August 24, 2012 - Lone Star Outdoor News - Fishing & Hunting

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LoneOStar Outdoor News

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August 24, 2012

Can't hunt on opening day?

It could be better to wait.

Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper

August 24, 2012

Volume 9, Issue 1

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Fighting over fence lines

Inside

Hunting property borders introduce etiquette, safety concerns

By John Keith

Lone Star outdoor newS

❘❚ FISHING

Gigging is good Flounder guides having great season.

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First silver king Angler finally catches his elusive tarpon.

Page 8

❘❚ HUNTING

Pintail decline Numbers down while other duck species up.

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Shed hunting for pronghorns

See ETIQUETTE, Page 16

Often misnamed animal is unique.

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Dove season dates Huunters gear up for Sept. 1.

❘❚ CONTENTS

Classifieds . . . . . . . .

Crossword . . . . . . . .

Freshwater Fishing Report For the Table. . . . . . .

Game Warden Blotter . . .

Heroes. . . . . . . . . .

Outdoor Datebook . . . .

Outdoor Business . . . .

Products . . . . . . . . .

Saltwater Fishing Report .

Sun, Moon and Tide data .

Page 17 . . . . . . . . . . .

Page 29 Page 28 Page 10 Page 28 Page 12 Page 21 Page 24 Page 21 Page 29 Page 14 Page 28

ELBOW ROOM: While setting blinds or feeders next to a fence line is more a situation of questionable etiquette than a legal problem, hunters need to be aware that neighboring landowners are not required to allow access to hunters tracking wounded game. Photo by David J Sams, LSON.

Chinese Deer Association president attends TDA convention

By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star outdoor newS Had there been an award for the attendee that traveled the farthest to attend the Texas Deer Association Annual Convention in San Antonio, it would have been no contest.

Bin Zheng and his daugh-

Marlin on!

ter, Natasha, came to the event from Baotou City in Inner Mongolia, China.

Zheng is the current president of the Chinese Deer Industry Association. He doesn’t speak English well, but his daughter is fluent.

“Baotou, our hometown, See CHINESE DEER, Page 17

Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210

❘❚ LSONews.com

Fence lines can work as a man-made highway for deer to travel along, tempting hunters to put up stands or feeders close to these boundaries.

But without the right communication with neighboring landowners, hunters could be forfeiting etiquette or even safety.

Chris Darden of Odessa was recently leasing the 4,200-acre Longshore Ranch in Howard and Glasscock counties, when he felt his neighbor not only fell short of expectations on etiquette, but endangered hunters in the area.

“He positioned himself so that any shot that was missed or passed through his or her intended game would cause the projectile to cross the fence,” Darden said. “This in itself is a legal problem, but the way that his blind was initially posi-

FIRST-TIMER: 11-year-old Connor Kelly holds the signed flag from all of those aboard when he caught his first billfish 120 miles off the coast of Freeport. The upside-down flag signifies the fish was released. Photo by Conor Harrison, LSON.

11-year-old lands first billfish

By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS GUEST OF HONOR: Bin Zheng has 9,000 deer at four farms in Mongolia.

He attended the Texas Deer Association Convention to learn more about America’s deer industry. Photo by Craig Nyhus, LSON.

When you grow up with a fishing captain for a dad, things tend to

come pretty naturally for you around a boat.

For 11-year-old Connor Kelly, not much in the bay gets him very excited. He’s caught

plenty of monster trout and redfish, and helped countless others reel in personal bests workSee FIRST BILLFISH, Page 15

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HUNTING

Plummeting pintails Numbers drop 22 percent while other species thrive

By John Keith

Lone Star outdoor newS

Missing opening weekend of dove season no reason to despair

By John Keith

Lone Star outdoor newS The hunter whose work or family schedule conflicts with the opening of dove season is likely disheartened at missing the first weekend.

But according to area guides, there are some positives of hunting after the opening weekend dust and pellets have settled.

Katzfey Ranches Guide Service owner Mark Katzfey, who hunts around Live Oak County, said minimal crowding is a big benefit.

“If you’ll wait and come the third, fourth, or fifth weekend, you don’t have all the hysteria going on,” he said. “You can have a more relaxed hunt and not stand shoulder to shoulder.”

Katzfey expects anywhere from 80 to 90 hunters the first couple of weeks, but those numbers will dwindle to about 40 or 50 a weekend as the season goes on. However, he finds that the white-winged dove become harder to pinpoint during the later dates.

“There’s less hunters, so less competition,” he said. “But the birds are a little more savvy; they’ve been shot at.

“They’re a little smarter so you’ve just got to do a little more scouting.”

According to Lang Martin, of Executive Outfitters, Inc. in Coleman, watching the cooler weather patterns later in the year that push in fresh birds can equate to excellent hunting once hunters have turned to deer or other game.

“The opening is big, and everybody is hunting the first weekend and over Labor Day,” he said. “But later in the year if you get some cool fronts come through, they’ll bring a fresh bunch of birds. And last year, we had about three of those.”

Ted Taylor, owner of Executive Outfitters, Inc., said the main drawback of hunting later in the season is the smarter birds.

“I love October hunting because it’s more pleasant weather, not as hot, and the birds are bigger,” he said.

