By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
Lake Amistad has risen more than 22 feet over the past six months, expanding fishing habitat and fueling hopes for stronger bass fishing and a boost to Del Rio’s economy.
The lake’s average elevation reached 1,069.71 feet above sea level Saturday, Nov. 14, up 2.86 feet from Nov. 7, according to the Texas Water Development Board’s Water Data for Texas website.
The longer-term gains are even greater. According to the board, Amistad has risen 12.89 feet since Aug. 14 and 22.01 feet since May 14.
Total reservoir storage increased by approximately 77,800 acre-feet over the past week, reaching about 1.10 million acre-feet. Texas’ share of the reservoir’s conservation storage was 52.7% full Saturday, compared with 49.8% a week earlier.
Kurt Dove, a professional bass angler, Lake Amistad fishing guide and co-owner of Pro Bass Tackle near the lake, said the higher water offers promising long-term benefits for the fishery.
Dove said the rising lake provides more acreage to fish and additional areas where aquatic grass can grow, creating cover for fish.
“Stability is the primary key to having a good fishery,” Dove said.
He said avoiding major water-level fluctuations of 15 feet or more over the next couple of years could give Amistad an opportunity for another boom in bass fishing.
“Some sense of stabilization is the key,” Dove said.
Dove said the current water level, or a rise of roughly another 10 feet followed by stable conditions, would be beneficial. Higher water would cover more flats and provide additional terrain where grass could grow, he said.
While the changing water level has scattered fish and made them harder to locate for now, Dove’s long-term outlook centers on the potential for improved habitat and stable conditions.
The lake already draws substantial boating activity. According to the National Park Service’s preliminary October report for Amistad National Recreation Area, the agency recorded 3,177 boat trailers during October and 30,665 for the calendar year through October.
Those figures represent boat-trailer counts, rather than individual anglers or unique boats.
Blanca Larson, Del Rio Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, said a thriving lake benefits businesses throughout the community.
“This is great because when Amistad is flourishing, we have more fishermen coming to town and helping boost our local economy,” Larson said.
Despite the gains, Amistad remained approximately 47.3 feet below its conservation pool elevation of 1,117 feet Saturday, according to the Texas Water Development Board.
