August 13, 2010 - Lone Star Outdoor News - Fishing & Hunting

Volume 6, Issue 24

INSIDE: Annual hunting section 2010

Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper

August 13, 2010

Deer countdown

Inside

❘❚ FISHING

Offshore safety A few simple steps can help anglers avoid dangerous situations off the Texas coast.

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For the Future An South Texas organization puts a different twist on introducing children to fishing.

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❘❚ HUNTING

Long live Stickers One of the biggest breeder bucks in Texas died early this summer.

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READY FOR A BLAST: Hunting season is days away in Texas, with dove season set to start Sept. 1 in the North and Central Zones. South Texas has to wait until Sept. 17 to shoot, and deer season begins Oct. 2 for bowhunting. For more information about hunting doves and other game, see Lone Star Outdoor News’ annual Hunting Texas advertising section inside. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

INSIDE

■ Corn feeders: Hunters have different opinions about when to set off a deer feeder.

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Elk, bighorn dispute

A disagreement centers on elk management at one West Texas public property.

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❘❚ CONTENTS Classifieds . . . . . . . .

Crossword . . . . . . . .

Fishing Report . . . . . .

For the Table . . . . . . .

Game Warden Blotter . . .

Heroes . . . . . . . . . .

Outdoor Datebook. . . . .

Outfitters and Businesses Products . . . . . . . . .

Sun, Moon and Tide data .

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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210

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Hunt, fish, dive offshore Spearfishing pulls from different outdoor pursuits

By Nicholas Conklin

Phenomenal winter, spring continues into summer in West Texas

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

Spearfishing is slowly gaining a foothold in the angling community along Texas’ coast.

Because of increased interest in diving and fishing, many have turned to the sport for a unique twist on fishing.

Although many offshore anglers wouldn’t dare dive down the oil rigs for snapper, ling ■ Safety: Prep and amberjack, work makes a Coe Parker of big difference Houston saw it as offshore. an opportunity to Page 6 introduce a new sport to his life.

“I just got into spearfishing because a buddy brought his gear along on one of our offshore trips,” Parker said. “It is an entirely different experience. You’re not just watching, you’re actually looking and hunting.”

Parker’s first trip landed him five fish. But to him, the best part of the trip was reacting to the underwater environment.

By Nicholas Conklin LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP

INSIDE

See SPEARFISH, Page 21

O.H. Ivie still producing lunker bass

With air temperatures exceeding 100 degrees, many anglers have all but given up their search (temporarily) for trophy bass on Texas lakes.

But O.H. Ivie Lake, which produced several bass weighing 13 pounds or more this winter and spring, still remains a viable option for those hunting big fish.

Water lightly stained; Anglers fishing 81 degrees; 22.66’ the West Texas lake low. Black bass are near San Angelo good on green pumphave reported kin or red shad soft catches weighing 10 plastics, baby bass crankbaits, white to 11 pounds, with spinnerbaits and live some fish over 12 bait worked along pounds. grass lines and timber.

Tommy Hagler said that although the lake is not turning out the high numbers of fish it did earlier

Ivie report

UNDERWATER ANGLING: Mike Cryer speared a red snapper underwater near an oil rig off the Texas coast. Photo by Mike Cryer.

See O.H. IVIE, Page 18

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HUNTING

Elk, bighorns at center of Sierra Diablo dispute Rancher, TPW at odds over how to manage ‘exotic’ elk

By Thomas Phillips LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

DESERT WILDLIFE: A bull elk stands in the delicate desert scrub at Circle Ranch in the Sierra Diablo Mountains of West Texas. The animals are said to compete with desert bighorn sheep for resources in the area. Photo by Circle Ranch.

A matter of timing Different strategies have different goals for use of deer feeders

By Nicholas Conklin LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

The release of corn from a feeder means only one thing to deer: It’s feeding time.

For the hunter, it means the predictable chance to get a good look at what he or she is hunting.

Feeders allow hunters and ranchers in Texas to condition deer to appear at certain times during the day.

But when to have a feeder go off is an important decision in conditioning deer to return to an area to feed.

Larry Jameson of Middle Concho Lodge in San Angelo prefers to run his feeders four times a day to keep deer visible and feeding for longer periods of time.

“We set them off four times a day, right around daylight then an hour and a half after that. Then again right at sundown, then an hour after that,” Jameson said.

Jameson said this strategy allows him to release equal amounts of corn twice rather than all at once, ensuring that deer will remain in the area longer.

Dietary changes Rick O’ Shay of Dallas runs his feeders twice a day, all year, but puts out more corn during deer season.

“We use them year-around,” O’Shay said. “We slow them down after deer season until about August.

“In the off-season we run them about three seconds once in the morning and in the evening.”

During the hunting season O’Shay will increase the feeding

time to about 6 to 8 seconds each.

The reason behind a longer run time during hunting season is to try to keep the deer around the feeders longer.

O’ Shay’s feeders go off within an hour or two of sunset and sunrise.

By their schedule Ava Denney of Brushy Hill Ranch said that the most important part of setting timers is to have them go off at natural low-light conditions — when deer typically feed.

Denney generally runs about 50 feeders on her 13,000-acre property in South Texas. The feeders are set to go off about sunrise and again at sunset, and are set at a low feeding frequency because of the high number of feeders on the ranch.

Burns Holt, owner of BHoutdoors, uses consistent feeding times to improve the chances of harvesting deer.

“I run mine generally two to three times a day, and I also run them on high tolerances and longer,” Holt said.

The high tolerance means only a small amount of corn is released each time. It gives the deer a taste of the candy-like corn and ensures that they will return to his feeder.

Holt said releasing the corn during the prime feeding hours for deer, at sunrise, then again at sunset, helps form a routine for the deer to fall into.

“I do not believe, especially with a timed feeder, in putting out too much corn,” Holt said. “The reason is I want to dictate to the deer when they’re getting fed.”

DINNER TIME: Deer feeders release food at certain times of day, helping hunters time their movements. Wildlife managers have different opinions about when feeders should go off, but they generally have them timed for morning and evening releases. Photo by LSON.

Elk on one West Texas wildlife management area are losing when it comes to management decisions — and sometimes they pay the ultimate price.

At Sierra Diablo Wildlife Management Area, desert bighorn sheep are the species of greatest importance. The 11,624-acre strip of land was set up in 1945 “to serve as a sanctuary for the last remaining desert bighorn sheep in Texas,” according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Web site.

To that end, about 25 elk have been killed by state workers there in the past five years, said Mike Pittman, Texas Parks and Wildlife’s project leader for WMAs in the Trans Pecos region.

The strategy of killing elk at Sierra Diablo WMA has met opposition from one neighboring landowner. Christopher Gill owns the 32,000-acre Circle Ranch southwest of the WMA. He manages the property for elk and other wildlife.

Gill is largely responsible for the proliferation of elk in the Sierra Diablos. About eight years ago, he released about 50 elk on his ranch, with an additional eight released since then.

“My basic take on elk is that they are a critical component to the restoration of habitat,” Gill said.

Rather than hurting habitat at Sierra Diablo, elk are helping it, he said.

Gill also argues that elk are native to West Texas, including the Sierra Diablos, and should be managed as game animals.

But in Texas, they are legally considered non-native animals. Like axis deer and feral hogs, they have no bag limit, though the hunter must possess a valid license.

“To us, it’s a resource issue — nothing else,” Pittman said. “If it wasn’t for the desert bighorn sheep, it probably wouldn’t be an issue at all.”

Elk — about 150 to 200 elk roam the Sierra Diablo Mountains — have not been directly blamed for adverse effects on desert bighorns, Pittman said. The sheep are doing well. But wildlife managers there are concerned the elk could become a problem.

“If we start seeing some negative effects, it could be too late for desert sheep,” See ELK, Page 22

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DUCKS: When the early teal season begins Sept. 11, Texas hunters should see plenty of birds. Conditions in northern breeding grounds were good this summer. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.

Wet season way up north means more teal for Texas Forecast is good for September duck hunting in Texas

By Nicholas Conklin LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

With positive duck forecasts out of the Dakotas and southern Canada, Texas hunters should see plenty of teal when the early hunting season starts Sept. 11.

With ideal weather conditions in the north, the outlook for this season has many hunters

and guides expecting a good harvest.

“The news from the breeding ground is positive and I think we are going to have a average to above-average teal harvest this year,” said guide Larry Robinson of West Columbia.

Texas’ 16-day early teal season is Sept. 11 to 26, and daily limits are four teal per hunter, which includes blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon teal.

Robinson said the key to a productive harvest is the amount of rainfall that is received in North and South Dakota and southern Canada. Those areas saw increased rainfall this year, which created many ponds vital to See TEAL, Page 15

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FISHING

Parents step in with (and for) Fishing’s Future Children’s program requires mom or dad to participate

By Nicholas Conklin LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

At one time or another, most people can relate to being told by their parents to get off the couch and to go outside.

Nowadays, it can be a difficult task with the glut of technology available to keep kids distracted.

Shane Wilson saw this problem as an opportunity.

That is why in 2004 he began a free program called Fishing’s Future, to reconnect children and parents with the outdoors.

Unlike similar programs, where the parent can unload the child on the teacher and go about his or her day, Fishing’s Future requires parental involvement. In a matter-of-fact way, Wilson notes that he is not around to babysit children.

The daylong program requires the child’s parents to be present and actively participate in all events.

“It puts father and son or father and daughter back in an environment where they are sharing in something that is healthy and lifelong,” Wilson said.

State Sen. Eddie Lucio of Brownsville attended an event in San Benito with his grandchildren Alejandro and Carlitos. Lucio said the event was a great chance for families

FISHING MENTOR: Shane Wilson, center, helps a boy learn to fish at a Fishing’s Future event. The Texas-based program requires parents to participate with their children as they learn to fish. Photo by Fishing’s Future.

to come together and share in something that can become a lifelong passion.

“Some of my great memories take me back to those fishing trips,” Lucio said. “This is not just about the kids, it’s about the parents being with the kids and bringing them together.”

Lucio came up with the program’s “more

than a sport” motto when he sat down to discuss the program with Wilson. Since then, Lucio has tried to put forth legislation that caters toward helping programs such as Fishing’s Future.

The program teaches various outdoors skills, such as the basics of knot-tying, safe fish

handling and measurement and the importance of conservation. Wilson also provides fishing equipment to families that need it.

Each session has several stages where skills are taught in an engaging and interactive way.

Fishing’s Future was founded in South Padre Island, and events are hosted throughout the state every two weeks. Most occur on weekends and generally last about six hours.

The program has benefited more than 700 children, relying solely on donations.

Volunteers help Wilson run events.

Not all of the time at a Fishing’s Future event is spent fishing. Wilson varies the topics, while keeping them short and easy to comprehend.

“When you have a 6-year-old, you have a short attention span,” Wilson said. “So it’s all hands-on, tactical stuff so that young minds can grasp the concept.”

In one stage of the event several simple fishing knots are taught using oversized, dull hooks and large shoelaces as line. The use of enlarged items is done in order to protect the young children and provide an easy visual component to the process.

Fishing’s Future is educational and fun, but Brad Bauserman of San Antonio said the best part was the time he was able to spend with his 8-year-old son, Maxwell.

“The time we spent was quality father-andson time,” Bauserman said. “That alone was a great value.”

Bauserman was not able to spend quality outdoor time with his father, he said, so he felt the program he attended, at Woodlawn Lake See FUTURE, Page 23

Offshore and on your own Anglers take steps in case of disaster miles off coast

By Nicholas Conklin LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

Life-threatening emergencies can happen in an instant when fishing off the Texas coast.

Joey Rodriquez of Richmond experienced one during a recent tournament out of Matagorda.

Fishing off of the Team Hotrod boat, Rodriquez and fellow anglers were about 60 miles offshore when he saw the boat was resting oddly.

“I noticed that the port motor was getting real low in the water,” Rodriguez said. “So I opened the battery cover and saw that water had come in and was almost up to the battery.”

Upon realizing the danger, Rodriguez went to work and alerted the crew.

“I told everyone to get lines up and told my friend to throw down the bilge pump,” Rodriguez said. “I got the other boaters to the side to offset the boat for balance.”

Rodriquez and another crewmember started the bilge pump to remove the remaining water. But, because of a wiring problem, it did not function correctly, causing more stress for Rodriquez.

After a quick rewire, the pump functioned properly. Within 10 minutes, the water was pumped out.

Despite the quick reaction by Rodriquez, he admits that if he had another chance, he would have done some things differently.

“If we could do anything different next time, I should have had one of them pull the life raft out and get lifejackets out for everybody,” Rodriquez said.

The use of safety equipment, including life vests and rafts, is something that guide Ron Frasier of Matagorda Fishing Buddies said

READY TO GO: When fishing offshore, anglers are often many miles from the nearest help. Captains recommend they go well-prepared with such items as extra food and a marine radio. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.

should be checked often before heading to sea.

“I am always checking life vests and the lights on my type 1 life vest,” he said. “They always have to work, and you should always remember to test your EPIRB (emergency beacon).”

(Real) food and drinks Frasier has been fishing offshore for more than 30 years and understands that the daily checks of safety gear can be the difference between life and death.

“It only takes one storm to die

in,” he said. “And (if you’re not prepared) there’s going to be that one storm out there that you might not make it through.”

The availability of food and water is another aspect that many boaters may take for granted when out in the Gulf.

