Texas Fish Report

The bag has been mixed with regards to weather this spring. As many of you may know Mammoth Mountain crushed the all-time record for snow fall in a year with over 600 inches (50 feet) recorded already and more forecast to fall in early April. The Owens Valley has enjoyed a seasonal spring; however the river has been at high flows making fly fishing tough during the initial increases. Crowley Lake and Bridgeport Reservoir will be ice free a couple weeks earlier this season but water temps will be on the cool side once again and I would not bank on a "shotgun" start for the opener. Forget the alpine lakes above 8000 plus feet, and upper freestone creeks until well after Memorial Day or later. Too much snow and ice. If the air temps get really warm early on, you will see VERY high water in the rivers and creeks. If it remains cool and we get a slow transition into summer some fisheries/conditions will be good. The snow level is currently 7500 feet and remains substantial at the time of this report. At 9000 feet it is still TEN FEET in depth. It will be a tough spring and early summer for fishing upper elevations. On a positive note, the late summer and fall will be excellent.