People ask me during every drought if the lakes will ever refill. Some seem to fatalistically think that they might just keep drying up. With total confidence, I’ve assured them the lakes will fill.

I’ve seen it happen here since 1971. Cypress Creek, a tributary to Lake Travis, rose once from a stream about a foot wide to a cove almost a hundred yards across! I know; I canoed across it regularly after the rise. And it rose almost overnight!

A spectacular storm struck in 1991. Deer hunters remember that statewide rain event since the following deer seasons produced myriad trophy bucks – and in parts of Texas that few expected. Rain enriched habitats produced record antlers. My wife remembers it for the evening that her car flooded out when Bull Creek left its bank and she had to slosh several blocks to a friend’s house. Heckuva rain!

But since we’re talking about history, let’s have a quiz. And no peeking at the girl’s paper across the aisle from you!

Just three questions: 1 – In what state was the first plastic worm created? #2 – In which state was the first “bass boat” built? #3 – In what state was the first “bass tournament“ held –and on what lake?

So, how’d you do?

I conducted a very un-scientific survey of several friends – all somewhat familiar with fishing. I asked them the same four questions.

Answers were mixed. Some knew that Texas was the answer to Questions 1-3. All three events mentioned above occurred in Texas, sort of.

The designer of the first bass boat lived in Louisiana but worked for the Texas boat builder of the first bass boat — the Skeeter Bass Boat. That started a revolution in bass fishing.

The plastic worm was created by Nick Crème in the north. He soon moved to Tyler, Texas to open a tackle business and appeal to southern anglers. That launched Crème Fishing Lures, which revolutionized bass tackle. Creme is still going strong here.

And sensing the growing tremors of a sporting earthquake, Earl Golding, Outdoor Editor of the Waco Tribune- Herald planned the FIRST bass fishing tournament, held on Lake Whitney. Tournaments became tremendous successes on TV as well as on the waters – but you knew that!

They’ve made media stars out of many champions and encouraged countless wannabe anglers to take fishing seriously. Other smaller tournaments like the Texas Tournament Zone (TTZ) circuit help young anglers get started.

And the recreational value of fishing to common folks like you and me is immeasurable.

The horrid July Fourth rain raised most of the drought-stricken lakes in Central and West Texas. We can be thankful for that. It even brought Medina Lake back. Lakes Travis, Buchanan, and Canyon are all fishable again with open boat ramps (at least so at press time).

But experienced weather watchers might still be heard greeting friends with the salutation: “Welcome to the first day of the next bad drought!”

JJ