“But they’re smarter — they’re the ones that have figured the deal out.

They most definitely fly higher.

“I don’t think there’s any benefit except there are less people out in the fields.”

Executive Outfitters, Inc., (325) 625-4111 Katzfey Ranches, (361) 362-8334

GOING DOWN: While most species saw population growth from last year, hunters may be concerned with pintail numbers, down almost one million birds, or 22 percent. Photo by David J Sams, LSON.

True natives Pronghorns neither antelope nor goat

By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star outdoor newS The North American pronghorn, commonly called an antelope, is not related to the antelope of Africa or Asia.

Often called a speed-goat, they aren’t related to goats, either.

They are their own animal.

For science nuts, pronghorns are the only members of the order Antilocapridae and the Genus Antilocapra — which means antelope-goat. Their scientific name is Antilocapra americana.

For wildlife lovers, they are just unique.

“They are such a different kind of critter,” said Dr. Louis Harveson, director of the Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, who has spent

Duck hunters who enjoy rounding out their bag limit with two bull sprigs could have reason for concern after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released their duck number estimates for the 2012-2013 season, with a report of almost a million fewer pintails from the previous season.

Kevin Hartke, central coast waterfowl biologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, said the drop in numbers probably won’t affect regulations.

“There was a drop of 22 percent from last year, down to somewhere around 3.5 million,” he said. “But it’s not going to change bags; the bag limits should be the same.”

Hartke said the numbers could be misleading, since the previous survey saw such a high number of the ducks.

“Last year was a pretty good year for pintails in terms of production,” he said.

“It was probably the best year in terms of habitat conditions of pond counts, which is why we had such a large spike.”

The USFWS reported more than a 30 percent drop in pond-

years studying the animals.

Deer hunters know that cervids like deer and elk shed their antlers each year. Sheep and African antelope hunters know that sheep and antelope don’t.

The pronghorn has horns, not antlers.

But they shed them each year — sort of.

“The horn sheath of the pronghorn is different from the antlers of deer or the horns of sheep,” Harveson said. “Antlers are made of bone and are shed annually. True horns are made of compressed hair (keratin) growing on a bony core and are never shed.

“The horn sheath of a pronghorn is a little bit of both — they are made of the keratin growing on a bony core, but the sheath is shed annually after the breeding season.”

The branches on the horns of the pronghorn bucks are also unique.

“True horns don’t have branches,”

counts this breeding season, which is the most likely factor in the pintail decline, due to their finicky breeding habits as compared to more hearty nesters, such as mallards, which are up 15 percent from the previous year.

“What has happened is conditions have changed, and pintails are a pretty early breeder relative to other ducks,” he said. “They like the early wetland habitat that I don’t think was there — it wasn’t available in great abundance.”

Looking at the numbers from the past 10 years, this year’s lower numbers of pintails isn’t necessarily a reason for concern, according to Hartke.

“They aren’t very prolific in terms of breeding, in that if they fail the first time, they aren’t going to try again, and I think that’s what you’re seeing in the 22 percent drop,” he said.

“They’re probably falling to more stable levels that they’ve been tracking along the past 10 to 15 years.”

Hartke said the drought currently being experienced in the Midwest could See PINTAILS, Page 7

Harveson said.

So are there pronghorn shed hunters out there?

“Our students pick them up now and then,” he said. “I see them in their office.”

Pronghorn tidbits: Eyesight — Having very large eyes for their body size, pronghorns can detect movement from four miles away.

Speed — Capable of bursts in excess of 60 mph, only the cheetah is faster than the pronghorn, but the pronghorn can maintain speeds of more than 50 mph for long distances.

Warning signals — Pronghorns erect their white rump hairs to send a warning flash to other animals.

Texas hunting season — Sept. 29–Oct. 7 (by permit only).

YES, THEY SHED: Pronghorns shed the sheath covering the bony core of their horns each season. Photo by Justin Hoffman, Borderlands Research Institute.

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Sweetwater hunter wins LSON giveaway Stacy Dove just wanted to come to the Texas Trophy Hunters Association 2012 Hunter Extravaganza in Fort Worth to look around and maybe get a few things for the upcoming season.

Dove should be well outfitted after purchasing a crossbow at the show before being drawn as the winner of the LSON giveaway on Sunday.

She will receive a pair of Nikon Monarch 5 10x42 binoculars for stopping by the Lone Star Outdoor News booth to say hello and fill out an entry slip.

“I had the most awesome weekend,” Dove said. “My favorite thing to hunt is a toss-up between deer and turkey, but I’ve also shot a huge hog.”

Dove works at Lone Star Ag Credit in Sweetwater, and said the company receives copies of LSON at their office.

“I can’t wait to use them with my new crossbow this year,” she said.

— Staff report

SCI Foundation names executive director Safari Club International Foundation announced that Bob Benson has been selected to serve as executive director. Bob is an avid hunter and strident conservationist who will be a leader for the entire sustainable use conservation community.

“Bob brings nearly 20 years of experience to SCI Foundation with expertise in wildlife conservation and philanthropic development,” said Joe Hosmer, president of SCI Foundation. “We are confident that Bob will bring leadership to our entire industry as he develops a strategic plan and vision to take our organization to new heights.”

