Okay I have a question for those more experienced and knowledgable then myself. I have read many topics on here about how Fork is on the decline, Falcon is on the decline, well this lake back in its hay day. I understand there are many factors involved in the question. I guess I'm wandering, is it true these lakes will never be what they were? Are there lakes that are about to be in their prime. I'm not wanting to know where to fish or where not to but just want a better understanding of it all.

I'm no expert, but I took a trip with a Lake Fork guide couple years ago. Answer was simple. When they kill the grass they kill the fishing. There are still plenty of lakes in their prime or reaching it. A lake I love to fish has long past it's prime supposedly. It's still a great fishery though. Even after they killed the grass. So to answer your question, it seems every lake that's not what it uses to be has declined because grass was killed.

Very good question. All our southern lakes like Falcon and Amistad thrive on high water. That high water must stay there long enough for the Bass to leave there deep water homes to take up residence in the shore line cover where most people are comfortable in catching them.

Amistad Bass thrive on the growth of the Hydrilla. The deeper and taller the better. Then when the water level falls the Bass go back deep. In my opinion this is a good thing because the more Bass caught during good times increases the percentage of fish lost to fisherman and tournaments.

The most we will every be able to hope for is a two year window to have a trip of a life time and enjoy as many trips as possible. Then when the water goes to Mexico the hay day is over until the next cycle comes around.

New lakes that are built will be watched and taken care of closely to get them into the prime stage. This is usually at the 5 year mark when the new stock gets to 5 lbs. You will see this on all new lakes. I have friends that travel around and hit these bodies of water to catch them in their prime. This is the time when you will have the numbers and the size. Then it seems that the lakes are on their on from that time forward for mother nature to take its course allowing all the other variable to take place that causes the fishing to go south.

98 and Harper. Thanks for that info. So as you said the 5 year mark is the best time. Does the lake have the most vegetation and cover it will ever have at this time?

That's a really good question...It might, but probably not. The reason grass usually killed is because it's not native or the homeowners on the lake hate it. Hydrilla, it's not native, but it makes for a great bass fishery. The state kills it for that reason. I guess I can see the argument, the state wants only native plants, but it hurts the fishery, defenently does not kill it though. Homeowners that don't fish hate any grass as well.

If you want grass find lakes that are not well known. There is a little city lake I fish, not the same one that I mentioned above, that is loaded with coontail. I usually have more consistent days on this lake. I think it's probably the grass.

No. The Hydrilla takes longer than that to get established. The trees and bushes makes for great cover and spawning areas for the Bass and makes for some wonderful action.

When Falcon filled up the last time you could not evern get to the bank except in a very few places. Those big spawning Bass were very well protected. It was also very difficult to read the shore to find the rocks because that is what they were relating to. Bushes were just bushes; but if there was good rock down there that area was loaded. The fishing was so good I couldn't stand driving and looking at the side sacn and takeing the time to find the best rocky spots. I just fished and it wouldn't take long to run into them.

Hydrilla on Lake Amistad will grow to 30 ft. tall and if the lake will stay stable at that depth long enough it will mat on the surface, making punching the grass the ticket.

When the lake falls the grass squats. When it gets too low the grass will fall. If it doesn't fall and the lake rises again it will stretch to reach the surface again. It does its best to survive the water fluctuation but usually does not survied more than a couple of years. Then when the lake stabalizes it will take off again. It can grow almost 6 inches per week if the water is rich in minerals.

Another reason hydrilla is awesome. Can grow in 30ft. Coontail, 10ft maybe.

Thanks you guys I'm learning a lot. You say the department of wildlife sprays the hydrilla and kills it. Can they not manage it for the fish and the residents both and leave some in spots. As fast as you say it grows I'm assuming it would spread pretty quickly.

When a lake reaches the TFF, it quickly starts the decline cycle.

Aquatic Weed Identification:

http://www.naturalenviro.com/Article.php?ArticleSKU=Aquatic-Weed-Identification

I heard a lot of the Tennessee river lakes sucked about 10- 15 years ago and then the grass started growing. Now they are to producers.