“Most people don’t think that they don’t have enough to drink with them,” guide Ron Pierson of Port Aransas said. “Alcohol or beer doesn’t count because that will dehydrate you.”

Pierson recommends that a boat should have enough water for at

least double the amount of time they plan on being out.

“People get in trouble that way because there is absolutely nothing to drink out there,” Pierson said.

Constant vigilance Simple boat maintenance can be the key to having a fun and safe day on the water. Seals and other fittings on the boat that are directly exposed to the ocean can erode over time because of the high salt content in the water. That is why Rodriquez suggests checking all of the boat’s fittings and tubes to ensure they are

intact.

“Make sure those access hatches and deck lids are sealed properly, and they have good rubber seals,” Rodriguez said.

Pierson said that equipment such as bilge pumps and secure hatches are important components to boat safety.

“Its just basic boat maintenance and just the common sense stuff that you would be surprised how many people don’t even think about,” Pierson said.

See SAFETY, Page 19

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TEXAS FISHING REPORT Sponsored by

HOT BITES LARGEMOUTH BASS

FALCON: Good on large soft plastics and slow-rolling spinnerbaits in 5-8 feet.

FORK: Good on buzzbaits and soft plastic frogs early and late, midday switching to jigs, Carolina rigs and Texas rigs. Night fishing for bass is reported good to excellent.

BELTON: Good on light-colored spinnerbaits in coves early and late.

CONROE: Good on pumpkinseed and watermelon red Carolina-rigged soft plastics.

LAKE O’ THE PINES: Good on spinnerbaits and watermelon seed oil worms.

WHITE, HYBRID, STRIPER

PROCTOR: White bass are excellent on minnows.

RAY ROBERTS: White bass are excellent on clear Tiny Torpedoes around schooling fish.

CEDAR CREEK: Hybrid striper are good on Sassy Shad and large slabs in deep water.

O.H. IVIE: White bass are good on live bait and chrome crankbaits.

CATFISH

BRAUNIG: Channel and blue catfish are excellent on liver, shrimp, cut bait and cheesebait near the dam.

CALAVERAS: Channel catfish are excellent on liver, cheesebait and shad. Blue catfish are excellent on liver and cut bait.

BUCHANAN: Yellow and blue catfish are very good on juglines and trotlines baited with goldfish and perch.

CANYON LAKE: Yellow and blue catfish are very good on juglines and trotlines upriver.

NAVARRO MILLS: Channel and blue catfish to 37 pounds are very good on juglines baited with perch.

CHOKE CANYON: Channel and blue catfish are good on punchbait. Yellow catfish are good on live perch and goldfish.

CRAPPIE GRAPEVINE: Good on minnows and jigs over brush piles.

LIVINGSTON: Good on minnows.

AMISTAD: Water stained; 85 degrees; 4.19’ high. Black bass are good on Senkos, crankbaits and spinnerbaits in 22-32 feet. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on trotlines baited with live perch in 20-35 feet. Yellow catfish are good on trotlines baited with live perch around rocks in 20-30 feet.

ATHENS: Water fairly clear, 84-88 degrees; 0.23’ high. Black bass are fair on buzzbaits early, later switching to Texas rigs and small jigs. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows in 10-15 feet around brush piles. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers and prepared baits.

BASTROP: Water clear. Black bass are fair on watermelon spinnerbaits and Rat-L-Traps. Crappie are fair. Channel and blue catfish are good on shrimp and stinkbait.

BELTON: Water clear; 85 degrees; 2.42’ low. Hybrid striper are good trolling perch-colored Rat-L-Traps. White bass are good trolling perch-colored Rat-LTraps. Crappie are good on minnows under lights at night. Channel catfish are good on trotlines and throwlines baited with stinkbait, live perch and live shad.

Blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are good on trotlines baited with live perch.

on worms and crickets.

early, later switch to trolling. Crappie are slow. Catfish are good drifting cut shad.

CHOKE CANYON: Water clear; 87 degrees; 3.66’ low. Black bass are good on chartreuse/white spinnerbaits and large soft plastics. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Drum are fair on worms.

COLETO CREEK: Water fairly clear; 84 degrees (96 degrees at discharge); 0.30’ low. Black bass are slow. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are fair.

CONROE: Water fairly clear; 0.46’ low.

Striped bass are fair on minnows and green striper jigs. Crappie are fair. Catfish are good on stinkbait, nightcrawlers and shrimp.

FALCON: Water murky; 89 degrees. The lake reopened July 27. Striped bass are slow. Channel and blue catfish are good

degrees; 0.02’ high. Black bass are fair to good on topwaters early, midday switching to Texas and Carolina rigs.

Crappie are fair. White bass are good on white Rooster Tails when schooling and white or chartreuse slabs on main lake structure. Catfish are fair.

POSSUM KINGDOM: Water stained; 81 degrees; 0.51’ low. Black bass are good on Senkos, shad-colored buzzbaits and spinnerbaits in mid-lake pockets.

Crappie are fair. White bass are good on live bait, silver/black back crankbaits and jigging spoons. Stripers are good on shad-colored crankbaits along the southern lake points. Catfish are good on shad and worms.

LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 84-87 degrees; 1.68’ high. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in 15-20 feet over brush piles. Catfish are good on trotlines and rod & reel with chicken livers, bloodbait and nightcrawlers.

Bream are fair.

PROCTOR: Water murky; 85 degrees; 2.67’ low. Black bass are fair on crankbaits and soft plastic worms early.

Crappie are good on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are good on trotlines and juglines baited with goldfish. Yellow catfish are fair.

LAVON: Water stained; 83-88 degrees; 2.82’ low. Black bass are fair on white buzzbaits early, later switching to shallow running crankbaits, camo jigs and Carolina rigs. Crappie are fair. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers and cut bait.

RAY HUBBARD: Water fairly clear; 84-87 degrees; 2.44’ low. Black bass are fair on shad pattern topwaters and buzzbaits early and late, midday switching to Carolina-rigged Baby Brush Hogs, spinnerbaits and jigs. Crappie are fair.

White bass are good on clear torpedoes, slabs and Rooster Tails. Hybrid striper are fair. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers.

LBJ: Water stained; 87 degrees; 0.32’

HOT SPOT

BOB SANDLIN: Water off-color; 83-88 degrees; 0.85’ low. Black bass are fair on topwaters early, later switching to Carolina rigs, spinnerbaits and jigs. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows under the railroad bridge in 15-25 feet. White bass are good on Rooster Tails. Catfish are fair.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water off-color; 83-88 degrees; 0.49’ low. Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits, jigs and Carolinarigged Ring Frys fished on main lake and secondary points. White bass and hybrid striper are fair. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair.

BRAUNIG: Water clear; 87 degrees. Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits and dark soft plastic worms in reeds and near the dam. Striped bass are good on liver and perch off points near the pier. Redfish are excellent on perch, shad and silver spoons.

BROWNWOOD: Water clear; 86 degrees; 6.63’ low. Black bass are fair on red bug and watermelon Grande Bass Finesse worms on Shaky Heads and watermelon red and trophy hunter-colored RattleSnakes. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are good on Li’l Fishies and Rat-LTraps off lighted docks at night. Crappie are good on Li’l Fishies over brush piles in 10-20 feet and off lighted docks at night in 18-24 feet. Channel catfish are good on cut bait over baited holes. Yellow catfish are good on trotlines baited with perch in 12-18 feet.

BUCHANAN: Water clear; 86 degrees; 8.80’ low. Black bass are good on white buzzbaits and Erratic jigs, watermelon topwaters and weightless Texas-rigged purple flake Whacky Sticks in pockets and points in creeks in 5-15 feet at first light. Striped bass are fair. White bass are fair. Crappie are good on minnows and crappie jigs over brush piles.

Channel catfish are good on live bait and dipbait.

CADDO: Water murky; 84-89 degrees; 0.38’ high. Black bass are fair on watermelon flukes and Texas-rigged worms in the bayous on the edges of the grass — also on frogs over the pads and grass.

Crappie are fair. Redear sunfish are fair.

CALAVERAS: Water clear; 87 degrees.

Black bass are slow. Striped bass are fair on spoons and striper jigs between the dam and the crappie wall and on chicken livers and shad along the shoreline. Redfish are excellent down-rigging silver and gold spoons in 10-20 feet, on live perch and tilapia along the shoreline and on live bait along the crappie wall.

Crappie are slow.

CANYON LAKE: Water clear; 84 degrees; 0.16’ high. Black bass are fair on watermelon red flukes, Texas-rigged watermelon Whacky Sticks and white crankbaits off points along flooded weeds and trees in 2-6 feet at first light.

Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Smallmouth bass are good on root beer grubs and craws and watermelon red tubes on ball jigheads on main lake points and ledges in 8-15 feet. Crappie are fair. Channel catfish are slow.

CEDAR CREEK: Water stained; 84-87 degrees; 0.55’ low. Black bass are fair on topwaters early, midday switching to jigs, Texas and Carolina rigs. White bass are good on topwaters and Little Georges

RAY ROBERTS: Water clear; 86-88 degrees; 0.87’ low. Black bass are slow during day and fair at night on black or blue fleck worms and black spinnerbaits.

Crappie are good on brush piles with minnows.

SAM RAYBURN: Water lightly stained; 87 degrees; 3.97’ low. Black bass are fair on minnows and watermelon soft plastic worms. White bass are fair. Crappie are fair. Bream are fair. Catfish are good on trotlines baited with live bait, cut bait and liver.

Coleman

Water fairly clear; 85 degrees; 8.27’ low. Hybrid striper are fair on live shad near the park and the store. Crappie are good on minnows and Li’l Fishies at night. Channel catfish are good on trotlines baited with live perch and chicken livers. on frozen shrimp, cut bait and stinkbait.

FAYETTE: Water fairly clear; 91 degrees.

Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits and Rat-L-Traps early and late and on Carolina-rigged watermelon red, watermelon gold, watermelon seed and green pumpkin soft plastics over humps during the day. Channel and blue catfish are slow.

FORK: Water fairly clear; 83-88 degrees; 0.33’ low. Crappie are fair on minnows in 15-25 feet under main lake bridges and around brush piles. Catfish are good on prepared baits in 15-20 feet.

GRANGER: Water clear; 87 degrees; 1.98’ low. Black bass are fair on Carolinarigged worms. White bass are fair. Crappie are good on chartreuse jigs in 5-12 feet. Blue catfish are good on shad and prepared bait in shallow water and on juglines in 10-20 feet.

GRAPEVINE: Water stained; 83-87 degrees; 0.45’ low. Black bass are fair on Carolina-rigged lizards, finesse baits on a shaky-head jig and Texas-rigged worms.

White bass are good on topwaters, Rooster Tails and live minnows. Catfish are fair.

HOUSTON COUNTY: Water clear; 88 degrees; 0.02’ low. Black bass to 4 pounds are good on watermelon worms near drop-offs. Crappie are fair. Bream are good on live worms off piers and over grass beds. Channel and blue catfish are good on nightcrawlers on rod and reel and on trotlines baited with perch.

HUBBARD CREEK: Water stained; 81 degrees; 7.53’ low. Black bass are good on black/blue jigs, watermelon candy soft plastics and live bait worked along grass lines and suspended along timber.

Crappie are good on jigs and minnows.

White bass are good on live bait and small shad-colored crankbaits. Catfish are good on live bait.

JOE POOL: Water off-color; 84-87

low. Black bass are fair on topwaters, weightless watermelon red Whacky Sticks and Bleeding Shad Rat-L-Traps along riprap on seawalls, docks and water willows in 3-12 feet at daylight.

White bass are slow. Crappie are fair.

Channel catfish are slow. Yellow and blue catfish are fair.

LEWISVILLE: Water stained; 84-88 degrees; 1’ low. Black bass are fair on topwaters early and late, midday switching to medium running shad pattern crankbaits, Texas and Carolina rigs. White bass are fair. Crappie are fair.

Catfish are fair on cut shad.

LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 86 degrees; 0.06’ high. Black bass are good on spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Striped bass are slow. White bass are good on slabs, pet spoons and trolling tubes. Blue catfish are good on shad.

NAVARRO MILLS: Water murky; 91 degrees; 0.31’ low. Black bass are good on crankbaits and worms near the dam early. White bass are good but small on Silver Dollar lures. Crappie are good on minnows at Crappie Point.

O.H. IVIE: Water lightly stained; 81 degrees; 22.66’ low. Black bass are good on green pumpkin or red shad soft plastics, baby bass crankbaits, white spinnerbaits and live bait worked along grass lines and timber. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Smallmouth bass are good on shad-colored soft plastic jerkbaits and live bait along tree lines.

Channel catfish are good on live and cut bait.

PALESTINE: Water lightly stained; 85-88 degrees; 0.29’ low. Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits in the timber and soft plastics around grass.

Crappie are good on minnows and jigs over brush piles and around bridge pilings. Hybrid striper and white bass are good on jigging spoons and Rat-L-Traps.

Catfish are good on chicken liver and bloodbait in 15-20 feet. Bream are good

SOMERVILLE: Water murky; 87 degrees; 0.13’ low. Black bass are slow. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are slow.

Crappie are slow.

TAWAKONI: Water fairly clear; 84-88 degrees; 0.73’ low. Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits and Texas rigs. Crappie are fair. White bass are good on slabs and Rooster Tails in 10-25 feet. Striped bass and hybrid striper are fair. Catfish are fair.