Bob most recently served as the vice president and executive director of the National Audubon Society’s Texas Program, an organization which he has led since October 2008. He began his career with Bat Conservation International based in Austin. After a decade of service to the global mission of BCI, he moved on to Ducks Unlimited’s national headquarters in Memphis, Tenn. While at DU, Bob earned his accreditation in public relations and DU’s “Wings of Innovation Award.” Before joining Audubon Texas, he served as the associate director of Philanthropy for The Nature Conservancy of Texas.

— SCI Foundation

NSSF program awards grants to two Texas facilities Recognizing the need for quality shooting ranges for a growing sport, the National Shooting Sports Foundation has awarded $399,456 in grants to 16 shooting ranges.

The NSSF Range Grant Program assists qualifying shooting ranges in their efforts to introduce newcomers, re-activate lapsed shooters and encourage active shooters to try new shooting options.

Launched in 2008, the NSSF Range Grant Program has awarded funding to 62 ranges totaling $1.57 million to date.

Texas shooting facilities receiving grants in 2012 were the Shooting Academy of South Texas in McAllen and the Shoot Smart Indoor Range & Training Center in Fort Worth.

— NSSF

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August 24, 2012

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Protect yourself Insurance options protect landowners, leaseholders

By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star Outdoor News A Texas landowner has a group of hunters coming in for the weekend. All but one show up for dinner, and the landowner gets the Waiver and Release Agreements signed by the available guests and goes to bed.

Late in the evening, the last of the group arrives and decides to take the landowner’s ATV for a spin, quite possibly after having a few drinks.

The inevitable happens, and CareFlight is called to haul the man to the hospital.

At another ranch, a hunter catches his foot on a piece of metal while getting out of the elevated deer blind and falls. A trip to the hospital follows.

The landowners sweat out the next two years wondering if they’ll be sued.

“Injuries from ATV accidents is the biggest new liability,” said Warren Blesh, a broker with Porter Insurance Agency in Brownwood.

While Texas law provides protection for landowners pursuant to the recreational guest statute that specifically includes fee-paying hunters, there is no guarantee that no suit will be filed.

“Landowners owe no duty at

all to trespassers, and no greater duty to a recreational guest than is commonly owed a trespasser,” Blesh said.

There are a few exceptions, though.

“The landowner with an agricultural exemption can’t earn more than four times his or her property tax bill from recreational fees,” Blesh said.

But the possibility of a lawsuit from the guest still exists.

“The duty is to not be grossly negligent,” Blesh said. “It’s hard to prove, but a person claiming an injury can still sue. Often the cost of the litigation is as high as the damage claim.”

In 1995, the Texas Legislature capped the amount a recreational guest can recover for injuries sustained on private property at $500,000 for each person, $1 million for each single incident and $100,000 for each incident of property damage.

But again, there is a catch.

“The landowner has to maintain liability insurance coverage equal to the caps to get the protection,” Blesh said.

In addition to the liability coverage, Blesh recommends landowners secure a waiver from all guests for additional protection.

“Ranches and hunting operations are big business,” he said.

“Often there are luxury lodges, trips back and forth to the airport, etc. And big business needs protection.”

There are other possible accidents that need to be considered, Blesh said.

“Guides dress a lot of deer, often at night,” he said. “One slip of the knife and a significant injury can occur.”

Leaseholders are another consideration.

“There are policies the leaseholders can purchase, and they are inexpensive,” Blesh said.

“The landowner should be put on the policy as an additional insured.”

Commercial hunting package policies, with or without lodging, are available. They cover the property, lodges and other overnight facilities, shooting facilities and ranges, blinds and treestands, hunting with guides and liability associated with serving meals and/or alcohol.

Tips: Landowners should buy hunting liability policies, adding the guides as additional insureds, and get an attorneyapproved waiver signed by all guests.

Leaseholders should buy the leaseholders policy, adding the landowner as an additional insured.

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Results are in — hunter, angler numbers up Dan Ashe said he hopes to continue the trend in getting people to enjoy the outdoors.

“The Fish and Wildlife Service is dedicated to connecting people and families with nature,” Ashe said. “We look forward to continue to work with the states, nongovernmental organizations, and additional partners to help keep recreational fishing, hunting, and wildlife watching going strong for people across America’s great outdoors.”

According to Dr. Jonathan Gassett, commissioner of the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Resources Commission, the more citizens who are introduced into hunting and fishing across the country, the more benefits anglers and hunters can enjoy.

“State agencies, hunters and anglers are the key funders of fish and wildlife conservation through their license and gear purchases,” Gassett said. “An increase in participation and expenditure rates means that agencies can continue to restore and improve habitat and fish and wildlife species, bring more youth into the outdoors and provide even greater access to recreational activities.”

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE: Many conservation groups have contributed toward involving more youth in the outdoors and the new numbers reflect this. Photo by LSON.

During a time when many agencies, including the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, are tightening their belts with budget cuts and a decline in funding, a positive outlook can be found when referring to the latest published survey of hunter and angler numbers.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released the 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, with good news for outdoorsmen. The survey, conducted every five years, found a 9 percent increase in hunters,

and an 11 percent increase in anglers. Also up 38 percent from the 2006 survey was the number of participants in wildlife-related recreation, which equates to 2.6 million additional people.

