TC Paddlesports at Panther Island

Talk about a one-in-a-million catch!

A lucky angler recently caught something incredibly unusual right here at LLELA: a piebald blue catfish!

This striking fish is a blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus), but a rare genetic mutation affecting its pigmentation gives it those distinctive black-and-white markings. Piebaldism causes areas of the body to lack their normal pigmentation, creating a pattern that looks completely different from the typical blue-gray coloring of a blue catfish.

And just how rare is it? Extremely rare. It is considered a once-in-a- lifetime unicorn catch by experienced anglers. Their unique coloring makes them stand out to predators when they are young, making it harder to survive long enough to be caught by an angler.

The Elm Fork has no shortage of surprises, and you never quite know what you might encounter when you spend time exploring LLELA.

Now we're curious: what is the rarest, strangest, or most unexpected thing you've ever spotted at LLELA?

Sunrise + paddling + breakfast = the perfect start to your day 🛶🌅🍩

Come catch the early glow on the water with TC Paddlesports and hang out afterward for a fresh morning meal. Bring your friends, or make new ones out on the Trinity!

Bring your own boat/board or rent one from us! Reserve your spot through this link: https://www.adventuresunlimitedpaddling.com/shop/sunrise-tour

Wild DFW: Explore the Amazing Nature Around Dallas-Fort Worth (https://wild-dfw.com/) is proud to be kicking off Scott McFarlane's book tour for The River That Made Texas: A Forgotten History of the Trinity. See info below.

It's not until October, but you need to be reading this book now! https://uncpress.org/9781469698366/the-river-that-made-texas/ -pdf
35% off all with code 01HISTORY250 until end of August. Or try 01NEWSITE50 for 50% off until August 27.

Message from the publisher:
"How the relentless but largely forgotten Trinity River shaped Texas

Today, half of Texas’s expanding population, including the cities of Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston, depends on the Trinity River, a river that has shaped the state’s politics, economy, and environment for centuries. From the prairies of North Texas to the Gulf of Mexico, the Trinity established Native nations, foiled Spanish and French imperialism, stood at the center of the Texas plantation system, and fueled the growth of the state’s largest cities.

In the first history of this vital river, historian Scot McFarlane illuminates how the Trinity has defined Texas history. Its floods enriched the soil and destroyed crops, its channel served as both a route and barrier to freedom, and its once-polluted waters now sustain a significant portion of the state.

McFarlane’s captivating narrative brims with stories of the people who called the Trinity home over the centuries: the Comanche, steamboat pilots, enslaved and freed people, sharecroppers, inmates, and millions of urban residents. The result is a fresh perspective on economic development, slavery, and the environment—revealing the Trinity not as a backdrop to Texas history but as a force that shaped it."

The History & Beauty of the Trinity
with Scot McFarlane & Amy Martin

Oct 18 Sun – 10:30 am to noon
TC Paddlesports at Panther Island
480 N Taylor St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
Complete info: https://www.facebook.com/events/2127092601490587

Our fellow outfitters at Rochelle’s on the Brazos are trying to rebuild after the Ross Fire took everything.

The PUCT ruled today that the 765 kV high‑voltage transmission line and its 20‑story towers will not be coming around Dinosaur Valley State Park, anywhere near our RV park, or the City of Glen Rose. It will be routed farther north instead.
We’re incredibly grateful — and we also want to lift up in prayer the landowners and communities who may now be affected by the new route.

Rochell’s has been the iconic heart of paddlesports on the Brazos for 100 years.

There is still time to reserve a spot for our sunrise paddle tomorrow morning! Don’t miss it! 🛶🌇🫧🌿💥