TEXOMA: Water off-color; 84-88 degrees; 1.04’ low. Black bass are fair on buzzbaits early, midday switching to spinnerbaits, Texas-rigged Power Worms and jigs. Crappie are fair. Striped bass are fair. Catfish are fair.

TOLEDO BEND: Water stained; 87 degrees; 3.99’ low. Black bass are fair on redbug and plum soft plastic worms early and late, diving baits in the evenings and on topwaters among schooling fish. Striped bass are slow. White bass are good on spoons. Crappie are slow to fair. Bream are excellent on crickets and nightcrawlers off docks in 4-5 feet. Channel and blue catfish are good on trotlines baited with live bait, stinkbait and liver.

TRAVIS: Water fairly clear; 87 degrees; 9.03’ low. Black bass are good on bone topwaters, red shad worms and smoke grubs in 12-28 feet. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on grubs, topwaters and jigging spoons. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are good on nightcrawlers and cut perch.

WALTER E. LONG: Water stained; 88 degrees. Black bass are slow. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are fair on nightcrawlers.

WEATHERFORD: Water lightly stained; 8589 degrees; 0.6’ low. Black bass are fair on soft plastics and spinnerbaits. Crappie are fair in the fishing barge and over brush piles on minnows. Channel catfish are good on nightcrawlers and dough bait. Yellow catfish are fair. Schooling white bass are good early.

WHITNEY: Water murky; 1.16’ low.

Black bass are slow. Striped bass are fair on live shad. White bass are fair on minnows, pet spoons and Charlie slabs.

Crappie are fair on minnows and yellow tube jigs. Catfish are good on frozen shrimp, stinkbait and live bait.

SALTWATER SCENE NORTH SABINE: Trout are fair in the river on live shad. Redfish are good in the cuts and drains leading to the marsh on shrimp and jigs tipped with shrimp.

SOUTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good while drifting the reefs on live shrimp and soft plastics. Trout, sheepshead and redfish are fair to good at the jetty on live shrimp and shad.

BOLIVAR: Trout are fair on the south shoreline on small topwaters and soft plastics.

Black drum, sand trout and redfish are good at Rollover Pass.

TRINITY BAY: Trout are good for drifters working wells and shell pads on shrimp and mullet. Redfish are good on live bait around the reefs and at the spillway.

EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are good for drifters working deep shell on plastics and live bait. Whiting and sand trout are good on the edge of the Intracoastal on fresh shrimp.

WEST GALVESTON BAY: Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp and crabs. Trout are fair around the railroad bridge on live shrimp over reefs.

Offshore is good for tarpon, kingfish and ling.

TEXAS CITY: Trout are fair on the reefs on live shrimp and croakers. Trout are fair along the edge of the Ship Channel on croakers and shrimp.

FREEPORT: Sand trout and sheepshead are good on live shrimp on the reefs in Bastrop Bay. Trout, Spanish mackerel and sand trout are good at the jetties on soft plastics and shrimp.

EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair for drifters on live shrimp over humps and scattered shell. Redfish are fair to good on the edge of the Intracoastal on crabs and mullet.

WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair on sand and grass humps on soft plastics and topwaters. Redfish are fair on live shrimp in Oyster Lake and Crab Lake.

PORT O’CONNOR: Trout and redfish are fair on live bait over sand, grass and shell in San Antonio Bay. Trout are fair to good at the jetty on live shrimp.

ROCKPORT: Trout are fair in the guts and channels on free–lined shrimp. Redfish are good on mullet and shrimp on the edge of the ICW. PORT ARANSAS: Trout, redfish and sheepshead are fair to good at the jetty on shrimp and croakers.

Trout are fair around Shamrock Cove on topwaters, piggies and croakers.

CORPUS CHRISTI: Trout are fair to good on the edge of the spoils on Gulps! and live shrimp. Redfish are good in the potholes on shrimp.

BAFFIN BAY: Trout are fair on topwaters around rocks and grass near the Land Cut. Trout are fair to good on the King Ranch shoreline on croakers, topwaters and plum Bass Assassins, Sand Eels and Trout Killers.

PORT MANSFIELD: Trout and redfish are fair on topwaters around sand and grass near spoil islands. Redfish are fair to good while drifting pot holes and sight–casting to shallow water. Offshore is good for kingfish and ling.

SOUTH PADRE: Trout are fair in South Bay on shrimp and plastics under rattling corks. Tarpon and kingfish have been caught at the jetty.

PORT ISABEL: Trout and redfish are fair to good on the flats on live shrimp and DOA Shrimp under a popping cork. Snook are good early in the morning around the Brownsville Ship Channel on topwaters.

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BIG BLUE: Capt. Brett Holden said the fishing for blue marlin has been good this summer off the Texas coast.

Photo by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Anglers: Fishing for marlin, swords going well

Captains change gears to find right bait

By Nicholas Conklin LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

The bite for billfish off the Texas coast has seen fair numbers of white and blue marlin caught this summer.

Swordfish have also been hot as of late with many anglers reporting daily catches.

Brett Holden, of the boat Booby Trap, reported anglers catching fair numbers of marlin near the Tequila and Cervesa oil rigs.

“All of the boats I have talked to out there have either hooked or caught a blue marlin,” Holden said. “The blue marlin bite has been going off pretty good.”

Holden said that on recent trips he has caught two to five marlin per day and reported that the colors of bait hasn’t really been a deciding factor.

“It’s just been a hit or miss on the colors,” Holden said. “A lot of people go by the clouds. On a cloudy day, I use a dark lure, and on bright days, I’ll use a bright lure.”

Holden has relied recently upon a mix of live and artificial baits, with most of his marSee BILLFISH, Page 16

August 13, 2010

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GAME WARDEN BLOTTER CO-WORKERS SHARE ACCUSATION OF GILL-NET FISHING While patrolling Lake Mackenzie, Briscoe County Game Warden Clint Hunt saw a person swimming with an inflated trash bag. Hunt then saw two other males near the shore with another inflated trash bag and placing it in the water. One of the people near the shore was releasing a net into the water. They were using the trash bags to help float a long gill net that they were placing across a cove. Once contact was made and citations were being issued, Hunt learned that the three people work for a restaurant. Fish were already in the net at the time of contact.

DEER ARE WILD ANIMALS, NOT PETS Henderson County Game Warden Dustin Balfanz received information about a person who had picked up a fawn deer in Houston County and transported it to Henderson County.

When Balfanz arrived at the person’s residence, the fawn was penned up and being bottle-fed. The deer was seized and relocated.

PIRANHAS NOT FOR SALE IN HARRIS COUNTY (LEGALLY) Harris County Game Warden Kevin Creed received a complaint regarding an individual in Houston selling red-bellied piranhas out of his residence. Creed contacted Harris County Game Warden John Rao about the complaint. A “buy” was set up by Game Warden John Rao, Capt. Albert Lynch and Lt. Johnny Longoria. A total of eight red-bellied piranhas were seized. Class B misdemeanor case pending.

CROSSING RANCH, TRUCK’S OCCUPANTS FOUND TO BE BREAKING LAW Jim Hogg County Game Warden Carlos Maldonado received a call for assistance from the U.S. Border

Deer breeders investigated for permit problems Polk County Game Wardens Ryan Hall, David Johnson and Brandon Mosley completed investigations into three area deer breeders. One of the people was cited for possession of breeder deer without a valid permit and for failing to ear tag several white-tailed deer in his

breeding facility. He also received a written warning for failing to submit his annual report.

The other two deer breeders were filed on for failure to release breeder deer from captivity within 30 days. Both people had received “soft release” authorizations from

the department to liberate whitetailed deer on their ranches and had kept the deer in the small pens for 75 to 90 days.

One person was catching and ear-tagging the fawns of the liberated deer in his “soft release” pen.

Cases pending.

Patrol Hebbronville Station. USBP agents observed a suspicious vehicle driving through a ranch while using infrared imagers. USBP agents and Warden Maldonado detained two people driving a four-door Dodge pickup truck. During the investigation it was discovered that the driver of the vehicle had numerous narcotrafficking violations and several Texas Parks and Wildlife violations.

The passenger was a 15-year-old juvenile unrelated to the driver.

Violators were released on citation for criminal trespass pending a non-consent affidavit from the landowner. The following morning USBP agents discovered 100 pounds of a green leafy substance bundled in duffel bags. Case pending.

directions on the water where people travel to and from their piers. The boat then started going at a very fast pace in a circle. Robinson was able to safely get close enough with his patrol boat while Strauss jumped on the out-of-control boat, bringing it to a stop. The situation had created quite an audience, and the wardens were praised by the people watching when things where brought swiftly under control. The person who was thrown or fell from the boat was looked at by EMS. The boat was taken and secured.

removing three miles of the illegal long line from the waters. Several large black drum and sharks were released. The next day while patrolling in the same area, another long line was located and removed from the waters. The second long line was pulled until it crossed the border and then it was cut. It was approximately one mile long.

WARDEN LEAPS ONTO RUNAWAY POWERBOAT Kleberg County Game Warden Matt Robinson and Kenedy County Game Warden Matt Strauss responded to a 911 call at Loyola Beach in Baffin Bay. Dispatchers from the sheriff’s office reported that a man had been thrown from his boat and the boat continued running at 3/4 speed unoccupied. Robinson and Strauss quickly launched and arrived at the scene. The individual, who was the boat operator, was rescued by another party and taken to shore just prior to their arrival.

The wardens both observed the high-powered boat traveling in all

HUNTING CLUB POACHED AT NIGHT Angelina County Game Warden Tim Walker made a vehicle stop on a truck spotlighting from a county road that divides the Angelina National Forest and a private hunting club. The three men had a Go-light, a spotlight and a .17-caliber rifle. After Walker interviewed the violators, each admitted to hunting hogs and varmints from the public road. Cases pending.

WARDENS ON PATROL CONFISCATE LONG LINE ON BORDER While patrolling the Gulf of Mexico onboard the Capt. Williams, Sgt. James Dunks along with Game Wardens Derek Reeder, Will Plumas and mechanic David Kimball located a long line north of the Mexican border. Wardens spent several hours

BIG VESSEL THROWS BIG WAKE — WHICH HITS LITTLE BOAT Game Warden Jarret Barker was working the Texas International Fishing Tournament for water safety violations. A 60-foot-long fishing vessel from Rockport was observed throwing a hazardous wake in the Brownsville ship channel. The boat was passing a column of smaller boats while throwing a 6-foot wave.

The wave hit another vessel throwing water across the fly bridge.

SEVEN PEOPLE SAVED FROM NEAR DISASTER Victoria County Game Wardens Travis Haug and Jon Kocian along with intern Kristy Worthy were patrolling Coleto Creek Reservoir when a boat capsized just outside the no-wake zone from the day-use area. Wardens were able to pull the seven people into their patrol vessel and assist with righting the boat that was sinking. Occupants of the vessel stated they hit a wave from another vessel departing the area

and the boat was swamped by the wave. The wardens assisted in getting the occupants of the vessel back to the dock along with their boat.

SURPRISED POACHER HAD NO LICENSE FOR FISHING, ILLEGAL DRUGS San Saba County Game Warden Brad Reeves was patrolling public access points along the San Saba and Colorado rivers. At a remote location along the Colorado River, Reeves came across a car parked with no one around. He walked up the river bank and began smelling marijuana burning. Reeves surprised two males who were fishing without a license and smoking weed. One of the people also had a crack pipe and crystal meth in his pants pocket.

They were arrested for possession of controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and fishing without a license.

BIG BUCK’S POACHER BROUGHT TO JUSTICE Ellis County Game Warden Jeff Powell received dispositions on a hunt without consent and hunt at night case on a 165 BC class deer that was poached last year. The person received 60 days in jail, a $500 fine, and lost his hunting/fishing licenses for five years.

DEAD AXIS IS A DEAD GIVEAWAY Real County Game Warden Shane Hohman was contacted in the early morning hours by a Border Patrol agent who had stopped a vehicle that contained a freshly killed axis buck. Hohman was able to get a sworn statement from the two occupants after he explained to them that the blood trail down the county road led directly back to the kill site and gut pile. Hunting from a public road charges pending.

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

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WINCHESTER SUPER X3 This fast-cycling shotgun, which gets its speed from an advanced autoloader, is now offered in a 20-gauge model by Winchester. The Walnut Field model has such features as an active valve system, back-bored technology, and a hard chrome chamber and bore. Hunters will also appreciate such niceties as its ambidextrous safety and length-of-pull spacers. Available in 26-inch and 28inch barrel lengths, this shotgun’s suggested price is $1,199.

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August 13, 2010

HEROES

MASON LAPLANTE, 9, of Midland shot this 200-pound hog with 3-inch tusks while coyote hunting with his grandfather in Ward County using a .243. Four inches of snow fell the night before, and several fresh tracks were seen in the area.

RUSTY STAFFORD caught this 9-pound,14-ounce bass — his personal best — while fishing on his property in Grimes County.

JOSHUA GARCIA, 10, of San Antonio caught this 5-pound largemouth bass on a Texas rig in the flooded waters of Lake Amistad.

BUD PARKS of Rowlett caught this 5-pound bass on Lake Monticello.

Share an adventure

DAN HUERTA caught this 46-inch redfish, his personal best, in Baffin Bay. WALKER WILSON, 10, of Keller, shot this gobbler with his new 20-gauge shotgun after calling him into wildflowers in Archer county.