These outdoorsmen spent $145 billion on related gear, trips, licenses, etc., which represented 1 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product.

According to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, this is all very positive for the interests of outdoorsmen.

“Seeing more people fishing, hunt-

ing, and getting outdoors is great news for America’s economy and conservation heritage,” said Salazar. “Outdoor recreation and tourism are huge economic engines for local communities and the country, so it is vital that we continue to support policies and investments that help Americans get outside, learn to fish, or go hunting.

“We have been focused on helping Americans rediscover the joys of casting a line, passing along family hunting traditions, and protecting the places they love.”

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director

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Brenham hunt er TAYLOR PO HL, 14, was hu on the evenin nting with her g of June 9 ne mom ar Comfort when first axis doe. she harvested The big doe w her as taken with a .2 provide the fa mily with tast 43 rifle and w y venison thro ill ughout the su mmer.

Other key findings included: • In 2011, 13.7 million people, 6 percent of the U.S. population 16 years old and older, went hunting. They spent $34.0 billion on trips, equipment, licenses, and other items in 2011, an average of $2,484 per hunter.

• More than 33 million people 16 and older fished in 2011, spending $41.8 billion on trips, equipment, licenses, and other items, an average of $1,262 per angler.

• More than 71 million people engaged in wildlife watching in 2011, spending $55.0 billion on their activities.

— USFWS

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WHERE IS EVERYONE? Pintail numbers, unlike the majority of ducks, are down this year after a record year last season. Outfitters and biologists don’t seem too concerned with the drop. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.

Pintails Continued From Page 4

actually help Texas duck hunters this season.

“It’s possible we’ll see more birds, because the birds are probably going to have to move farther south to find water,” he said.

Port Aransas duck guide Capt. Steve Johnson isn’t too worried about the drop in pintail numbers.

“We will still have the redheads, which is our primary bird when we’re hunting,” he said. “We’ll have good numbers of wigeon and other birds that can fill in.”

Johnson said as long as he can get out to hunt, he isn’t going to worry about a single species of duck having a drop in population.

“I’m concerned for the resource if the biologists say the pintail population is down, but there’s probably some room for error,” he said.

Central Texas duck guide Robert Steenbeke also said he doesn’t put a ton of concern in the pintail report.

“That’s a significant drop, but we’re only allowed two a day anyway,” he said. “The

only time pintails have any importance to me really is when I’m on the rice prairie, and again, you can only shoot two.”

As long as the other duck numbers remain strong, Steenbeke said the pintail drop shouldn’t be a big factor.

“As far as pintails go, I would like to see those numbers rebirth, but I’m not concerned for pintail in general,” he said. “Most duck hunters don’t really give a flip what they’re shooting as long as it’s something.”

August 24, 2012

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FISHING

Summer cats still biting

By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News

Across the state, catfish guides are all saying something similar.

The catfish are biting, if the angler can stand the heat.

“Well, the catfishing is good depending on what you want to fish for,” said Lake Conroe guide Darrell Taylor.

“If you are looking for eatingsized fish, we are catching

good numbers of those. If you want big fish, we are catching a few of those at the right time, too.”

Taylor said early mornings have been better than afternoons, and he has used his own bait — Catfish Killer Cheesebait — to catch his fish.

“I’ve been out here for 31 years and I only use my bait,” See SUMMER CATS, Page 20

LOOK OUT: After almost having his first tarpon jump on top of him, John Anselmo managed to safely land the fish after a nearly hour-long struggle, when it was then quickly released. Photo by Kevin Dumas.

First time for tarpon Angler finally catches a silver king

By John Keith

Lone Star Outdoor News This angler’s first tarpon almost got into the boat a little too easily.

Houston angler John Anselmo was fishing the jetties out of Port Aransas from an 18-foot skiff for tarpon with friend Kevin Dumas, also of Houston.

“It was still dark out, and we were using a trolling motor to try and look for bait and tarpon rolling at first light,” Anselmo said. “At the incoming tide we started seeing bait and a bunch of fish com-

ing to the surface.”

The men began casting artificials toward the fish, and were successful in catching nine bull reds.

As they were fishing, they could see birds diving a couple miles offshore.

Since the water was relatively calm, they decided to move to the new spot.

“We saw a big bait ball and a bunch of fish, including kingfish, Spanish mackerel and sharks,” Anselmo said.

“A big shark even came up and ate my king I had hooked.”

The move proved to be a good one as tarpon started rolling within 100 yards of the boat. Anselmo cast to the fish and was quickly hooked up.

“After those nine reds I was already tired, and then I came into the tarpon,” he said. “But you get your second wind and

your adrenaline going and don’t even think about it until later.”

Anselmo said this tarpon was about the fifth one he has hooked, but he had never been able to land one. When the tarpon started jumping, the fish almost landed himself.

“I bet he jumped 10 or 11 times — he almost jumped in the boat,” Anselmo said. “It was a 55-minute fight. He was pretty tough to pull in.”

