I heard about a fish kill on Lake Granbury, so I took my boat out after work to observe the situation. I launched at Rough Creek Park. Dead shad, white bass, and largemouth were present at the ramp. Dead largemouth bass and shad were floating in the cove. I did not see any distressed live fish at the surface, even in the main part of the lake. Fishing was slower than normal, but I was able to land 3 carp, a channel catfish, bluguill, and green sunfish on my fly rod. All fish looked healthy. Hopefully, this is not a golden algae outbreak, but it appears it could be.

Low O2 level?

Hopefully it is just an O2 kill. Golden algae was identified as causing a small kill in Possum Kingdom. The test for Lake,Granbury should be in late today or tomorrow.

I live by the Brazos below Granbury(Glen Rose). I’m not an expert but Granbury has been moving a lot of water through it for a while now. I would be surprised that O2 levels would be a problem. Now if PK has Golden Algae identified recently then that would be my bet. Sure hope not!

It is golden algae. The Burning Fork of the Brazos flooded a couple weeks ago and the arm of the river seems to have it worse than the other arms. It starts way out west in red dirt.
PK has had a pretty extensive kill.

Dang. Not good.

We were out on the lake this morning and there was a large fish kill from channel marker 42 down to the power lines. The air really wreaked of dead fish. I hope this isn't a big one. Really heavy around Indian Harbor area. I alerted the biologist at BRA and they said it's inconclusive as to whether it's golden algae or not. Further testing required. They're on it though. I didn't think golden algae happened in the summer months and the biologist there agrees. He said it usually tapers off around March. Mostly shad, but some carp, drum, catfish, occasional bass, crappie and striper. Appeared to be mostly bottom feeders. Large water temp change over the last week or so and it varied today from 79 at the dam to 84 up at Stumpy's. We didn't go up the river though

Golden algae can occur any time of the year, so golden algae is a possibility for the kill. Fortunately, sunlight will reduce the lethal effects of the algae, so hopefully the warm temperatures and sunny days will help.

The Brazos River Authority has confirmed the fish kill in Lake Granbury was the result of a golden algae outbreak. They do not believe the kill is active. Hopefully, the warm weather we are having will eliminate the outbreak.

Its a myth golden algae only happens in the cold months, seen a summer kill on Whitney before. I sure hope Whitney doesn't get this again but would figure they just restocked with smallmouth, last time they had a big smallie re-stocking 20 years ago the algae hit bad the following spring.

As far as I can find, the recent restocking of smallmouth was in 2011.

The biologists don’t know how to prevent G.A. from becoming toxic, unfortunately it’s only a matter of time till another kill like 2001 happens again.... really sucks !!

TPWD updated the golden algae status report to reflect the fish kill on Lake Granbury and Possum Kingdom.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/landwater/water/environconcerns/hab/ga/status.phtml

Hopefully, it was an isolated event.