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using a .243 Menard County year-old buck in 6is th ot sh et , of Burn Austin Crain, 13 Thanksgiving. re fo be ys da o tw

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Want to share hunting and fishing photos with other Lone Star Outdoor News readers? Send them to us with contact and caption information. editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355

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August 13, 2010

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

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CONSERVATION

Plan hopes to divert birds from La. coast

News in Brief

Federal grant, DU helping flood farm fields

By Nicholas Conklin LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico raised concerns over what to do with migratory birds that frequent the coast on their way south, and a new plan seeks to change their course.

To protect birds, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, a federal agency, and Ducks Unlimited partnered together to flood fields and plant crops to attract birds. The groups hope their flooded fields will be more attractive than Louisiana’s marshes.

The program applies to the private agricultural lands within and adjacent to flyways that enter the Gulf.

The initiative will be available in selected counties and parishes in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Texas.

Texas’ program will flood properties on the mid- and upper coast and provide an inland habitat for the migrating birds, said Scott Manley, president of DU Texas.

Texas counties involved include Liberty, Harden, Chambers, Jefferson, Colorado, Wharton, Fort Bend, Galveston, Brazoria, Harris, Lavaca, Jackson, Matagorda and Calhoun counties.

Matt Kaminski, regional biologist for DU, is leading the program.

“The goal of this program is to provide habitat on the Texas Gulf coast for shore birds, wading birds and waterfowl,” Kaminski said.

“DU’s main position in the program is to provide cost share at $25 an acre on top of the approved contracts by the NRCS,” As part of the cost sharing, Kaminski said DU will focus on aiding landowners who can provide land that will be attractive to the migrating birds.

“The goal is to start flooding these fields by

POINTED: Stickers carried as many as 46 points on his rack, which scored well over 300 Boone and Crockett. Photo by Nooner Ranch.

Texas deer with huge rack dies

DIVERSION PLAN: By flooding fields on the Gulf Coast, wildlife managers and advocates hope to steer migratory birds away from marshes on the Louisiana coast. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.

the middle of August and to have them hold water until the end of March,” Kaminski said.

By maintaining the new habitats until March, Kaminski said he hopes that returning birds, too, will have a source of clean food and water.

The Deepwater Horizon oil well exploded off the Louisiana coast April 20, causing the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

Kaminski said that the response from landowners has been positive, and he is pleased with the amount of people who want to participate.

“The program has been really well-received;

in Texas alone I have contracts with 40 landowners,” Kaminski said.

DU is scheduled to receive $2.5 million of an $8.75 million federal grant and plans to have that money allocated to the landowners within two to four weeks.

Kaminski is hopeful that the flooded fields will stand out to the migrating birds, and will be a stop on their return north in the spring.

“With increases of water on the landscape so early in the year, it is definitely going to be of great benefit,” Kaminski said. “It is definitely going to provide a lot of habitat to those birds that are coming down.”

Famed breeder buck Stickers, whose antlers once scored 354 Boone and Crockett points, died in June, said his owner, Sammy Nooner of Hondo.

The buck was 9 years old — old for a white-tailed deer — and was said to be the largest buck in Texas for some time.

The massive-antlered whitetail scored more than 300 B&C points for more than five years. Last year, his rack scored 329 B&C. At times, his antlers had 46 points.

Nooner said Stickers never recovered after breeding season.

He was eating well but never put on weight.

Though Stickers has died, his life as a breeder buck will live on. Nooner said he still has plenty of semen, which sells for $4,000 to $5,000 per straw, from the deer and his legacy will live a long time.

— Staff report

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Teal

Continued from Page 5

the growth of a large teal population.

“When there are plenty of ponds in that region, then we have a good duck hatch,” Robinson said. “The pond count for the region was up this year, which equates to more blue-winged teal in Texas.”

Guide Harlan Boettcher of Eagle Lake said that through his research he is expecting a high harvest of teal in his area 160 miles east of San Antonio.

Boettcher said that he has high expectations for the amounts of young birds that will make it to the coastal area.

“The forecast for this year is supposed to be a lot better, but we’re just going to play it by ear and see how it goes,” Boettcher said.

The amount of rainfall and ponds are crucial in the initial habitat for teal, but nearly as important will be habitat in Texas, Robinson said. The growth of rice on the coast and farmers’ harvest schedule is an important component to keeping the birds in prime hunting areas.

“If the harvest is early, then our fields are flooded up and they are too tall,” Robinson said. “Then we start losing some of our birds because we can’t hold them with open water.”

However, Robinson does not expect that to be the case this year and anticipates the conditions to be ideal by opening day.

MORE TROPHIES: The number of trophy largemouth bass reported caught at Lake Fork is up this year, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife. Photo by LSON.

Survey: Trophy catches increase at Lake Fork Count could reflect changing angler attitudes Anglers are reporting more catches of largemouth bass weighing 7 pounds or more at Lake Fork, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife.

After declining big bass catches for the last six years in the Lake Fork Trophy Bass Survey, nearly as many 7-pound or bigger bass were reported caught from March through June as were reported from March 2009 to February 2010. Anglers participating in the survey reported 733 big bass caught from March through June 2010, compared with 746 for the 12 months ending in February.

“This year’s cold winter delayed the spawn, which pushed the peak of entries into April,” said Kevin Storey, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Inland Fisheries biologist in charge of managing Lake Fork. “As a result, this was the first year since the survey began in 2003 that the number of entries was higher in April than in March.”

The big bass boom in late spring and early summer was good news for the fabled Lake Fork fishery. The seven-year average of fish weighSee FORK, Page 16

LITTLE FLYERS: Teal numbers should be high in Texas this year because of good conditions in the birds’ summer breeding grounds in the northern U.S. and Canada.

Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.

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August 13, 2010

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Billfish

Continued from Page 9

lin taking live baits.

“We have been fishing a mixed rig, fishing lures and naturals,” Holden said.

“Most of the blue marlin here recently (have) been caught on the naturals.”

Holden reported a good swordfish bite and landed most of his swords on blue runners and squid. Holden hopes that it continues and he can repeat a combined 15-fish performance from two trips in late July.

Don Housman, who captains the Gunslinger, said some of the best billfishing has come when he has been able to work weedlines out of Port Aransas.

“We were about 100 miles out on a weedline,” Housman said. “Then there was a temperature change, and I did well fishing off the change.”

Angler Brandon Perthuis of Pearland spent three days offshore in late July, fishing for marlin and swordfish. Although seeing fish and hooking into some swords, the anglers on board boated only two swords over the weekend.

“We covered 360 miles of the Gulf, and trolling was pretty slow,” Perthuis

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said. “We fished all day Saturday and had just one white marlin to show for our efforts.”

The fished weighed about 100 pounds and was caught while trolling with a lumo-colored Pakula.

Perthuis reported seeing one marlin free jumping along a weedline that the group had trolled for most of the day.

“There was a rip that had big, thick weeds mats all the way up and down it,” Perthuis said. “We trolled up and down it, and any other weekend it would be producing fish; they just weren’t there.”

Almost 90 percent of the fishing the group did over the weekend was with artificial baits because live bait has not been producing as many fish as artificial.

“We didn’t have much luck on the live bait on this trip,” Perthuis said. “So we trolled with a spread of different Pakulas and Black Barts.”

In the Texas International Fishing Tournament on July 28, Housman landed two fair-sized white and blue marlin. He said that most of his success was on artificial lures. Housman also reported missing two whites during the two-day tournament.

Fork

Continued from Page 15

ing more than 7 pounds or measuring 24 inches or more in length is 1,519 per survey year. That number declined to its lowest level of 746 fish reported from March 2009 to February 2010.

“The decline could be real, or it could be due to dwindling interest in the survey,” Storey said. “Reduced participant interest is a common cause of declining reporting rates in volunteer surveys such as this.

The first year starts off with enthusiasm, and then people lose interest. We also considered whether the decline in numbers was due to erratic angling or changes in the bass population.”

Fisheries biologists have started to rely on volunteer surveys such as the one on Lake Fork to track trophy fish because so few are collected using the traditional method of electrofishing, often called shocking.

“Electrofishing doesn’t do a very good job of collecting big fish,” Storey said. “It’s done at night along the shoreline, generally in water five feet deep or shallower. Larger fish are seldom encountered in these areas.”

Comparing the numbers of fish caught by electrofishing with those reported in the trophy bass survey illustrates Storey’s point. During the seven-year history of the Lake Fork Trophy Bass Survey, combined catches in all spring and fall electrofishing surveys have yielded 3,137 fish, only three of which were 24 inches or longer, and 12 weighed 7 pounds or more. In contrast, anglers have reported catching 11,141 fish 7 pounds or heavier or 24 inches or longer in the same time period.

“Of the 11,141 fish reported in the survey, 83 percent were weighed, and of those, 15.6 percent weighed 10 pounds or more,” Storey said.

“Anglers measured the length of 64 percent of the fish, and one-third of those were 24 inches or longer.”

— Texas Parks and Wildlife report

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WADE A MINUTE: Fishing the surf at Sabine Lake in Southeast Texas has put anglers on good catches of speckled trout. Photo by Marina J. Sams, for Lone Star Outdoor News.

For success at Sabine Lake, fish the surf

Other areas producing good catches, too

By Nicholas Conklin LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

Fishing on Sabine Lake has held steady through the summer months, and reports of good catches of speckled trout and redfish have been made.

Guide Jerry Norris has reported high catches of trout shallow and deep.

“We’ve been catching a lot of trout wade fishing in the surf, ” Norris said. “And we have been catching a lot of redfish up in the lake under the birds.”

For the trout, Norris said he has fished mainly with chartreuse/diamond Bass Assassins on jigheads in about 2 to 5 feet of water.

The reason for the deep water depends on how active the trout are searching for food.

“The last few times they have been pretty close to the bottom,” Norris said. “So we’ve had to use a little heavier jighead to get it down

to the bottom.”

Redfish in the lake have been caught on various lures, but the most effective have been topwaters. The fishing for reds has been focused around schooling birds, and anglers have caught many while wade fishing.

Anglers have also reported catching redfish on cut mullet around Sabine Pass.

Norris reported the catches of redfish were of average keeper size, but nothing over 28 inches has been landed recently.

Dimitri Schwarznau of SGS bait and tackle shop reported that anglers have been catching fair numbers of trout and redfish near the coves in the upper portion of the lake. She also reported that anglers were catching their limits recently despite heavy rains.

Heavy rains besieged the area midsummer, causing some to wonder how the storms impacted the fishing. Schwarznau said they did not appear to have a negative effect, but anglers and guides had to work around them.

She said that most anglers waited out some of the smaller storms and were successful throughout the lake, including down at the ship channel.

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Bass fishing on O.H. Ivie TECHNIQUE: ■ When fishing hydrilla weeds, focus on getting bait/lure underneath the mat of weeds.

■ This can be done by making a high arcing cast and punching the bait through the weeds.

■ Also, fishing the open pockets within the weeds will allow your bait to reach the bottom.

EQUIPMENT: ■ 7-foot medium/heavy to heavy casting rod. (A 7-foot, 6-inch flipping rod works well also.)

■ 20- to 30-pound braid or monofilament line.

■ Texas-rigged artificial worm, with a size 3 or 4 hook.

■ Half-ounce to 1 1/2-ounce tungsten bullet weights. Tungsten has a higher density than lead sinkers, which will help to punch through thick weeds.

O.H. Ivie

Continued from Page 1

in the year, the quality of the fish has held steady.

“Were still catching some big fish,” Hagler said. “They’re real finicky, and the numbers are down considerably.”

Punch it The key to catching big bass on Ivie, Hagler said, is in the technique.

His favorite lately has been punching through the floating hydrilla with a weighted Texas- or Carolina-rigged worm.

“Very few people know how to punch grass,” Hagler said. “Your novice fisherman doesn’t know that, but punching the grass is definitely a good technique right now.”

When punching through a heavily weeded area, Hagler uses a shaky head jig on artificial bait. Depending on the location of the weeds, most bass have been taken between 10 to 12 feet underneath the weed cover. An angler can also use a heavy tungsten sinker to cut through the dense weeds.

The technique has landed Hagler several fish recently weighing 9 to 12 pounds.

His favorite colors for grass-punching have been watermelon red and blue flake.

Hagler also said topwater baits have been good producers when fished in the early morning and twilight hours. His most successful topwater lure has been frogs, fished in and around weeds.

Greg Gregerson of San Angelo fished Ivie in late July and reported that the fishing had slowed considerably because of temperatures over 100.

“The heat had them slowed down a little

bit,” Gregerson said. “You can go out there and fish all day and get that one big one. But its not like it was earlier in the year when you could get 15 to 20 bass in the morning.”

Gregerson reported fair catches of fish while working topwater baits along weeds.

Using green frogs, he landed few fish during the morning hours weighing between 2 to 3 pounds.

His fish came on dark green frogs, but he also found success working various colors of swimbaits.

Deeper down Guide JR Howard has caught fish around weeds with Texas- or Carolina-rigged worms.

A Texas-rigged craw in spray grass color and Carolina-rigged lizards have landed Howard fish in the 8- to 9-pound range.

Most of Howard’s fishing has been outside of grass edges in about 15-18 feet. He also has caught fish along the edges of channels at 20 to 30 feet.

“There are a lot of suspended fish right now, off the points, and a lot of them are between 25 to 30 (feet) down,” Howard said.

Howard recently has focused on fishing near schooling white bass, and has caught several largemouths in and around the whites.

