Here are my thoughts on PK and Whitney for what they're worth. I have been to a few talks given by Jone Glass, and had a few long conversations with biologist who admit that there is a lot to learn about GA. I have read as much as I can on the subject. All of us need to remember that GA is a worldwide. It is not just an issue here in Texas. There are lots of people studying GA all over the world.
I have seen the GA come through PK at least four times and Whitney twice. I was at PK during the first kill, two minor kills, and the current kill. There were fish that survived all of these kills. Each time I thought it was bad and I would not catch a fish on PK again. It is my understanding that the larger and more intelligent a fish is the better the chance it has of escaping the toxin. Larger fish are more mobile and can escape. This is the reason for all the dead shad, carp,etc. The larger mobile fish try to find fresh water.

The one thing we needed on the Brazos occurred this weekend. In some places PK received 7.5 inches of rain in its water shed. Just read the reports on this forum about the creeks, and river at PK. This should dilute the GA toxin as well as freshen the water. By freshen I mean that it will dilute the salt out of the Brazos. GA loves cold salty water and should decline with all the fresh water. The GA problems should be over for this year if history repeats itself this time. There are people who say it is very possible for GA to occur at any time. There are four gates open at PK. That's a lot of water. Fresh water has to come in the lake for them to let it out. PK is not sending its GA downstream. It's just the start of a good flushing that the entire Brazos needs.
The majority of PK fish just before the GA bloom started seemed to be staged around North DD to Costello Island for their run towards the river. There were some fish all over the lake. My observations at PK led me to believe that the bloom started around South D&D or in Cedar Creek. A biologist has told me they think otherwise. As soon as the GA started these fish seemed move instantly. It is my thoughts that they are safe and sound once again way up the Brazos river in places that could only be reached by air boat. There were fish that went to the creeks on PK. Many of those fish have died. Any fish under six inches long that became ill from GA has been eaten by the many Pelicans and gulls. Those are the fish that you don't see floating! I have all ways been able to catch Sand Bass on PK within a year of a minor fish kill. There is a lot of river for them to hide in from the GA.
Taking what I have experienced at Pk and what I witnessed at Whitney this weekend I can say that I think Whitney will be fine. There were a lot of fish in Whitney creek this weekend. I have never seen Stripers reside in shallow brush invested water like I did this weekend at Whitney. Whitney did have all the signs of a large GA Bloom. The two creeks I fished had several different kinds of feeding fish in them. it was more like fishing for Black Bass.
Are the guides lying? I think not. Before the rains this weekend I can see were you could catch numerous fish at Whitney as long as you had knowledge of the stripers location and the out of the box way they were being caught. The guides on Whitney certainly had the fish figured out before the TSA arrived. During every fish kill on the Brazos I have found a new place that Stripers and Sand bass can hide from GA. Word spread fast and lots of folks are fishing for those fish in Whitney and Towash Creek. Where are the rest of Whitney's fish? Who knows? Maybe the Whitney Guides do. The one thing I am learning is that the fish do look for safe water and escape when they can.
I have all ways been able to find and catch fish during the GA blooms. It is after the bloom is over that it gets tough. Millions of shad have died and been eaten by Pelicans and Gulls on PK. All of the larger fish have had their annual movements disturbed and have scattered in all directions. It takes a long time for the fishing to get to a point where you can pattern fish. Nesting fish such as Black Bass and Crappie will not Spawn this year on PK and Whitney. After the bloom is over is when I think the fishing gets hard.

Fish with Randy, Clay, Melvin, Pat, or Mike and I think you can count on catching some fish. These guys like to catch fish way to much to take you on a boat ride.

I don't know about you MR Red Neck but....that is a bunch of typing for me....I think I need a beer

One other point....As long as there is water in the Brazos the Sand Bass will exist on the Brazos.

I know you gave me a headache.

A buddy of mine fished near the mouth of whitney creek yesterday and said there were large stripers floating all over. He said there were several boats and fish all over the screen but saw nobody reel any in.

Those are dead wind blown fish, fish that died up by the dam and from the south winds blown to Whitney creek, now with yesterdats north winds they where probably floating and being driven back the other way. If people where looking at there graph and trying to catch fish they where way too deep. You need to be shallow, shallow, shallow. I have not seen any signs of GA in Whitney creek, or any creek that has that particular grass, brush in it. Randy you saw that brush with the flat beans on it. Any ideal what it is? Yes, my fingers ache from typing!!!!

Getting ready to head out. Think I have 9 trips in the next 6 days. Maybe, with all the water coming down the Pike I may not have a ramp to launch at. Guess I could launch off a bluff like in 07. I'll post up when I get back. BTW, was great to see everyone again and I do plan on redeeming myself in JULY! LOL. My old boat kicked my new boats arse! Gotta get this Polar trained better.

Well I never said the lake was dead.and i do live on the lake and have for 25 years or so.most of what i had to say about this kill and GA ya'll supported in your comments.I guess hitting a nerve releases infomation thank you Randy and High Tech for your sharing your observastions and thoughts and the matter.your 2 posts had more real information then one can even get from the TPWD website.i agree on the beauty of lake Whitney.we are in this together and affected by this but it not going to be gone with rain just nontoxic waiting for another year....rick

I don't have a clue what the brush is with the beans on it.

Glad to hear that Rick, sure sounded like a slam to Guides there and yes it hit a nerve. And you are absolutely right, this is NOT a cure. Just a band aid for now. WE ALL NEED TO WRITE, and hammer our Gov. officials and draw National attention to this. It is a nat'l disaster, especially when you start looking at all the tax dollars lost to the state because people are not going to the lakes effected by the algae. The feds will not release enough money to the State level to efficiently study G.A. and when we do get money it is spent on picnic tables and parks that no one will use when a lake gets hit by G.A. and there are dead decaying fish laying on the shore line. I was in contact with Chet Edwards office during the first kill and he DID get money funded for Baylor to do research etc. But not enough and after the last band aid I am guilty off not keeping the pressure on. He did have his personal assistant call me and we talked a lot on the phone for weeks. We all need to hammer them into getting money funded to the State level and getting the feds involved in find a way to battle G.A. My Wife loves to write and has made a living doing so for a while. We are talking about starting a STOP GOLDEN ALGAE website on Face Book and seeing how much attention we can draw to it. Not just on Whitney but Nation wide. OK, my hands are cramping and I'm talked out.

BTW, Randy Wood save those pictures of the foam, we may need them later!

Thanks for the info High Tech. I am very thrilled to hear how hands on you are into this cause.keep me posted on the website or what i can do to help....rick

Shoot me a couple of pics of that plant and I will be happy to ID it for you if you would like.

yea if you have a pic of the plants you are talking about post it up please

I caught a [censored] load of big stripers a few weeks ago when the algae started. Why were all their eggs greenish grey. does it have anything to do with the algae.