The fish was not weighed, but measured 64 inches before it was quickly released. Anselmo said catching his first tarpon was exhilarating.

“It was great and we had a fantastic time, because we knew how hard it was to land one,” he said. “It was like being in a movie — just surreal.

We’re hooked on it now.”

Dumas took control of

the boat when the fish was hooked to help his friend bring in the tarpon. His maneuvering proved valuable once the fish started jumping.

“Tarpon is a bad name — jumping tuna would be better,” Dumas said. “He got a little close on one jump, and we were like ‘Woah.’ They fight hard.”

Dumas said it took them about 10 minutes to get the first tarpon to bite, and it would turn out to be the only bite of the day.

“It was pretty much over by 10 o’ clock,” he said. “We saw another five or six free-rolling tarpon, but never could get back into casting position on those, and by 10:30, they were gone.”

The fish was caught on a red and chartreuse suspending hard-bodied bait.

HOT BUT BITING: Anglers willing to battle the summer heat will find catfishing hitting punchbait from the Rio Grande to North Texas. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.

Chomping on catfish GATORBAIT: This big bull gator was caught having a snack near Matagorda Island by fishing guide Capt.

Scott Sommerlatte.

Big gators will feed on anything from crabs to redfish to hardheads, like this one pictured.

Sommerlatte said this is the first time he has seen a gator eating a hardhead.

“It was really cool hearing the crunching as he chewed him up,” Scott said. “He crushed him in his jaws before swallowing him.”

Photo by Scott Sommerlatte, for Lone Star Outdoor News.

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STICKING FLOUNDER: Guides along the coast are ecstatic about flounder numbers this summer. They are also seeing a lot of juvenile fish, which bodes well for next year. Photo by LSON.

Good gigging

By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News

Flounder gigging guide Tommy Barnard loves stalking big flatfish at night along the middle coast.

And he says this year has been phenomenal in terms of size and numbers of fish.

“Flounder? Oh yeah, we are sticking quite a few,” he said. “The wind in August is up but as long as the water doesn’t get too stained, we are really getting them.”

Barnard said he is averaging 18 to 19 inches per fish, with his biggest so far this season at 22 inches.

“We are getting the occasional 4-pounder,” he said.

“It has been more steady than last year — every year we are seeing more fish.”

Also along the midcoast, Capt. Dan Pike said he has been taking limits almost every trip, with many flounder in the 15- to 16-inch range.

“I am getting three or four good fish a trip,” he said.

“Due to the water being so hot, the bigger fish are not staying shallow very long.

They come up shallow, eat and leave.”

Along the upper coast, Galveston Capt. Josh Arscott said the flounder gigging has been “awesome.”

“We are limiting about every trip,” he said. “In 30 years, this is the best year I can remember size-wise and numbers. I’m seeing a lot of 18-inch fish.”

Each guide contacted by LSON said recent regulations placed on the flounder fishery has helped tremendously, especially the November closure for gigging.

“The November closure lets those fish get out in the Gulf and do their thing,” Arscott said. “I have seen tons of little fish this year.

We also have a lot of muddy water, so that saves a lot of

fish in this area.”

Barnard agreed the regulations were a good thing.

“I can see a difference,” he said. “It has been more steady than last year for sure.

I am seeing a lot more fish.”

Pike said he is seeing a lot of juvenile fish, and all of the action is making it fun, especially for families with children.

“The regulations are absolutely right on,” Pike said.

“In June, I counted 50, 10to 12-inch flounder in one cut. In Redfish Bay, I saw 200 small fish recently. Those will be legal next year, so the regs have helped the catching, which has helped the number of trips I book.

“A lot of kids love getting out here and seeing all of the small fish, along with the crabs and other stuff in the bays.”

Tommy Barnard, (361) 501-6655 Josh Arscott, (409) 526-3610 Dan Pike, (361) 386-3219

When it all comes together Junior angler beats own record twice in one day

By John Keith

Lone Star Outdoor News

REPEATING RECORDS: On the last cast of the day, Dillon Harrell pulled in an 8.14-pound bass to almost double the junior angler record on Lake Raven. Photo by Dillon Harrell.

It was the kind of day a bass angler dreams about.

Fishing in the middle of a largemouth feeding frenzy, one lucky junior angler’s dream became a reality.

Dillon Harrell, 15, of New Caney, often fishes Lake Raven in Walker County, and held the junior angler record for the lake with a 4.79-pound bass. But, even as the record holder, he wanted to catch a bigger fish.

“Every time I go out there I try to beat my own record, or set my personal best because the lake is phenomenal,” Harrell said. “My friend invited me out there and I decided, ‘Well, it ought to be fun.’”

Harrell and his dad, Everett, went and picked up his friend in their boat.

They hadn’t been fishing for long when Harrell’s friend got a call from his dad telling the boys about a group of bass schooling in another area of the lake. They hurried over.

“The bass were schooling like stripers, jumping, hitting the bottom of the boat and the trolling motor,” Harrell said. “I had an Alabama rig and was going to see what happened — the first cast I had one about 6 pounds come up and miss the hook.”

See JUNIOR ANGLER, Page 17

August 24, 2012

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TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT Warmer temps, cooler action RICHLAND CHAMBERS RESERVOIR — In contrast to hot summer temperatures, the white and hybrid action has not been heating up, according to area guide Royce Simmons.