“When you find those white bass schooling, there’s quite a few blacks in there with them,” Howard said. “So if you throw a bigger spoon you can catch some pretty good blacks in those schools.”

He has been fishing with Strike King Sexy Spoons and dark-colored artificial shad.

Howard said fishing with bigger spoons will keep the whites away and be effective on black bass.

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

WATER-SNACKIN’: One recommendation for better offshore safety is to take food and drinking water for twice as many days as the trip is planned.

Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.

Safety

Continued from Page 6

Both Pierson and Frasier said that they have assisted on many calls over the years from distressed boaters. Radio contact between vessels is nearly as important a safety gear.

“Always have a good VHF marine radio,” Pierson said. “And keep it on channel 16 so you can call the Coast Guard for help if you need it.”

Frasier, who has weathered two major storms during his 30-year career on the water, said that paying close attention to weather reports is crucial. But with advancements in

technology, the ability to avoid those storms has become much easier for offshore anglers.

Both guides said the amount of offshore incidents this year has decreased from previous years, a number, Frasier said, that might be due to a scenario that occurred last year near Matagorda. The incident involved a catamaran that flipped several miles off the shore, stranding several boaters.

The boaters were found adrift after eight days in the water, and all survived with only minor injuries.

“That kind of woke everybody up at Matagorda, and they’re paying real close attention to what’s going on,” Frasier said.

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August 13, 2010

Page 19

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August 13, 2010

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NATIONAL

ESPN agrees to sell BASS to investors Deal comes as network trims outdoors shows

By Nicholas Conklin LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

ESPN announced Aug. 3 that it intends to sell the controlling assets of BASS to a group of investors led

by Jerry McKinnis, Don Logan and Jim Copeland.

The deal has not been finalized, but upon completion the group will acquire ownership of all of the largemouth bass organization’s assets, including three magazines and a Web site. Under that umbrella is the Texas BASS federation, which maintains about 40,000 members in the state.

Charles Harkless, president of the Texas BASS Federation Nation, does not anticipate any major changes in the group because of the sale.

“As it stands right now, it has no effect on us, until we get the new management in and we get directions on how they’re going to run the operation,” Harkless said.

Doug Grassian, communications manager for ESPN outdoors, said that the pending sale stems from a shift in programming implemented by the network. ESPN, which purchased BASS in 2001, is transitioning to live-event-based programming beginning in 2011.

Grassian said new pending owners Logan, McKinnis and Copeland have experience in the media and outdoors industry. Grassian has

CASTING CALL: An ESPN cameraman films pro angler Skeet Reese during a BASS tournament. The television network will continue to broadcast coverage from the top tiers of BASS tournament fishing after it sells the organization. Photo by ESPN.

high expectations for the group, and said the transition in leadership will be a smooth one.

“The purchasing parties provide a nice transitional point for the business because of their familiarity and successes in the media industry,” Grassian said.

McKinnis was the host of the

network’s second-longest-running show, “The Fishin’ Hole,” from 1980 until 2007. Logan, a retired executive from Time Inc., has been in the media industry for several years and at one time oversaw Time Inc., America Online and Time Warner Cable until his retirement in 2002.

Copeland, of Georgia, retired as U.S.

and global CEO of international financial services firm Deloitte in 2003. He serves on the board of directors of three Fortune 500 companies.

With a change in leadership, Harkless is optimistic about a different approach that may come out of the deal.

“I see it being a more personal, one-on-one type of situation where they will work for the membership,” Harkless said. “Maybe they can work a deal where it isn’t all going back to ESPN the company and start giving back to the federation.”

Harkless said that while dealing with a major network such as ESPN, often times a majority of advertising profits would go directly to the parent company, leaving little to filter down to the membership federations.

The proposed sale comes on the heels of the cancellation of outdoors programming on the ESPN2 channel.

It is unclear at this point if any BASS tournaments will be affected by the change. The next Texas tournament is still scheduled for Oct. 21-23 on Lake Texoma.

The core events such as the Bassmaster Elite Series and the Bassmaster Classic will remain as part of the programming block for several years.

Specific details on the deal have not been released, and until an agreement is reached, BASS will continue to operate under ESPN’s ownership.

The time line for finalization of the sale and its impact to member organizations is still uncertain, and Randy Brudinicki, communications director for the Texas BASS Federation Nation, said that the process would take some time.

“I think it is a little to early to tell,” Brudinicki said. “There probably won’t be any major changes for a while. And we probably won’t see anything for a year or so.”

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Page 21

Hunting News in Brief

Spearfish

Continued from Page 1

“Its so relaxing you can just sit down there,” Parker said. “I can get to the point now where I can take off the mask and fins and have a good time down there.”

An accomplished diver, Parker holds a master diver certification and has been diving for the past 16 years. Experience in the water is necessary, Parker said, because diving alone can be dangerous. The addition of a gun can create potentially life-threatening situations.

“You’re shooting a weapon underwater, and there a lot of safety factors that go into it,” Parker said.

Experience underwater is critical, said Rey Gonzalez of Laredo.

“You can never get into a panic situation,” Gonzalez said. “Panic will kill you; you’ll make a bad decision, and you’ll lose your life.”

Gonzalez has been diving in the Port Aransas area for more than 25 years. He first fell in love with scuba diving on his family trips to the area.

One mistake Gonzalez said people make is after receiving open-water dive certification, they believe that they can jump into the sport.

“There is a learning curve after you become certified,” Gonzalez said. “Once you get certified, you need to become a good diver before you can add additional activities to your diving.”

Gonzalez said it could take many years and hundreds of dives before a person can fully prepared to spearfish.

Spearfishing is kin to both hunting and fishing. It is similar to conventional rod-andreel fishing in that the angler must blend the bait into its surroundings to attract a fish’s attention. It is similar to hunting because divers are required to blend themselves into an environment without spooking nearby fish.

Gonzalez said fish can sense predatory behavior, so a diver should avoid acting like a “top-of-the-food-chain” person trying to harvest a fish.

“You need to blend in with the schooling fish, streamline yourself,” Gonzalez said.

“And try not to exhibit predatory behavior.”

Using the natural camouflage of the rigs, Parker is able to stalk fish while staying out of their vision.

August 13, 2010

Texan wins junior trap shotgun title in Germany

SHARP SHOOTERS: Luis Hinojosa of Laredo, left, and Randall Manning of Laredo show off a 40-pound amberjack they caught on a spearfishing trip off the Texas coast. Photo by Rey Gonzalez.

Spear gear ■ Spear guns are often made of wood, and spears are made of metal. Metal-metal combinations tend to be noisier underwater than using differing materials.

■ Free diving: When free diving, the spear is attached by rope to a boat on the surface.

■ Scuba diving: Scuba divers link their spear and gun via cable, much like bowfishing, where the arrow is attached to the bow by a long string.

“I like to sit on the rig legs or hide along the rig legs so I am disguised,” Parker said. “So if a fish is coming around the corner of a rig leg, I am right there and can take it.”

Standard spearfishing equipment is similar to that of scuba gear — with the addition of a speargun, said Mike Cryer of Hydro Sports Scuba in Lake Jackson.

A spear gun is usually made of wood, and spears are metal. In free diving, the spear is attached to a rope, which is tied to the boat.

With scuba diving, the spear is generally attached to a 20- to 30-foot wire cable, which is attached to the gun.

Guns can range from 42 to 65 inches in

length, with spear shafts between 45 and 67 inches.

A wooden gun is used for two specific reasons, Cryer said.

“Metal to wood is a much quieter gun than metal to metal is,” Cryer said. “It is a laminated teak so it is extremely strong and dense, as well.”

Cryer’s favorite gun has been on about 2000 dives with him. It has been his main spear gun since he bought it in 1999.

Some scuba shops in Texas have started selling equipment and offer training for experienced divers. Cryer’s shop offers classes and hosts group trips out to the rigs.

Junior shooters Miranda Wilder of Diana and Sarah Scherer of Fort Worth were the lone gold medal winners for the Americans at the World Championships in Munich, Germany, on Aug 1.

Wilder won the world championship in trap shooting after defeating Catherine Skinner of Australia in a nine-bird shoot-off.

In the junior women’s 50m rifle, Sarah Scherer of Fort Worth demolished the former world junior record by a whopping 11 points.

Scherer finished with 582 points and a gold medal.

Wilder Morgan Harbison of Farmersville climbed the podium for a team silver medal as part of the men’s junior trap team. Individually, Harbison finished 42nd with 107 total targets.

In the junior women’s 10m air rifle, Scherer finished 30th with a match score of 393 points. Scherer struggled in the beginning but finished with a strong 100 in her fourth series.

Finally, in junior women’s 25m Pistol, Taylor Gallegos of Prosper, shot for 478 points and finished at number 49.

Shortly before Wilder won her world title, the U.S. was represented in the men’s 10m air rifle final by Matt Emmons of Brown Mills, N.J. Emmons shot a disappointing 8.4-point 10th shot, which put him in sixth place. The shot moved him one place shy of a 2012 Olympic spot. Other finishers include Matt Rawlings of Wharton, who finished in the No. 20 spot, and Jonathan Hall of Carrollton, Ga., at number 68.

Corey Cogdell of Eagle River, Alaska, finished in eighth, just out of medal contention. Terri DeWitt of Columbus, Ga., finished 26th with 67 targets, and Susan Sledge of El Cajon, Calif., came in 33rd with a total of 66 targets.

— USA Shooting report

Page 22

August 13, 2010

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

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Elk

Continued from Page 4

Pittman said.

The biggest problem, Pittman said, is that the elk drink water from cisterns set up to help desert bighorns. The cisterns, called guzzlers, cost $40,000 to $50,000 each and were paid for by the Texas Bighorn Society.

The elk also eat forage plants that could be eaten by bighorns.

“We have had reports of elk camping out at a guzzler, spending the night and drinking it dry,” said Robert Joseph, the president of the Texas Bighorn Society.

Simpler terms For some neighbors, including Texas Parks and Wildlife, the elk situation is similar to one that plays out on Texas ranches every day: One rancher’s stock gets loose onto his neighbor’s property — eating and drinking his resources.

“Quite simply, the presence of elk at the WMA is a biological proposition that we did not initiate, ask for, nor support in our plans to re-establish a viable bighorn herd,” said Carter Smith, executive director of TPW, in a letter to Gill. “Throughout our history at the WMA, we have tried to reduce any source of competition, actual or perceived, with bighorn sheep for available space, forage, and particularly water in this landscape. I respect and understand that this philosophy is not shared by you.”

At the nearby Lutich Ranch, Scott Roosevelt sees 30 to 40 elk on his property at times.

“They flourish pretty good right now,” said Roosevelt, whose wife’s family moved to the property in 1906. “But that’s what I’m worried about.”

West Texas, including Roosevelt’s 13 square miles of land, has received abundant rainfall the past few years, he said. Conditions have helped the elk population grow, he said, but if poor conditions return, the elk might outcompete other game, such as mule deer and desert bighorn sheep.

“I don’t want my mule deer run out,” Roosevelt said.

Gill and Smith met this spring to discuss the situation, a meeting that resulted in one small change to wildlife management at Sierra Diablo in Gill’s favor.

MOUNTAIN KING: Desert bighorn sheep are highly sought-after game animals in West Texas, where permits to hunt them are rare. Photo by Circle Ranch.

Previous strategy called for TPW to “eliminate all exotic wildlife populations” at Sierra Diablo. The plan was devised with concern toward controlling aoudad sheep, Smith said.

Now, instead of trying to eradicate elk, TPW’s plan calls for controlling their numbers, Smith said.

“A goal of ‘elimination’ of elk is simply not practicable,” Smith said.

Joseph said the Texas Bighorn Society does not have a problem with elk living at the WMA. But the group does not want any animal to throw the delicate ecosystem out of balance, and he wants TPW to err on the side of bighorns.

“We’re concerned about any animal overusing what limited resources there are there, water being one of them,” Joseph said. “Food being another one, whether it’s elk or aoudad sheep.”

LSONews.com

Future

Continued from Page 6

Park in San Antonio would be a good way to spend time with his son.

Although designed for those with little or no knowledge of fishing, the program can also be rewarding for avid anglers.

Luis Villarreal decided to take his son Marcos, 11, to a Fishing’s Future event at Adolph Thomae County Park in Arroyo City. An active angler, Villarreal took his son because he wanted to pass along the passion he found many years ago.

Villarreal said that the most enjoyable part was that many of the children were able to catch their own fish, which is an important part to keeping children interested.

The inclusion of local game wardens helped provide specifics about regulations. Villarreal liked the participation by the wardens because the legal side of fishing can be complicated, especially to young minds.

“It was a good learning experience, not just for fishing but also in making them aware of those rules

Outdoor News in Brief

STEEL SKILL: Anh Thu Do chose a steelhead as the subject of her painting in the Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest because she used to live in the Northwest.

Photo by Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Texan wins national fish-art contest A senior at Liberty High School won the 2010 Art of Conservation Stamp Award in the 12th annual nationwide Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest.

Anh Thu Do of Liberty received the honor Saturday at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, site of this year’s contest expo. Do’s painting of a steelhead trout also took first place for grades 10-12 in the Texas division of the contest. It was her first drawing of a fish.

“I chose to paint a steelhead because I used to live in Washington State,” said Do, who has lived in Texas about a year.

Do’s painting is available as a collector’s stamp. Proceeds from sales of the stamp help fund Wildlife Forever conservation projects.

