The flavor known disdainfully as “Waco Water” is about to get another kick in the teeth. 

Along with the new water treatment plant, Lake Waco will soon have another weapon against its foul-tasting water as it becomes home to a new predator fish that will improve the taste through biomanipulation.

Hybrid-stripers, a cross between sand bass and striped bass, were stocked in Lake Waco previously, and the re-introduction of hybrids is part of a joint effort by the city of Waco, the Corps of Engineers and Texas Parks and Wildlife to improve the taste and smell of Waco’s water supply.

For people afraid of what the re-introduction of hybrids might do to other fish species, a quick look down the road should be reassuring.

TPWD biologist John Tibbs reports that Lake Belton’s hybrid population is thriving, describing it as being in “fantastic shape, as we have a lot of 5-year-old fish making their way up the food chain.”

The biggest hybrid of the TPWD spring survey weighed 10.5 pounds, which is approaching the 13.56-pound lake record. Tibbs says he fully expects that record to fall either this year or next.

Belton’s largemouth and smallmouth fisheries are also doing extremely well, according to Tibbs, adding that the lake got a good stocking of smallmouth last year to augment the natural reproduction they are seeing every year.

Lake Waco should receive its first stocking of hybrids this month, and Tibbs estimates that the fish should be keepers within 3 years. The goal of the stocking program is to improve water quality through predator species decreasing the number of lake’s gizzard shad, which feed on the beneficial zooplankton that eat the lake’s water-fouling phytoplankton.

By-products of this effort will be increased angling opportunities and fishing quality.

Waco to host bass tourney

The Heart O’ Texas Fair Complex is hosting its first-ever South 40 Shootout bass tournament at Lake Waco on May 16.

Entry fee is $150 per team, plus a $20 big bass option. Entry deadline is 8 p.m. May 15, and the tourney will be capped at 100 teams.

Flight numbers will be randomly drawn at the mandatory check-in meeting at the HOT Fair Complex on the 15th.

Lake Waco will be off limits to competitors beginning at midnight on May 11, and continuing through the week leading up to the event.

Participants should arrive at the Twin Bridges Ramp at 5 a.m. on tournament day for launch. The first flight check-in will be at 3 p.m., followed by the official weigh-in at the HOT Coliseum.

2008 Bassmaster Classic champion Alton Jones will emcee the weigh-in.

For more information, call 776-1660

Crappie action picks up

Navarro Mills Lake Marina owner Brenda Wallen (254-578-1131) says crappie fishing slowed after recent rains, but action picked up later in the week. Bass have also been active along shorelines in Liberty Hill Park.

Jack Moore of DeSoto won the marina’s April Crappie Tournament with a whopping 2.64-pounder, followed by Dawson’s Mike Womack, who reeled in a 2.54-pound papermouth.

Big hauls in Whitney

Lake Whitney striper guide Clay Yadon (817-219-3707) is wishing every week could be like last week. “We’re catching limits of good fish on every trip,” he said, “fishing live bait in 25 feet of water.”

The week’s hauls were highlighted by fish up to 17 pounds. Yadon’s son Dustin hooked and lost one that was estimated to have weighed more than 20 pounds.

Bigger stripers are also starting to hit topwater lures early and late in the day around timbered, sandy flats, making for adrenaline-laced fishing excitement.

Day’s catch in an hour

Lake Waco catfisherman George Courtney and partner Joe Johnson got into the cats in 2 feet of water late last week, and the pair left the lake with the bite still strong and an ice chest full of 2- to 4-pound catfish.

The majority of the three-dozen fish were caught within about an hour’s time, beginning shortly after noon. Big Marv’s Punch Bait fished shallow was the recipe for success.

A lot of the fish Courtney and Johnson catch are prepared and served at area events that benefit churches and other groups, including a recent fish fry to recognize the MCC softball team.