“It was solid early summer, and ever since then the whites and hybrids have been more fair than good,” Simmons said. “The lake is absolutely full of white bass and a fair number of hybrid, and it’s OK right now, but not an easy 50, 100, or however many people you have, limit.”

Simmons said chartreuse or silver slabs are his go-to lures, but the big key is to find the schools, and the rest will take care of itself.

“I always say, when they’re biting the lure doesn’t matter, and when they aren’t biting it doesn’t matter,” he said.

To contact Royce Simmons, visit gonefishin.biz.

All according to plan LAKE RAY ROBERTS — There’s been more catching than fishing, according to area guide Cliff Spindle.

“The fishing is pretty good right now, with the crappie real good on brush piles,” Spindle said. “They’ve been producing good numbers, and pretty good in the timber, too.”

Live minnows have been the best, with about a 20:1 ratio of bites as compared to fishing

ALAN HENRY: Water lightly stained; 82–90 degrees; 8.17’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on topwaters early, midday switching to Texas rigs, deep-diving crankbaits, jigs and drop-shot rigs.

AMISTAD: Water clear; 84–88 degrees; 26.20’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters, crankbaits, soft plastics and jigs in hydrilla. Channel and blue catfish are good on cheesebait, shrimp and nightcrawlers over baited holes in 15–40 feet.

ARROWHEAD: Water off-color; 83–88 degrees; 10.76’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters, Texas rigs and lipless crankbaits. White bass are good on slabs and Rooster Tails. Catfish are fair to good on prepared bait.

ATHENS: Water clear, 86–91 degrees; 3.07’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on wacky-rigged weightless worms around deeper docks. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on prepared bait.

BASTROP: Water stained; 87–91 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse spinner baits and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and pink tube jigs. Channel and blue catfish are fair on shrimp and stinkbait.

BELTON: Water clear; 86–90 degrees; 2.36’ low. Largemouth bass are good on purple soft plastic worms early. Channel and blue catfish are good on snails on rod and reel at night.

BOB SANDLIN: Water lightly stained; 86–91 degrees; 4.22’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on medium crankbaits in 6–8’. Deep water brush piles are best later in the day using football jigs or Carolina rigs. Crappie are good on live minnows and jigs over brush piles and mid– to deep–water stickups. Catfish are fair to good on trotlines or juglines with soap and nightcrawlers.

BRAUNIG: Water clear.

Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits and lipless crankbaits near the dam. Channel catfish are good on shrimp and cut bait.

BRIDGEPORT: Water clear; 86–91 degrees; 9.92’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged blue fleck worms fished around main lake points as well as larger rock along shoreline. 5–10’ has been best.

BROWNWOOD: Water clear; 87–91 degrees; 12.69’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on perch-colored spinner baits and soft plastic worms over brush piles. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs over brush piles.

BUCHANAN: Water murky; 86–90 degrees; 25.05’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon lipless crankbaits, perch-colored topwaters, and watermelon red soft plastic worms early. Striped bass are good on green striper jigs and live bait at first light. Channel catfish are good on liver and minnows.

CALAVERAS: Water clear.

Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse spinner baits and crankbaits over reed beds. Channel and blue catfish are good on cheesebait, shrimp, and shad.

CEDAR CREEK: Water lightly stained; 86–91 degrees; 2.19’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on shaky heads and swimjigs around docks.

Main lake area has been best.

Crappie are good on minnows.

COLEMAN: Water lightly stained; 84–88 degrees; 17.45’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on watermelon spinner baits and Carolina-rigged soft plastics.

CONROE: Water fairly clear; 86–90 degrees; 2.47’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers, liver, and shrimp.

COOPER: Water lightly stained; 86–91 degrees; 3.07’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on Texasrigged soft plastics later in the day — deeper points have been best.

White bass are good on slabs.

Hybrid striper are fair to good on artificial shad and live shad over main lake humps. Catfish are good on prepared bait and cut bait.

FALCON: Water clear; 88–92 degrees; 39.74’ low. Largemouth bass are good on white spinner baits. Channel and blue catfish

are excellent on cut bait and stinkbait.

FAYETTE: Water stained.

Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse Carolina-rigged soft plastics and small spinner baits.

Channel and blue catfish are good on cut shad.

FORK: Water clear; 86–92 degrees; 3.15’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina rig and football jigs in deeper water. Midday bite has been better with good catches around bridge columns on dropshot rigs with fry. Yellow bass are good on smaller spoons along creek channel bends in deeper water. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs over brush piles and around bridge columns. Catfish are good on prepared bait.

GRANGER: Water clear; 88–92 degrees; 1.00’ low. Crappie are good on minnows around standing timber in the mouth of the river and Willis Creek. Blue catfish to 25 pounds are good on shad near the dam.

GRAPEVINE: Water clear; 86–91 degrees; 4.04’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged green pumpkin finesse worms and shaky heads around main lake points in 6–10’ — fish being caught from deeper brush piles as well. Top-waters along main lake points are good early (best bite is in 4–8 feet). Catfish are good on nightcrawlers and cut shad.