Do was a student of Marsha Rader, an art teacher at the school.

“Anh Thu is really the art teacher’s dream student,” Rader said. “I didn’t have to teach her anything — I just encouraged her to get out of the box and try different media and techniques.”

— Texas Parks and Wildlife report

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for protecting the fish,” Villarreal said.

Game wardens helped the attendees practice measuring and weighing wooden fish replicas, and taught them proper handling techniques using live fish.

The final portion of the event centers on the “leave no trace” philosophy. The management of the resources and the ability to enjoy nature while not trashing it is a concept Wilson hopes to educate younger generations on.

“Trash in nature is unsightly,” Wilson said. “I think it’s important to teach that it lies within each of us that responsibility to be conscious of what we’re throwing down.”

Another turn from the traditional camp norm is when attendees are given garbage bags and asked to pick up trash in the surrounding areas. Wilson provides the students and parents with garbage bags and offers prizes for those who pick up the most trash.

Wilson hopes to expand the program to other states and is organizing fly-fishing events in Colorado.

August 13, 2010

Page 23

NOSE TO TAIL: With the help of game wardens and wooden cutouts, children learn to measure fish during a Fishing’s Future event.

Page 24

August 13, 2010

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LONE STAR MARKET

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August 13, 2010

Page 25

Hawk wins FLW cup in Georgia Former Californian takes extra $100,000 from Pickens Kevin Hawk of Buford, Ga., won the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup on Sunday with a 5-bass limit weighing 14 pounds, 13 ounces on Lake Lanier in Georgia. Hawk won the tournament by 2 pounds, 6 ounces.

Hawk, who would have earned $500,000 for his Forrest Wood Cup victory, was pleasantly surprised when Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens, a new equity partner in FLW Outdoors, personally contributed $100,000 to the champion. With that, Hawk took home $600,000 for his victory.

“I’m super happy,” Hawk said.

“If I’m not showing it, I’m blowing up inside right now. It’s probably not going to set in realistically until the next few days. I’m still kind of in shock. I’m just going to savor the moment. When it all calms down I’ll have time to reflect on the moment, for sure.”

BASSMASTER: Kevin VanDam reacts as he is named Bassmaster Angler of the Year. Photo by Chris Brown, Strike King.

VanDam wins 3rd Angler of the Year title With 19th career win comes crown Pro angler Kevin VanDam hooked his third consecutive and sixth overall Bassmaster Angler of the Year title Aug. 1.

VanDam’s 20-year career has played out like an assault on the BASS record book. He won his 19th BASS career victory Saturday at the Evan Williams Bourbon Trophy Triumph in Alabama, which ties him for the most victories with Roland Martin.

Paired with VanDam’s win in February of the Bassmaster Classic, VanDam is only the second angler to score both of the most prestigious titles in the sport over the course of the same season. And probably most important — VanDam netted $200,000 to push his career earnings to more than $4.5 million, by far the most in BASS’s 40-year-plus history.

VanDam also becomes the first person since Mark Davis, also a Strike King pro staffer, to win both the Classic and Angler of the Year in the same season. Davis did it in 1995.

The popular perception might be that VanDam would lose a touch of motivation and get fat and happy, but exactly the opposite is true.

“I never get tired of winning,” said VanDam, 42. “This title was the hardest for me to accomplish so it means that much more. I take nothing for granted because I face competition every day that can beat me.

“It’s easy to stay motivated when that’s the case.”

It was an uphill climb for VanDam, See KVD, Page 30

Hawk relocated from California to Georgia in November 2009 after he qualified as a pro for the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup through the 2009 FLW Series National Guard Western Division. He said the clear western waters he was used to are very similar to Lake Lanier.

Rounding out the top six pros were: 2nd — Cody Meyer, Grass Valley, Calif., 20 bass, 48-8, $100,000 3rd — Larry Nixon, Bee Branch, Ark., 19 bass, 47-3, $85,000 4th — National Guard pro Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 19 bass, 468, $60,000 5th — Troy Morrow, Toccoa, Ga., 18 bass, 41-13, $50,000 6th — Ronald Hobbs Jr., Orting, Wash., 15 bass, 35-3, $45,000 The six top finishers caught 21 bass Sunday, with a total weight of 48 pounds, 7 ounces. The catch

included 2 five-bass limits.

“In Southern California, the lakes I grew up on are deep, clear reservoirs, so when I came to Lanier I felt right at home,” Hawk said. “They were set up exactly the same way — light line and finesse tactics. So I felt comfortable from the day I got here.”

Hawk said he concentrated on fishing between Brown’s Bridge and the dam on the south end of the lake.

“Today they started biting the (Swarming Hornet) Fish Head Spin really good and when they started doing that, I knew I had to set down that spinning rod and cover as much water as I could and hit as many brush piles as I could with the Fish Head Spin, because the Fish Head Spin is going to catch you better quality fish on average than a dropshot (rig) by far,” Hawk said.

Hawk said he threw the 1/2-ounce Albino Fish Head Spin on a cranking

BIG WINNER: Kevin Hawk won the Forrest Wood Cup —the FLW fishing series’ highest award — and a $600,000 prize. Photo by FLW.

rod and 10-pound-test fluorocarbon line paired with a white Zoom Super Fluke Jr. Hawk said his drop-shot setup consisted of a Morning Dawn Roboworm paired with a 3/8-ounce drop-shot weight on a 12-inch leader and 7-pound-test line fished from a

drop-shot rod.

Hawk said he did not plant any brush piles of his own because he felt there was enough brush in the lake; all he had to do was find it with his electronics.

— FLW report

Page 26

August 13, 2010

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

Sun | Moon | Tides

Full

Time 12:04 p.m.

6:04 a.m.

6:18 a.m.

6:16 a.m.

4:25 p.m.

5:29 p.m.

6:26 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

9:07 a.m.

9:03 a.m.

9:06 a.m.

9:24 a.m.

9:53 a.m.

10:26 a.m.

11:01 a.m.

Height 0.5 L 2.3 H 2.3 H 2.3 H -0.4 L -0.4 L -0.4 L -0.2 L 2.3 L 2.3 L 2.1 L 2.0 L 1.6 L 1.4 L 1.1 L

Time 7:03 p.m.

1:07 p.m.

2:12 p.m.

3:18 p.m.

Height 2.3 H 0.2 L -0.2 L -0.4 L

Time

Time Height 6:33 a.m. 1.9 H 12:42 a.m. 1.1 L 1:45 a.m. 1.6 L 4:00 a.m. 1.7 L 1:46 a.m. 2.1 H 3:01 a.m. 2.3 H 3:53 a.m. 2.3 H 4:32 a.m. 2.3 H 4:57 a.m. 2.1 H 5:06 a.m. 2.0 H 5:09 a.m. 2.0 H 5:14 a.m. 1.9 H 5:23 a.m. 1.9 H 5:33 a.m. 1.9 H 5:44 a.m. 1.9 H

11:22 a.m.

12:29 p.m.

1:28 p.m.

2:26 p.m.

3:26 p.m.

4:29 p.m.

5:39 p.m.

2.5 H 2.5 H 2.3 H 2.3 H 2.3 H 2.1 H 2.1 H

7:56 p.m.

8:29 p.m.

8:57 p.m.

9:21 p.m.

9:45 p.m.

10:10 p.m.

10:38 p.m.

0.0 L 0.2 L 0.4 L 0.5 L 0.9 L 1.1 L 1.4 L

Time 7:50 p.m.

1:33 p.m.

2:38 p.m.

3:44 p.m.

Height 1.9 H 0.1 L -0.1 L -0.3 L

Time

Height

8:53 p.m. 2.3 H 10:57 p.m. 2.5 H

Time Height 12:46 a.m. 0.4 L 1:38 a.m. 0.7 L 2:41 a.m. 0.9 L 12:14 a.m. 1.2 H 2:16 a.m. 1.3 H 3:31 a.m. 1.4 H 4:23 a.m. 1.4 H 5:02 a.m. 1.4 H 5:27 a.m. 1.3 H 5:36 a.m. 1.2 H 5:39 a.m. 1.2 H 5:44 a.m. 1.1 H 5:53 a.m. 1.1 H 6:03 a.m. 1.1 H 6:14 a.m. 1.1 H

Height 0.4 L 1.9 H 1.9 H 1.9 H -0.3 L -0.3 L -0.3 L -0.1 L 1.9 L 1.9 L 1.7 L 1.6 L 1.3 L 1.1 L 0.9 L

Time 7:03 a.m.

7:21 a.m.

7:35 a.m.

4:56 a.m.

5:47 p.m.

6:51 p.m.

7:48 p.m.

8:37 p.m.

10:29 a.m.

10:25 a.m.

10:28 a.m.

10:46 a.m.

11:15 a.m.

11:48 a.m.

12:23 p.m.

Height 1.1 H 1.1 H 1.1 H 1.0 L -0.2 L -0.2 L -0.2 L -0.1 L 1.1 L 1.1 L 1.0 L 0.9 L 0.8 L 0.7 L 0.5 L

Time 12:27 p.m.

6:13 a.m.

6:27 a.m.

6:25 a.m.

4:48 p.m.

5:52 p.m.

6:49 p.m.

7:38 p.m.

9:30 a.m.

9:26 a.m.

9:29 a.m.

9:47 a.m.

10:16 a.m.

10:49 a.m.

11:24 a.m.

Height 0.3 L 1.6 H 1.6 H 1.6 H -0.2 L -0.2 L -0.2 L -0.1 L 1.2 L 1.2 L 1.1 L 1.0 L 0.8 L 0.7 L 0.5 L

9:40 p.m. 1.9 H 11:44 p.m. 2.0 H

12:09 p.m.

1:16 p.m.

2:15 p.m.

3:13 p.m.

4:13 p.m.

5:16 p.m.

6:26 p.m.

2.0 H 2.0 H 1.9 H 1.9 H 1.9 H 1.7 H 1.7 H

8:22 p.m.

8:55 p.m.

9:23 p.m.

9:47 p.m.

10:11 p.m.

10:36 p.m.

11:04 p.m.

0.0 L 0.1 L 0.3 L 0.4 L 0.7 L 0.9 L 1.1 L

Time 1:26 p.m.

2:29 p.m.

3:34 p.m.

7:33 a.m.

Height 0.3 L 0.1 L -0.1 L 1.1 H

12:39 p.m.

1:46 p.m.

2:45 p.m.

3:43 p.m.

4:43 p.m.

5:46 p.m.

6:56 p.m.

1.2 H 1.2 H 1.1 H 1.1 H 1.1 H 1.0 H 1.0 H

9:18 p.m.

9:51 p.m.

10:19 p.m.

10:43 p.m.

11:07 p.m.

11:32 p.m.

0.0 L 0.1 L 0.2 L 0.3 L 0.4 L 0.5 L

Time 7:12 p.m.

1:30 p.m.

2:35 p.m.

3:41 p.m.

Height 1.6 H 0.1 L -0.1 L -0.2 L

Time

Height

Date Aug 13 Aug 13 Aug 14 Aug 15 Aug 16 Aug 17 Aug 18 Aug 19 Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug 22 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 25 Aug 26

Time Height 5:55 a.m. 1.6 H 12:39 a.m. 0.7 L 1:42 a.m. 1.0 L 3:57 a.m. 1.1 L 1:08 a.m. 1.8 H 2:23 a.m. 2.0 H 3:15 a.m. 2.0 H 3:54 a.m. 2.0 H 4:19 a.m. 1.8 H 4:28 a.m. 1.7 H 4:31 a.m. 1.7 H 4:36 a.m. 1.6 H 4:45 a.m. 1.6 H 4:55 a.m. 1.6 H 5:06 a.m. 1.6 H

Houston

Time Height 2:20 a.m. 0.1 L 2:08 a.m. 0.3 L 7:22 a.m. 0.6 H 7:34 a.m. 0.7 H 7:59 a.m. 0.8 H 08:31 a.m. 0.8 H 09:06 a.m. 0.8 H 09:42 a.m. 0.8 H 10:18 a.m. 0.8 H 10:53 a.m. 0.7 H 12:30 a.m. -0.1 L 1:11 a.m. -0.1 L 1:48 a.m. 0.1 L 2:22 a.m. 0.2 L 2:55 a.m. 0.3 L

Time 7:57 a.m.

7:29 a.m.

4:54 p.m.

6:07 p.m.

7:24 p.m.

8:41 p.m.

9:52 p.m.

10:53 p.m.

11:45 p.m.

Height 0.4 H 0.5 H -0.2 L -0.3 L -0.3 L -0.3 L -0.3 L -0.3 L -0.2 L

2:42 p.m.

4:43 p.m.

6:08 p.m.

9:43 a.m.

8:27 a.m.

0.7 H 0.7 H 0.6 H 0.5 H 0.4 H

Time Height 2:36 p.m. 0.0 L 3:45 p.m. -0.1 L

Time Height 10:05 p.m. 0.4 H

12:56 p.m. 0.4 L 1:32 p.m. 0.3 L

7:29 p.m. 0.6 H 8:58 p.m. 0.6 H

Time Height 1:15 a.m. 0.12 L 4:11 p.m. 0.03 L 7:31 a.m. 0.24 H 7:48 a.m. 0.29 H 8:26 a.m. 0.33 H 9:18 a.m. 0.35 H 10:20 a.m. 0.36 H 11:27 a.m. 0.36 H 12:32 p.m. 0.36 H 1:33 p.m. 0.36 H 2:28 p.m. 0.35 H 12:24 a.m. 0.06 L 12:51 a.m. 0.09 L 1:08 a.m. 0.13 L 1:16 a.m. 0.18 L

Time Height 7:48 a.m. 0.18 H 5:14 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

8:02 p.m.

