AUSTIN, Texas—The Texas state record Guadalupe bass measured 17.25 inches, weighed only 3.71 pounds, and was caught on fly fishing tackle from the Colorado River downstream from Austin.
What might seem like a yawner of a catch to the average bass angler has greater impact outside the sport than you can imagine. Think more than one million people, or the population of Austin that depends on drawing water from the Colorado River and water supply lakes forming the native range of the species.
Water is scarce and the population is growing. The Texas Hill Country population is projected to climb from the current 3.1 million to 4.3 million by 2030.
Less water, more people. That sounds like situation normal for an arid region like central Texas. So what does a little green fish have to do with solving the problem? Continue reading…