GREENBELT: Water stained; 84–90 degrees; 39.83’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters early and late, midday switching to jigs, Texas rigs and shaky heads.

Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs over brush piles.

with jigs.

Sand bass have been schooling up until 10 a.m. around Cape’s Point and from the marina to the dam area, and are hitting clear lipless crankbaits. Catfish are biting as well.

“Largemouth have been good but still kind of scattered, in-between patterns with some moving shallow but most bigger fish out deeper,” Spindle said.

To contact Cliff Spindle, call (940) 727-3493.

Struggle in South Texas CHOKE CANYON — The fishing has fallen off considerably since the beginning of the summer, according to area anglers.

Anglers are struggling to consistently pull in bass. Catfish have been tough to catch as well, but anglers have had fairly good luck on jug and trot lines.

“It’s been fair; the first three hours are real crucial,” said area guide Charles Whited. “You only get an hour or two hours and then it gets tough.”

Whited said he has seen better luck in recent weeks fishing Lake LBJ and Falcon Reservoir.

“The crappie are excellent (on LBJ),” he said. “We’re getting our limit every time on black and blue tubes on every brush pile.”

To contact Charles Whited, call (512) 557-6772.

— John Keith

pie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair to good on prepared baits.

LAKE O' THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 87–91 degrees; 4.33’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on green pumpkin Carolina-rigged soft plastics and deep-diving crankbaits around brush piles. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs.

LAVON: Water lightly stained; 87–92 degrees; 4.88’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged worms — crankbaits are also productive around riprap.

Crappie are good on minnows and jigs around bridge columns.

LBJ: Water clear; 88–92 degrees; 0.27’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on perch-colored spinner baits and crankbaits, and on pumpkinseed soft plastics early and late. Crappie are good on white crappie jigs and live minnows over brush piles.

LEWISVILLE: Water clear; 87–92 degrees; 3.49’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on finesse presentations in 10–15 feet along main lake points — key on larger rock along main lake points for best results. Larger isolated rock is best. Shaky heads are good. Hybrid striper are good on slabs and artificial shad. Catfish are good on prepared bait.

LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 86–90 degrees; 0.70’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on spinner baits and crankbaits.

White bass are good on troll tubes, pet spoons, and slabs.

Crappie are good on minnows.

Blue catfish are good on shad.

HOUSTON COUNTY: Water clear; 88–92 degrees; 0.78’ low.

Largemouth bass to 3 pounds are fair on top-waters early. Blue catfish to 5 pounds are good on juglines baited with perch.

NAVARRO MILLS: Water stained; 89–93 degrees; 1.03’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse lipless crankbaits.

Crappie are good on minnows and jigs in Liberty Hill Park early.

Channel catfish are good on stinkbait and shrimp.

JOE POOL: Water clear; 86–91 degrees; 1.74’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on green pumpkin Texas-rigged soft plastics and medium-running crankbaits in 8–10 feet along points. Crap-

O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 84–91 degrees; 44.57’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters early, midday switching to jigs, spoons, medium- to deep-diving crankbaits, Texas rigs and Caro-

lina rigs. Crappie are fair to good on live minnows. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers and prepared bait.

OAK CREEK: Water stained; 83–89 degrees; 17.56’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on lipless crankbaits and buzzbaits early and late, midday switching to jigs, Carolina rigs and Texas rigs. Crappie are good on jigs and live minnows over brush piles. Catfish are good on chartreuse nightcrawlers.

PALESTINE: Water clear; 86–92 degrees; 1.20’ low. Largemouth bass are good on finesse jigs and Texas-rigged soft plastics near shallow cover and docks — best bite is later in the day near thicker cover. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Hybrid striper are good on slabs and live shad.

Catfish are good on prepared bait.

POSSUM KINGDOM: Water fairly clear; 83–90 degrees; 7.27’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on lipless crankbaits early, later switching to Texas rigs, jigs, DD22s and Carolina rigs.

Crappie are good on minnows and jigs over brush piles and around bridge columns. White bass are good on top-water early and late, midday switching to slabs and Rooster Tails. Catfish are good on prepared bait and nightcrawlers.

PROCTOR: Water stained; 90–94 degrees; 3.00’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon spinner baits and some topwaters. Channel and blue catfish are good on shad.

RAY HUBBARD: Water clear; 86–92 degrees; 2.39’ low.

Largemouth bass are slow on watermelon soft plastics and football jigs around deeper brush piles. Medium-diving crankbaits along riprap points are catching fish also. Crappie are good on minnows and Road Runners.

White bass are good on humps with hybrids mixed in.

SAM RAYBURN: Water lightly stained; 86–90 degrees; 2.23’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse crankbaits and soft plastic worms. Crappie are good

■ See Saltwater fishing reports: Page 14 on minnows over brush piles.

Bream are good on nightcrawlers.

Catfish are good on trotlines baited with live bait and cut bait.

SOMERVILLE: Water murky; 87–91 degrees; 1.07’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon soft plastic worms with chartreuse tails. Channel and blue catfish are fair on trotlines and juglines baited with perch.

