Spotted reds

Continued from page 8 a variety of marine species of fish in these reservoirs have occurred throughout the years since they were built. Both Calaveras and Braunig are cooling lakes for power plants, so their waters stay relatively warm year-round.

Anglers have been catching redfish with multiple spots, like this one caught by Devin Leissner, on San Antonio-area power plant lakes. Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.

“The warm water characteristics of these reservoirs made redfish a perfect candidate to be stocked in them,” said Nisbet. “Plus, we already had the red drum hatchery efforts established to support these stockings.”

However, as for the surplus of spots on these freshwater redfish, Nisbet said there is no factual evidence to explain why it happens.

“Perhaps it is because the red drum swimming in these lakes are, for the most part, the top predator in the food chain,” Nisbet said. “They don’t have to contend with sharks or porpoises like they do on the coast. The spot on a red drum’s tail is a biological defense mechanism characteristic that is intended to confuse predators, making them think that their tail is their head. They don’t necessarily need that in