9:01 p.m.

10:02 p.m.

10:58 p.m.

11:47 p.m.

-0.02 L -0.05 L -0.06 L -0.06 L -0.04 L -0.02 L 0.00 L 0.03 L

3:21 p.m.

4:20 p.m.

10:02 a.m.

7:59 a.m.

0.33 H 0.30 H 0.23 H 0.25 H

Time

Height

Time

Height

4:40 p.m. -0.2 L

Date Aug 13 Aug 14 Aug 15 Aug 16 Aug 17 Aug 18 Aug 19 Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug 22 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 27

Time Height 6:26 a.m. 1.5 H 12:21 a.m. 0.6 L 1:24 a.m. 0.8 L 3:39 a.m. 0.9 L 1:39 a.m. 1.7 H 2:54 a.m. 1.8 H 3:46 a.m. 1.8 H 4:25 a.m. 1.8 H 4:50 a.m. 1.7 H 4:59 a.m. 1.6 H 5:02 a.m. 1.6 H 5:07 a.m. 1.5 H 5:16 a.m. 1.5 H 5:26 a.m. 1.5 H 5:37 a.m. 1.5 H

10:19 a.m. 0.23 L 1:45 p.m. 0.21 L

5:43 p.m. 0.27 H 7:57 p.m. 0.25 H

Time 12:09 p.m.

6:44 a.m.

6:58 a.m.

6:56 a.m.

4:30 p.m.

5:34 p.m.

6:31 p.m.

7:20 p.m.

9:12 a.m.

9:08 a.m.

9:11 a.m.

9:29 a.m.

9:58 a.m.

10:31 a.m.

11:06 a.m.

Height 0.2 L 1.5 H 1.5 H 1.5 H -0.2 L -0.2 L -0.2 L -0.1 L 1.0 L 1.0 L 0.9 L 0.8 L 0.7 L 0.6 L 0.5 L

Time 7:43 p.m.

1:12 p.m.

2:17 p.m.

3:23 p.m.

Height 1.5 H 0.1 L -0.1 L -0.2 L

12:02 p.m.

1:09 p.m.

2:08 p.m.

3:06 p.m.

4:06 p.m.

5:09 p.m.

6:19 p.m.

1.6 H 1.6 H 1.5 H 1.5 H 1.5 H 1.4 H 1.4 H

Time 12:02 p.m.

5:23 a.m.

4:58 a.m.

Height 0.2 L 1.0 H 1.1 H

Time 7:11 p.m.

12:55 p.m.

1:53 p.m.

Height 1.2 H -0.1 L -0.3 L

4:05 p.m.

5:15 p.m.

6:20 p.m.

7:18 p.m.

8:09 p.m.

8:53 p.m.

9:43 a.m.

9:56 a.m.

10:15 a.m.

10:36 a.m.

11:01 a.m.

-0.4 L -0.4 L -0.3 L -0.2 L -0.1 L 0.1 L 1.4 L 1.3 L 1.1 L 0.9 L 0.7 L

1:06 p.m.

2:20 p.m.

3:26 p.m.

4:31 p.m.

5:39 p.m.

1.5 H 1.4 H 1.4 H 1.3 H 1.3 H

Time

Height

9:33 p.m. 1.5 H 11:37 p.m. 1.6 H

8:01 p.m.

8:34 p.m.

9:02 p.m.

9:26 p.m.

9:50 p.m.

10:15 p.m.

10:43 p.m.

0.0 L 0.1 L 0.2 L 0.2 L 0.4 L 0.5 L 0.6 L

Time

Height

South Padre Island

11:31 a.m.

12:38 p.m.

1:37 p.m.

2:35 p.m.

3:35 p.m.

4:38 p.m.

5:48 p.m.

1.7 H 1.7 H 1.6 H 1.6 H 1.6 H 1.5 H 1.5 H

9:02 p.m. 1.6 H 11:06 p.m. 1.7 H

8:19 p.m.

8:52 p.m.

9:20 p.m.

9:44 p.m.

10:08 p.m.

10:33 p.m.

11:01 p.m.

0.0 L 0.1 L 0.2 L 0.3 L 0.5 L 0.5 L 0.7 L

JOIN US TODAY Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper

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Date Aug 13 Aug 14 Aug 15 Aug 16 Aug 17 Aug 18 Aug 19 Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug 22 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 27

Time Height 5:37 a.m. 1.0 H 12:47 a.m. 0.8 L 1:48 a.m. 1.0 L 2:57 p.m. -0.4 L 2:05 a.m. 1.5 H 3:11 a.m. 1.6 H 3:57 a.m. 1.6 H 4:34 a.m. 1.7 H 5:02 a.m. 1.6 H 5:21 a.m. 1.6 H 5:31 a.m. 1.5 H 5:32 a.m. 1.4 H 5:26 a.m. 1.3 H 5:14 a.m. 1.2 H 4:59 a.m. 1.2 H

09:16 p.m. 1.2 H 11:52 p.m. 1.4 H

9:31 p.m.

10:05 p.m.

10:36 p.m.

11:07 p.m.

11:39 p.m.

0.3 L 0.4 L 0.6 L 0.8 L 0.9 L

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Solution on Page 28

P.M. Minor 9:19 10:18 11:17 ----12:40 1:32 2:20 3:05 3:48 4:29 5:10 5:50 12:01 7:13 7:58 8:45 9:35 10:28 11:22 -----

Major 3:06 4:05 5:03 6:00 6:54 7:45 8:33 9:18 10:00 10:41 11:20 ----6:31 1:03 1:48 2:35 3:24 4:16 5:10 6:05

SUN Rises Sets 06:47 08:04 06:47 08:03 06:48 08:02 06:48 08:01 06:49 08:00 06:50 07:59 06:50 07:58 06:51 07:57 06:51 07:56 06:52 07:55 06:52 07:54 06:53 07:53 12:21 06:54 06:54 07:51 06:55 07:50 06:55 07:48 06:56 07:47 06:56 07:46 06:57 07:45 06:57 07:44

MOON Rises Sets 10:43a 10:20p 11:50a 11:00p 12:56p 11:43p 2:00p NoMoon 3:00p 12:30a 3:55p 1:20a 4:45p 2:14a 5:29p 3:09a 6:08p 4:05a 6:43p 5:01a 7:15p 5:56a 7:44p 6:49a 07:52 8:13p 8:41p 8:34a 9:10p 9:26a 9:41p 10:19a 10:16p 11:15a 10:55p 12:12p 11:40p 1:10p NoMoon 2:09p

2010 Aug-Sep 13 Fri 14 Sat 15 Sun 16 Mon 17 Tue Q 18 Wed 19 Thu 20 Fri 21 Sat 22 Sun 23 Mon > 24 Tue > 25 Wed 26 Thu > 27 Fri > 28 Sat 29 Sun 30 Mon 31 Tue 01 Wed Q

A.M. Minor Major 8:59 2:46 9:57 3:44 10:55 4:42 11:52 5:38 12:22 6:32 1:10 7:24 1:59 8:12 2:46 8:58 3:30 9:42 4:12 10:24 4:54 11:05 5:35 11:45 F 6:16 6:59 12:49 7:43 1:33 8:30 2:19 9:18 3:07 10:09 3:57 11:02 4:49 11:57 5:43

P.M. Minor Major 9:25 3:12 10:24 4:11 11:22 5:09 ----- 6:05 12:46 7:00 1:37 7:50 2:25 8:38 3:11 9:23 3:54 10:06 4:35 10:46 5:15 11:26 5:55 ----12:06 6:36 7:19 1:09 8:04 1:53 8:51 2:40 9:41 3:29 10:33 4:21 11:28 5:15 ----- 6:10

SUN MOON Rises Sets Rises Sets 06:48 08:14 10:52a 10:22p 06:48 08:13 12:01p 11:00p 06:49 08:12 1:08p 11:42p 06:50 08:11 2:13p NoMoon 06:50 08:10 3:14p 12:27a 06:51 08:09 4:10p 1:17a 06:52 08:08 4:59p 2:11a 06:52 08:06 5:42p 3:07a 06:53 08:05 6:20p 4:04a 06:54 08:04 6:54p 5:01a 06:54 08:03 7:24p 5:57a 06:55 08:02 7:52p 6:52a 12:26 06:56 08:01 8:19p 06:56 07:59 8:45p 8:40a 06:57 07:58 9:13p 9:34a 06:58 07:57 9:43p 10:29a 06:58 07:56 10:16p 11:26a 06:59 07:54 10:54p 12:24p 07:00 07:53 11:38p 1:24p 07:00 07:52 NoMoon 2:23p

P.M. Minor Major 9:32 3:19 10:31 4:18 11:29 5:16 ----- 6:12 12:53 7:07 1:44 7:57 2:32 8:45 3:18 9:30 4:01 10:13 4:42 10:53 5:22 11:33 6:02 ----12:13 6:43 7:26 1:16 8:11 2:00 8:58 2:47 9:48 3:36 10:40 4:28 11:35 5:22 12:04 6:17

SUN MOON Rises Sets Rises 07:00 08:16 10:56a 07:00 08:15 12:03p 07:01 08:14 1:09p 07:01 08:13 2:12p 07:02 08:12 3:12p 07:03 08:11 4:07p 07:03 08:10 4:57p 07:04 08:09 5:41p 07:04 08:08 6:21p 07:05 08:07 6:56p 07:05 08:06 7:27p 07:06 08:05 7:57p 12:33 07:06 08:04 07:07 08:03 8:54p 07:07 08:02 9:23p 07:08 08:01 9:54p 07:09 08:00 10:29p 07:09 07:58 11:09p 07:10 07:57 11:54p 07:10 07:56 NoMoon

P.M. Minor 9:45 10:44 11:43 12:12 1:06 1:57 2:46 3:31 4:14 4:55 5:36 6:16 12:27 7:39 8:24 9:11 10:01 10:54 11:48 12:17

SUN Rises 07:04 07:05 07:06 07:07 07:08 07:08 07:09 07:10 07:11 07:11 07:12 07:13 12:47 07:14 07:15 07:16 07:17 07:17 07:18 07:19

San Antonio 2010 A.M. Aug-Sep Minor Major 13 Fri 9:06 2:53 14 Sat 10:04 3:51 15 Sun 11:02 4:49 16 Mon 11:59 5:45 17 Tue Q 12:29 6:39 18 Wed 1:17 7:31 19 Thu 2:06 8:19 20 Fri 2:53 9:05 21 Sat 3:37 9:49 22 Sun 4:19 10:31 23 Mon > 5:01 11:12 24 Tue > 5:42 11:52 25 Wed F 6:23 26 Thu > 7:06 12:56 27 Fri > 7:50 1:40 28 Sat 8:37 2:26 29 Sun 9:25 3:14 30 Mon 10:16 4:04 31 Tue 11:09 4:56 01 Wed Q ----- 5:50

Sets 10:33p 11:13p 11:56p NoMoon 12:44a 1:34a 2:28a 3:23a 4:19a 5:15a 6:09a 7:03a 8:25p 8:47a 9:39a 10:32a 11:27a 12:24p 1:23p 2:21p

2010 A.M. Aug-Sep Minor 13 Fri 9:19 14 Sat 10:18 15 Sun 11:16 16 Mon ----17 Tue Q 12:42 18 Wed 1:31 19 Thu 2:20 20 Fri 3:06 21 Sat 3:50 22 Sun 4:33 23 Mon > 5:14 24 Tue > 5:55 25 Wed F 26 Thu > 7:19 27 Fri > 8:04 28 Sat 8:50 29 Sun 9:39 30 Mon 10:30 31 Tue 11:23 01 Wed Q -----

Major 3:06 4:05 5:02 5:59 6:53 7:44 8:33 9:19 10:02 10:44 11:25 ----6:37 1:09 1:53 2:39 3:27 4:18 5:10 6:03

Major 3:32 4:31 5:29 6:26 7:20 8:11 8:59 9:44 10:26 11:07 11:46 12:06 6:57 1:29 2:14 3:01 3:50 4:42 5:35 6:31

Sets 08:38 08:37 08:36 08:34 08:33 08:32 08:31 08:30 08:28 08:27 08:26 08:25 07:14 08:22 08:21 08:20 08:18 08:17 08:16 08:14

MOON Rises Sets 11:15a 10:40p 12:26p 11:17p 1:35p NoMoon 2:41p NoMoon 3:42p 12:42a 4:37p 1:32a 5:26p 2:26a 6:09p 3:22a 6:46p 4:20a 7:18p 5:18a 7:47p 6:15a 8:14p 7:12a 08:23 8:40p 9:05p 9:01a 9:31p 9:57a 10:00p 10:53a 10:32p 11:51a 11:09p 12:51p 11:53p 1:51p NoMoon 2:51p

FOR THE TABLE Quail Salsa

ACROSS 1. Part of a trap 3. Small game classed as a varmint 6. Prevents easy removal of an arrow 8. A game bird 9. Fish chunks used for bait 10. Name for the Hawaiian geese 11. Teeth can reveal this on some game 12. The fish breathing organ 13. Alters a shot shell pellet spread 18. A wildfowl home 20. Act of bobbing a lure to attract fish 22. A term for old gobblers 24. A very rare deer species 26. A female bear 27. To stand ready to shoot 29. Part of the body of a bow 33. The change in flight of a bullet 35. Another name for the dogfish 36. Over and under is a model of this 37. The _____ catfish DOWN 1. Hunter’s cold weather wear 2. To push deer toward hunters 3. Of the trout family 4. Sounds made by wild turkeys 5. Oxidation on gun parts 7. A trout 14. A fish species 15. A distribution of shot pellets 16. Very sharp sense a gobbler has 17. Grooves in the bore of a rifle 19. A grouping of fish in one spot 21. Putting wildfowl to flight 23. To analyze a game trail 25. Procedure of igniting a shell 28. Feathers on heads of some fowl

A.M. Minor Major 8:53 2:40 9:52 3:39 10:50 4:36 11:46 5:33 12:16 6:27 1:05 7:18 1:54 8:07 2:40 8:53 3:24 9:36 4:07 10:18 4:48 10:59 5:29 11:40 F 6:11 6:53 12:43 7:38 1:28 8:24 2:13 9:13 3:01 10:04 3:52 10:57 4:44 11:51 5:38

Amarillo

Mail to Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355. For fastest service, call (214) 361-2276 or visit LSONews.com.

