The more things change...

...the more they remain the same.

My grandfather came to this area before 1920. He served in the Army Air Corp during the first world war and was stationed in Lake Charles Louisiana. After his service, he went home, married his sweetheart and returned to work at the Gulf Oil Refinery. He didn't stay and went on to sell real estate and insurance. The area changed.

One thing that changed was a local tidal lake, which went through several major changes. One, was the loss of most of the large cypress trees at the northern end. I've heard many explanations, including the construction of chemical refineries. I don't know, but there is probably someone that does.

One change my grandfather told me about was end of salt water species that would be found in the lake during late Summer and Fall. He told of emerald green water and salt water fish such as mackerel, ling and sharks. The lake, as he described it, had a sand bottom and was similar to Galveston Bay. I've tried to imagine the lake as such many times. It's usually brown, except for rare occasions, when it will become a murky green. The bottom is muddy, which is the result of dredge spoils and the controlled water releases from lakes to the north.

A local paper reported anglers are catching salt water fish in the lake, including makerals, sharks and even a blow fish. It's like the past, which can be explained by the drought and lack of fresh water from the water poor lakes to the north.

I'm sure this will all change over time. The drought is forecast to start ending next year, which will fill the lakes and allow the constant flow of fresh water. Until then, fishing from the past will be found in the present. I'm thinking it's a once in a lifetime event that will fade from memories after my generation. Hopefully, the past changes in dredge discharge and containment will allow the lake to once again have a sand bottom. It won't happen in my time, but maybe some future generation will see the lake as my grandfather once did.