Golden alga resurfaces on Lake Granbury

HOOD OUTDOORS

As a licensed professional fishing guide, Michael Acosta shows you how to find them. A Granbury resident of more than 35 years, he has been fishing all of his life, and has been a licensed guide since 1998.

Unfortunately, Lake Granbury is experiencing a minor golden Alga bloom on several areas of the lake. The impact looks small right now with only some baitfish and a few other fish seen dead or dying. However, if you should see any dead or dying fish, you should report it immediately to the Texas Parks and Wildlife or the Brazos River Authority.

Evidence of a golden alga-related fish kill is often difficult to track. Large numbers of small fish may be killed. Predators such as birds and raccoons may eat larger dead fish before they are observed or counted. Also, dead fish quickly sink below the surface, which interferes with counts. Estimates of numbers killed are only as good as the evidence available on the scene. The public is asked to report dead or dying fish and wildlife as soon as possible to TPWD's 24-hour communications center by calling 512-389-4848.

Reports indicate that the bloom is moving through this area and will eventually move downstream. As stated, this current bloom is minor, and we hope it doesn’t escalate. A serious bloom could devastate the fishery. Generally, the alga is most prominent in the February to April time frame. The Texas Parks and Wildlife last report on Jan. 4, 2023 indicated that water samples from the FM51 and U.S. Business 377 Crossing had moderate levels of P. Parvum (golden alga) cells and were classified as slightly toxic to fish.

Fishing continues to be good for most species on Lake Granbury despite this news. The caution here is to identify it and report it as they continue to learn how to deal with these blooms.

Golden alga started affecting the Brazos River chain in 2001 at Possum Kingdom Lake. Since 2001, devastating blooms have occurred (not every year) on Lake Granbury, Possum Kingdom, Lake Whitney and numerous other bodies of water in West Texas and in other southern states. Some years are worse than others, but we do get some golden alga year to year. Lake Granbury is not the only body of water with golden alga. You can do a search for golden alga bloom reports on the TPWD website.

Golden alga is a plant that prefers salty “brackish” water (most West Texas water bodies have a relatively high salt content). It apparently does not affect water bodies that are more acidic. For example, the Trinity River Basin bodies of water, which include Bridgeport, Benbrook, Ray Hubbard and Lewisville have never had golden alga that I am aware of.

Golden alga is naturally occurring and typically blooms in the winter when the normally dominant green and blue algae are not as dominant. Golden alga in a bloom emits toxins that are deadly to gill-breathing animals. It is not known to affect other wildlife that drink from the affected body of water.

It is advised by the TPWD that you should not eat any dead or dying fish found in the lake whether it is due to golden algae or any other cause.

Apparently, our best recourse to avoid the fish kills is a good heavy rain where water moves or breaks up the concentrated blooms. Golden algae is a plant that requires sunlight, so therefore a muddy lake after a heavy rainfall would prevent its development.

HOOD COUNTY FISHING REPORT

Water temperatures continue to hover in the low 50s. Fishing continues to be excellent for large blue catfish on the upper ends using cut drum/shad. Striped bass are fair to slow to 11 pounds on jigs and live bait fished from Indian Harbor to Striper Alley. Crappies continue to be good on small jigs/minnows fished near deeper structure like bridge pilings. White bass are fair on spinners and minnows fished near Indian Harbor and in the river near Tin Top. Largemouth bass continue to be good in numbers on soft plastics fished in the river above Lake Granbury and near main lake points.

OTHER AREAS

Comanche Creek black bass fishing continues to be good on soft plastics. The warm water on this power plant lake continues to bring in anglers from all across the state. Channel catfish limits are common on prepared baits and cut shad fished on many areas of the lake. Comanche Creek will close to the public on March 31 and is scheduled to open again in October (see website: https://www.luminant.com/squaw-creek-park/).

Possum Kingdom Lake stripers to 7 pounds are good on slabs and 5-inch swim baits from Broadway to Costello Island. White bass are excellent on slabs near Bone Bend, Peanut Patch and in the back of Cedar Creek.

michael.acosta@att.net | 254-396-4855