OUTDOOR PUZZLER | By Wilbur “Wib” Lundeen

2010 Aug-Sep 13 Fri 14 Sat 15 Sun 16 Mon 17 Tue Q 18 Wed 19 Thu 20 Fri 21 Sat 22 Sun 23 Mon > 24 Tue > 25 Wed 26 Thu > 27 Fri > 28 Sat 29 Sun 30 Mon 31 Tue 01 Wed Q

Dallas

Port Aransas, H. Caldwell Pier Time Height 8:20 p.m. 1.1 H 10:10 p.m. 1.1 H

Freeport Harbor Date Aug 13 Aug 14 Aug 15 Aug 16 Aug 17 Aug 18 Aug 19 Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug 22 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 27

Sept. 1

Rockport

Time 12:30 p.m.

6:51 a.m.

7:05 a.m.

7:03 a.m.

4:51 p.m.

5:55 p.m.

6:52 p.m.

7:41 p.m.

9:33 a.m.

9:29 a.m.

9:32 a.m.

9:50 a.m.

10:19 a.m.

10:52 a.m.

11:27 a.m.

San Luis Pass Date Aug 13 Aug 14 Aug 15 Aug 16 Aug 17 Aug 18 Aug 19 Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug 22 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 27

Sept. 8

Last

August 16

Date Aug 13 Aug 14 Aug 15 Aug 16 Aug 17 Aug 18 Aug 19 Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug 22 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 27

Height

Galveston Bay entrance, south jetty Date Aug 13 Aug 14 Aug 15 Aug 16 Aug 17 Aug 18 Aug 19 Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug 22 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 27

Legend: Major=2 hours. Minor=1 hour. Times centered on the major-minor window. F=Full Moon, N=New Moon, Q=Quarter > = Peak Activity. For other locations, subtract 1 minute per 12 miles east of a location, and add 1 minute per 12 miles west of a location.

New

August 24

First

Port O’Connor

Sabine Pass, jetty Time Height 5:46 a.m. 2.3 H 12:16 a.m. 1.4 L 1:19 a.m. 2.0 L 3:34 a.m. 2.1 L 12:59 a.m. 2.7 H 2:14 a.m. 2.9 H 3:06 a.m. 2.9 H 3:45 a.m. 2.9 H 4:10 a.m. 2.7 H 4:19 a.m. 2.5 H 4:22 a.m. 2.5 H 4:27 a.m. 2.3 H 4:36 a.m. 2.3 H 4:46 a.m. 2.3 H 4:57 a.m. 2.3 H

Solunar | Sun times | Moon times

Moon Phases

Texas Coast Tides Date Aug 13 Aug 14 Aug 15 Aug 16 Aug 17 Aug 18 Aug 19 Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug 22 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 27

LSONews.com

2 quail per person Sliced mushrooms Sliced bell peppers Sliced tomatoes Salsa, preferably fresh Sliced red onion Garlic Ground pepper Butter or margarine 1 can tomato sauce

Split quail (with or without skin) in half lengthwise. Place in large skillet with butter, grated garlic and tomato sauce. Bring to simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Add sliced mushrooms, bell peppers, tomatoes, red onion and salsa. Simmer for 30 minutes or until done. Can be served as is or on toast or rice.

— Calif. Dept. of Fish and Game

Un-Fried Catfish 4 4-ounce catfish fillets Light vegetable oil 1/4 cup cornmeal 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 teaspoon dried basil 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper 1/2 teaspoon paprika Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Coat baking sheet with vegetable oil, preferably by spraying. Put cornmeal, thyme and basil on a large plate and mix well. Sprinkle

30. A very good walleye bait 31. A very large game of the plains

32. A hunter’s mountain quarry 34. A part of an antler

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/8 teaspoon lemon pepper on each of the catfish fillets. Coat the fillets thoroughly with the cornmeal mixture and transfer them to the prepared baking sheet. Dust each fillet with 1/8 teaspoon paprika.

Coat the catfish lightly by spraying with vegetable oil. Bake for 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for about 5 minutes more, until the crust is golden and the fish flakes easily.

— Department of Veterans Affairs

Have a flavorful wild game recipe?

Send it to For the Table at editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

LSONews.com

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

August 13, 2010

Page 27

Page 28

August 13, 2010

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

Puzzle solution from Page 26

LSONews.com

DATEBOOK Through Sept. 6

August 21-22

Houston Gulf Coast Chapter Safari Club International Youth Hunter Education Program Farm & Ranch Club, Bear Creek Free hunter education course, including lunch www.scihouston.org

Coastal Conservation Association State of Texas Angler’s Rodeo Fishing tournament www.startournament.org

August 13-15

August 21

Texas Hunting & Outdoor Classic Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio (210) 226-1177 www.huntersclassic.com

Pineywoods Chapter National Wild Turkey Federation Fundraiser Lufkin Civic Center (936) 633-4684

August 16

Purina Wildlife Series Expo Jacksboro Speakers on pond and deer management (940) 567-3794 www.antlermax.com

August 26-28

Texas Deer Association Annual convention and Fundraiser Westin La Cantera Resort, San Antonio www.texasdeerassociation.com

August 17

Purina Wildlife Series Expo Mineral Wells (940) 325-8500 www.antlermax.com

August 27-29

Texas Women Angler’s Tournament Fishing tournament for women www.gofishtx.com

August 19

Dallas Safari Club Monthly meeting Speaker is Shane Mahoney Omni Dallas Hotel Park West (972) 980-9800 www.biggame.org

August 28

South Texas Chapter of the Quail Coalition Fundraiser (361) 877-9894

August 31

Purina Wildlife Series Expo Hondo Speakers on deer management (830) 426-3313 www.antlermax.com

August 20

Tu-Mile Quail and Dove Chapter of the Quail Coalition Fundraiser Walker County Fairgrounds (713) 305-7377

September 1-2

Dallas Woods and Water Club Throckmorton Dove Hunt Hartsell Ash Ranch (972) 941-8555

Dell Children’s Medical Center Fishing day for child patients (512) 560-8373 cbrober2006@yahoo.com

September 2

San Antonio Chapter of the Quail Coalition Fundraiser (210) 332-3560

August 20-22

Texas Trophy Hunters Association Hunters Extravaganza Will Rogers Center, Fort Worth (877) 261-2541

September 3-4

Dallas Safari Club Dove Hunt at the Hailey Ranch, Abilene (469) 484-6777

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Previous trips in North Texas have seen white-tailed deer scoring up to 220 B&C gross and 206 4/8 B&C net har-

vested. Both have been registered as state records. Hunters can expect to see 130- to 200-class bucks, while the average is typically 150 gross bucks.

Most rifle hunting is done out of wellmaintained box blinds, tripods, tree stands and pop-ups.

Most if not all of Texas Hunting Company properties in Texas are on biologist-approved feed programs while the Kansas deer do well on farm crops, such as alfalfa, wheat, corn. All of the ranches have been under game management since 1999, and some areas have not been hunted since 2005.

While in central Kansas, hunters can expect to enjoy the best in monster buck territory. The No. 3-ranked non-typical Kansas state record was harvested on the property and scored 266 2/8 B&C. Packages include five days and five nights of semi-guided whitetail hunting.

Hunting South Africa is more affordable than most think, with packages starting at $3,000.

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

Outdoor News in Brief Deadline is Sept. 2 for TPW hunts Texas Parks and Wildlife is accepting applications for hunt permits selected by drawing this summer and fall.

Gun deer and youth deer hunt category applications must be received by 5 p.m. Sept. 2. The deadline for archery hunts and hunts on private land was Aug. 12.

Property to be hunted includes wildlife management areas, state parks and leased private property.

Species to be hunted include whitetailed deer, mule deer, pronghorn, javelina, alligator, exotics, feral hog and spring turkey.

Hunters drawn in the special permit hunts are not required to use a tag off their hunting license on white-tailed or mule deer that are taken during the hunt. They receive a free TPW legal deer tag when they bring their harvested animal to the check station.

Non-refundable application fees for drawn hunts are $3 to $10 for each adult applicant 17 years of age or older. Selected hunters pay an additional permit fee of $80 for regular hunts and $130 for extended hunts.

Youth ages 8 to 16 are exempt from application and permit fees.

Last year TPW received 44,594 applications for the 5,145 hunt positions offered.

Applications are available by calling (800) 792-1112 or on the TPW Web site at www.tpwd.state.tx.us.

— Texas Parks and Wildlife report

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Dove Hunts Llano & San Saba counties

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Hog Eradication Hunts

Forty-one cadets recently graduated as the 55th Texas Parks and Wildlife game warden class in Austin.

The new game wardens were the second to be trained in the new Texas Game Warden Training Center in Hamilton County. They bring the number of Texas game wardens to 532, and the new ones are reporting for duty in 32 counties.

— Texas Parks and Wildlife report

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Distribution Bruce Andreen, Metrogate Communications Budget Distribution Services Victor Cantu, South Texas Circulation Jeff Bulpin Paul Fletcher Klaus Rindfleisch Advertising For home delivery Call (214) 361-2276 subscriptions or e-mail editor@lone www.LSONews.com staroutdoornews.com (214) 361-2276 to request a media kit.

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Lone Star Outdoor News, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. A mailed subscription is $30 for 24 issues. Newsstand copies are free, one per person. Copyright 2010 with all rights reserved.

Reproduction and/or use of any photographic or written material without written permission by the publisher is prohibited.

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www.sbbci.com

512-517-9259 ThreadgillRanches.com

Craig Nyhus Thomas Phillips Mark England Mary Helen Aguirre Mike Hughs Nancy Halphen Bruce Soileau

Mike Nelson Nicholas Conklin Lili Sams Founder & CEO David J. Sams

Contributors Dan Armitage Kyle Carter Alan Clemons Bob Hood Diana Kunde Kendal Larson Wilbur Lundeen

187 Acres Freestone County

Trophy Hog Hunting

TPW graduates 41 new game wardens

Publisher/Editor News & Graphics Editor Associate Editor Business/Products Editor Operations Manager Accounting Web site National Advertising Accounts Manager Summer Interns

Page 29

August 13, 2010

Troup, Cherokee Co

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To advertise in this section, call Mike Hughs at (214) 361-2276 or e-mail him at mhughs@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

Page 30

August 13, 2010

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KVD

Continued from Page 25

who waded through a tough stretch early in the season. At the midpoint of the season, VanDam looked like a long shot to qualify for the postseason. But VanDam has made a career out of turning it on when it matters most. After a victory on Kentucky Lake in June, it was only a matter of time before VanDam threatened for the title.

“When people count me out, it really motivates me,” said VanDam. “I have a lot of confidence that the next spot or that next cast is going to be the one.

Every time I win, it gets better, and I just crave that feeling.”

Heading into the postseason, VanDam felt he was a longshot at another Angler of the Year honor. In his mind, he figured he needed to win both legs of the postseason to catch Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., who put together possibly the best regular-season run in BASS history.

But Reese struggled, and VanDam only needed to win one leg of the postseason.

VanDam’s river strategy at the Trophy Triumph, on the Alabama River — which netted him 26 pounds, 0 ounces — was

Angler of the Year rankings Place, Angler, Points

1. Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich. 275 2. Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla. 265 3. Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif. 260 4. Terry Butcher of Talala, Okla. 252 5. Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala. 244 (51-12) 6. Cliff Pace of Petal, Miss. 244 (42-7) (Tiebreaker is postseason weight) 7. Russ Lane of Prattville, Ala. 243 8. Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La. 238 9. Tommy Biffle of Waggoner, Okla. 228 10. Gary Klein of Weatherford, Texas 219 11. Derek Remitz of Grant, Ala. 217 12. John Crews of Salem, Va. 216

much like the plan of attack that carried him through the season. He worked a variety of Strike King crankbaits — a Strike King Series 5 in sexy shad and a KVD 2.5 and 1.5 — fast and furiously.

His power approach is trademark VanDam, but patience — mixed with extreme confidence — was the key for VanDam. Friday, he went without a bite until 11 a.m., but his confidence, and strategy, were unwavering.

“On a place like this, its only matter of time before you get a bite, so you have to stick with it,” VanDam said.

— BASS report

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August 13, 2010

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