or table rock and they'll be jacked up for a week. Pray for rain because they are not going to stop pumping anytime soon.

6' low??? Omg omg omg everyone set their hair on fire and run around in circles!

Come on down to Amistad, falcon, and choke, and then cry to me about your "low" lake levels.

Also, stop watering your lawns, you bunch of tards.

For sure. Nobody has the right to use water that they pay for each month. Lake Fork was built and payed for by people that own bass boats. Anyone using our water is a thief! That whole electricity thing should be banned also. Another thing that bothers me is when I pull into a gas station and the other cars don't move out of my way. I HAVE A BOAT! It's my gas pump, not theirs.

Cities should not suck the lake dry and just waste the water either. The city of Mansfield needs to stop watering the roads. Im sure there is a lot of water wasted in other surrounding cities as well that use water from Fork. They are sucking it dry.

I don't know if you are joking or not, but it's certainly not the same lake it was 20 yrs ago....Now, the guides and the locals that can fish damn near everyday or 2-4 times a week are figuring it out just by going all the time, but the avg Joe who only gets to fish it a few times a year can and will get your butt kicked on it more times than not. Things and times change.