Bigdad: You make several good points, but I would say that more people learning to enjoy themselves and catch more fish because of learnings from TFF - that is a good thing. When we first start fishing, it is natural and right to want to keep all the legal fish. But as we become better and better at catching fish, there comes a point when we just don't need to keep everything. As you say, we just end up giving them away. When I personally reached this point, I had feelings of "Gosh, it won't be as much fun any more if I can't bring home my trophy." Without bringing my catch home, how was I going to keep score so to speak. Well, I concluded that I just needed to keep count of my catch. That way I would know, and, if someone asked me how I did, I could tell them. The trophy went from being a good mess of fish to a good report of the number and quality of fish, e.g you still had something to be proud of and tell about. This worked great for friends, family amd me. We now only keep fish we are going to eat today or tomorrow, fish for a scheduled fish fry or fish to freeze for our church food pantry.

I would second your implied suggestion that readers who catch way more fish than they can eat switch to catch and release as I have described it above, and only keep what they have specific use for.

I feel that as long as someone ( yourself,friends,family) can use them, by all means keep them. But if there is a small fishmarket hidden in the deep corners of you freezer throw them back. I keep alot, but I eat almost everything I catch in a week. Usually, the neighbors all gather up on Sunday afternoon and we fry up whats left

Sorry for hijacking your post Gibby.
Not saying people should not keep fish. We actually kept/cleaned about 30 for ourselves Saturday. People who are lucky enough to fish several days a week should exercise some restraint and only keep fish as needed. Don't just keep them for the sake of bragging rights. That being said, maybe they are giving them to a deserving family or something so who am I to judge. Its their decision to make not mine. My main point (theory) was that LL has likely been impacted by all the fishing pressure not that keeping fish is right or wrong.

Not that fishing pressure isn't to blame - in part, but also keep in mind that lakes are generally cyclical in nature. The lake (or species of fish, actually) will be up for a period of time and then start trending down and then start trending back up.

It's just another factor.

That's correct, Jeff. I was thinking the same thing while at work today.

I totally agree Jeff. If there was zero fishing pressure, I think the number of fish in a given lake would still fluctuate due to other factors like algae blooms, shad population, weather related spawning conditions, etc. I think in the case of LL, fishing pressure is a huge contributor to fish population fluctuations though.

Prime example....years ago Lewisville had a MASSIVE die off of sand bass. Almost wiped out the entire population.

With all of these theories, the question remains: what do we expect in the spring? Will the lake start producing again or will it be a recovery year? FYI- I believe catch and release of 99% of my fish, 100% of the hybrids. Bragging rights can be supported by pictures. But, that's just me. I fish for the pure sport/challenge and relaxation. There's no better way to de-stress, unless you run into the occasional "rude boater, jet skier or just plain ignorant fisherperson" that is.Good thread. Very interesting.

Here's a thought or two - In spring of 2007 we had massive amounts of rain which rose the lake level to near record high. This may have prevented a successful spawn which is in line with the nature theory. And if fishing pressure is the determined cause of the fish population decline, then TPWD needs to adjust daily bag limits and/or size limitations for white bass on Lake Lewisville.

Lewisville definitely gets a lot of pressure and that, along with the weather changes and spawn success/failure/mediocrity and general fluctuations all contribute.


So...everybody stop fishing Lewisville. Maybe I'll have a fighting chance then.

Here is some info from the TPWD. All lakes go through a cycle, it just so happens to be LL's turn. Everybody can relax LL is not fished out, the lake was down this past year during the spawn. It's just going to be a slow year for the lake. Please read this article having to do with white bass bag limits, harvesting, and spawning requirements and habits.


Life History and Biology
White bass are migratory open-water fish. Most of their life is spent in the open-water portions of reservoirs chasing schools of small gizzard and threadfin shad. In late winter (December-January) schools of white bass migrate to the upper portion of reservoirs awaiting environmental cues signaling the start of the spawning migration up major tributaries. In February and March they begin their spawning migration seeking clean gravel and rock substrate with good flow to spawn. Riffles and shoals are common spawning locations. How far white bass migrate is extremely variable, but it is not uncommon to find spawning white bass 25-50 miles above the reservoir. This may be related to river and stream flow, which varies among years. Fisheries biologists are unsure if adult white bass return to the same spawning spot each year, or if it is a random occurrence. After spawning, adult fish migrate back into the main body of the reservoir. The whole spawning migration is usually complete by sometime in May. Interestingly, �tributary� spawning may not be inherent in all white bass. Some white bass may spend their entire lives in the main portion of reservoirs, spawning on wind-blown, rocky shoals instead of in major tributaries.

