Fisherman Enjoys Higher Lake Levels, Rain Helps City Water Supply
By: Kristin Anderson, bigcountryhomepage.com
Updated: October 2, 2012
LAKE FT. PHANTOM -- Raymond Guerrero has enjoyed fishing at Lake Ft. Phantom for over 25 years. But this year was different.
"The fishing was slow this past summer," he explained.
That's because drought-like conditions caused the lake levels around the Big Country to drop. But after a weekend of rain, ore people were out getting their feet wet.
"You couldn't get a boat in there yesterday when I came by here yesterday morning," Raymond said. "But now the water's coming up to the boat ramps now."
Which is a nice change after the hot and dry summer.
"The heat's got a lot to do with it cause the last few times I went fishing it was so hot that even the fish knew it was hot. They were all in that deeper water, you could hardly get to them," said Raymond.
Though water levels at Lake Fort Phantom and other lakes around the area are still rising, the city of Abilene is still concerned with preserving water.
"We received rains, but that doesn't mean we stop conserving water," said assistant director of water utilities Wayne Lisenbee. "We're still in water conservation stages, we still encourage people to use their water wisely."
And the rising lake levels put the city in better shape than before with the already restricted water supply.
"Phantom is now about where we were a year ago, and Ivie is in better shape than they were a year ago. We're very excited to see that those lakes are continuing to rise," Lisenbee explained.
Though Raymond's hobby can continue despite the weather. He says the more water makes fishing and boating more enjoyable.
"The fish, you're going to catch them with or without rain," he said. "But I'd rather have the rain."
"The fishing was slow this past summer," he explained.
That's because drought-like conditions caused the lake levels around the Big Country to drop. But after a weekend of rain, ore people were out getting their feet wet.
"You couldn't get a boat in there yesterday when I came by here yesterday morning," Raymond said. "But now the water's coming up to the boat ramps now."
Which is a nice change after the hot and dry summer.
"The heat's got a lot to do with it cause the last few times I went fishing it was so hot that even the fish knew it was hot. They were all in that deeper water, you could hardly get to them," said Raymond.
Though water levels at Lake Fort Phantom and other lakes around the area are still rising, the city of Abilene is still concerned with preserving water.
"We received rains, but that doesn't mean we stop conserving water," said assistant director of water utilities Wayne Lisenbee. "We're still in water conservation stages, we still encourage people to use their water wisely."
And the rising lake levels put the city in better shape than before with the already restricted water supply.
"Phantom is now about where we were a year ago, and Ivie is in better shape than they were a year ago. We're very excited to see that those lakes are continuing to rise," Lisenbee explained.
Though Raymond's hobby can continue despite the weather. He says the more water makes fishing and boating more enjoyable.
"The fish, you're going to catch them with or without rain," he said. "But I'd rather have the rain."
