Falcon went the same way as choke, didnt have anything to do with gar, gillnets, or lack of water. Too many big fish kept and too much pressure. It will be back but its gonna take a few years.

It's just like Ivie and every other lake that's having water level issues
The fish pull out and suspend in open water. They go into a conservation mode and don't use any energy and don't have to feed

That's it!!!!!!!!!!! Fish don't need to feed they just suspend in water and time....... Right!!!!
Falcon is currently down for the count, it is in the same sharp that Amistad was a few years ago and everyone wondered what happen... Same as Choke, now Falcon, you can not keep slaying those big fish and think they will be there forever....Amistad has just started it return, just started!!!
Choke anf Falcon are down and have a very long road ahead of them..... If the lake does not come back up water wise it may not recover for many years like the last time it was down; you could fish all day for a couple bites before the lake got all that water....:-(

Very few of those Bass Champ guys will bring in a good 3 fish bag.....There will be tons of "0"s...........

Falcon will go the route of Amistad. A few years ago it was taking 35+ poounds to win a one day tournament. I bought a ranch just north of Amistad in 199 and when you crossed the lake on 277 you had to look to the West to see any water on the horizon. The lake was over 40 ft low. The same weekend a tropical storm moved in and Del Rio got 31" of rain in 24 hrs. The lake rose over 30 ft and was only 8 ft low and in 2 more weeks it was at pool level for the fist time in over 15 yrs. This "new" water created an unbelievable furtile lake that 7 to 8 yrs later started showing 30 lb stringers. Texas goes thru 10 yr cycles with the weather. We are in a drought, but when Falcon refills it will again be a boom lake.

I just can't believe that the lake is dead. Yes, I was there in September and again here in December. Yeah, the fishing was tougher than it ever has been. But......we never got into wads or groups like we had in the past. That tells me the fish just weren't there. I'm putting my eggs in the 'suspending' theory. I think the fish are still there. Sure pressure has changed it from not quite the throw any lure in your tackle box on any bank that it was 5 years ago. But... I don't for a second think it's dead.

Unfortunately I think it will be fine once the weather starts stabilizing out and the fish have to move shallow for the spawn just in time for the 'Elites' to go down there and crush them. Then the cycle starts over next year where you can't even get a room in December. This year was very light, but last year every hotel room was full.

As much as it pains me to say it and I'm sorry to the guides and business. The best thing that can happen to Falcon as a fishery is bad results at the Elites...

The elites may find some; but, it will not be like it was the last time they came to town and slauthered 8, 9 & 10 # fish to float around the lake after they left as they did not take care of the fish at all.....
The elites could learn a lot from Chad & Jeff on how to take care of the fish....
Maybe someone in Zapata will set them straight on fish care...

I'm sure te fisherman are glad they went to a 3 fish Champs limit so more guys will feel good about weighing in a limit.

They got real lucky on that.

In defense of the Elite anglers, they were having to share livewells with co-anglers. There just was not enough room for the size of fish. I blame the TD for not allowing those guys to weigh in large fish early.

Fitting 5 monster fish in the livewell is a problem in itself. 10 fish is not even realistic.