Of the three temperate basses found in Central Texas (white bass, striped bass and hybrid striped bass) only white bass successfully reproduce in significant numbers, although the other two species may also migrate up tributaries in the spring. Central Texas striped bass and hybrid striped bass populations are completely supported from stockings by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department fish hatcheries. White bass are not nest builders. Spawning takes place in mid-water. The female rises toward the surface enticing males to follow. Fertilized eggs drift to the bottom and adhere to gravel or rock. Eggs usually hatch within 2 to 3 days. The newly hatched fry migrate downstream in schools seeking food and protection. On many Central Texas reservoirs white bass grow rapidly, normally attaining a size of 9 to 10 inches in their first year of life and 12 inches by the end of the second. This is faster than the statewide average. The life expectancy of white bass is short and few reach 5 years old. Although no studies have specifically looked at sexual maturity of white bass in Central Texas, fisheries biologists think that males become sexually mature at age one (8-9 inches) and females at age two (12-13 inches). This would be similar to fast growing populations in Tennessee and Arkansas. No studies in the Southern United States found significant numbers of female white bass less than 10 inches that were reproductively mature. A white bass weighs approximately 0.5 pounds at 10 inches and 0.9 pounds at 12 inches.

Fisheries Management and Fishing Regulations
White bass in Texas are currently managed with a statewide 10-inch minimum length and 25-fish daily bag limit. An experimental 12-inch minimum length limit was implemented on several Central Texas reservoirs between 1995 and 2003. The purpose of the experimental regulation was to test whether additional protection would delay harvest of immature female white bass and increase population abundance and average size of white bass. Evaluation of the12-inch minimum length limit indicated this regulation failed to improve white bass populations in Central Texas Reservoirs. In addition to fast growth, a high level of angler harvest was required for this regulation to work. These requirements were based on computer generated models utilizing fisheries data collected on these populations. Angler creel data collected by TPWD, suggest that harvest rates for white bass were likely below the threshold level needed for the greater length restriction to be effective. Other research conducted by TPWD, and supported by recent scientific literature, indicates white bass reproductive success is highly correlated with springtime reservoir inflows. In other words, higher than average spring inflows to reservoirs correspond with higher than average white bass spawning production and vice versa. Environmental conditions can play a large role in determining white bass densities.

TPWD will continue to monitor white bass populations and angler harvest rates to determine what length limit is best suited for these fisheries. If fishing pressure significantly increases in the future and harvest levels reach a critical point, TPWD will consider alternative regulations. Currently, alternative regulations are not warranted.

Next: Seasonal fishing patterns



The authors wish to thank TPWD Inland Fisheries employees Floyd Teat and Mark Webb for contributing to this report.

Download a printable version of this document. (PDF 130.8 KB)

Great article David.

Just to throw a tiny monkey wrench in there.

Not all fish spawn at the same time.
Not all fish go upstream to spawn.

Water fluctuations can/will affect those that go upstream to spawn while the water is fluctuating.

Yes it is true that not all fish spawn at the same time but when the lake is down for the entire spring(no flow in the creeks) and the wind blows upwards of 30 to 40 mph daily on the lake(trust me I know how windy it was on LL this year during the spawn! I was there.) I think you could say that the weather and water conditions on LL were not conducive for a quality year for the Sandbass in LL.

My experience has been lots of under sized fish caught this and last year but not a lot big fish. In fact, I have literally caught hundreds of fingerlings when throwing my cast net for shad on the few occasions I used bait. This tells me that we had a reasonably good spawn. Of course I'm just one guy. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the lake is fished out just opining that it is in a temporary decline primarily due to pressure. I'm sure it will rebound.

With regard to Lewisville -

"The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated."
Mark Twain


They bit really well this afternoon.....