TAWAKONI: Water stained; 87–92 degrees; 2.15’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on Texas-rigged black/blue soft plastics and black/blue flipping jigs around docks — best bite has been farther back in the creeks. Larger profile jigs producing better.

TEXOMA: Water clear; 86–91 degrees; 1.92’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on medium crankbaits along main lake points. Smaller jigs and Carolina rigs in 8–12 feet are effective as well. Some fish are being caught early on top-waters but that bite is slowing down. Striped bass are good on slabs and live shad.

Catfish are good on nightcrawlers and cut bait.

TOLEDO BEND: Water stained; 84–88 degrees; 3.08’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon/blue flake soft plastic worms early and late. Crappie are good on minnows and blue tube jigs. Bream are good on crickets and nightcrawlers off docks. Channel and blue catfish are good on trotlines baited with live bait.

TRAVIS: Water stained; 88–92 degrees; 43.35’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon spinner baits and black/blue soft plastic worms.

WEATHERFORD: Water clear; 86–92 degrees; 4.28’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged soft plastics and jigs around docks and shallow cover. Finesse presentations working also. Crappie are good on minnows.

—TPWD

LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

August 24, 2012

Page 11

Small campers, big fish 45-inch red, 29-inch trout landed by two youngsters

By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star Outdoor News Two young campers at Outdoor Texas Camp’s Saltwater Fishing Camp have some big memories in the form of a giant redfish and a trophy trout.

The group of campers was at the Port Aransas South Jetty when 11-year-old Nick Korpan hooked into the redfish.

“It was my first fish of the day,” said Nick, who is about to enter the sixth grade in Houston. “We were freelining with cut mullet.”

The big red took the bait and Nick set the hook.

“It immediately started taking HEAVY LOADS: This 45-inch redfish put up quite the fight for 62-pound Nick Korpan, and Yates Perlitz brought in a 29-inch trophy trout. drag like crazy,” he said.

Both were attending Outdoor Texas Camp’s Saltwater Fishing Camp. Photos by Outdoor Texas Camp.

The big fish presented another problem, as Nick weighs a mere 62 released it,” he said. “They esti- campers caught 50 reds in excess a guide,” he said. “We caught a pounds. mated the weight in the low 30s of 29 inches and 15 over 40. bunch of fish — about 20 keeper “I was getting real tired,” Nick — definitely my biggest fish ever.”

“We had trouble finding slot trout. But they had gotten us up at said. “They were holding me Camp Director David Todd said redfish, though.”

5 a.m. and the fishing was getting down, or the fish would have the redfish cooperated well for the The trout cooperated, too, for slow, so I was getting real tired. taken me into the water.” campers.

12-year-old Yates Perlitz of Boerne, “I was about to fall asleep when The fight lasted 20 minutes “We caught redfish from the who was attending the camp for I got a tug on my line — the guide before the 45-inch bull red was same spot (near the end of the the second time a few weeks before said, ‘Wait, wait … now reel.’” netted.

South Jetty) every morning for beginning the seventh grade.

The trout was hooked, and its “We were fishing in a boat with head did come above the surface “We got some pictures and almost three weeks,” he said. “Our

once to try to shake the bait, but Perlitz didn’t get a good look at it.

“Then it came by the boat and turned sideways,” Perlitz said.

“When I saw how big it was I started shaking — I could barely hold the rod.”

The trout measured 29 inches.

“I had never seen a trout that big,” he said.

Outdoor Texas Camp offers numerous hunting and fishing camps throughout the summer.

Page 12

August 24, 2012

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

GAME WARDEN BLOTTER WARDEN FINDS STOLEN PWC Harrison County Game Warden Darrin Peeples recovered a stolen personal watercraft that was found abandoned and tied to a boat dock with a garden hose on Caddo Lake.

Peeples coordinated a response with the Caddo Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana and closed a theft case.

LONG LIST OF EXCUSES, BUT STILL BWI Montgomery County Game Wardens Brannon Meinkowsky and Bobby Apple stopped a boat for a water safety inspection on Lake Conroe. During the stop, the driver showed signs of intoxication. He claimed to have a back injury, a brain injury, a knee injury, asthma and said he was suffering from asbestos poisoning. Seated sobriety tests were given and failed. He was asked to provide a breath sample and blew .09. He was arrested and transported to the Montgomery County Jail. Case pending.

WARDENS RECOVER BODY OF FISHERMAN WHO FELL OFF RETAINING WALL Bexar County Game Wardens Johnny Jones, Roland Fuentes, Chad Moore and Atascosa County Game Warden Brian Scott recovered the body of a 67-year-old male who had drowned in Calaveras Lake in Bexar County. The man had been fishing from a retainer wall, known as the “crappie wall,” and fell into the water.

BUZZARDS DRAW ATTENTION TO ILLEGAL DEER KILL Sabine County Game Warden Sam Smith came across a group of buzzards dining on a fresh deer carcass.

DOUBLE-TROUBLE AFTER ROAD HUNTING CONFRONTATION Red River County Game Warden Daniel Roraback and Bowie County Game Wardens Shawn Hervey and Doug Williams received information regarding a possible road-hunting incident. Three individuals were shooting from the roadway near a residence. The property owner and his wife were outside at the time. The husband, who had been drinking, jumped into his vehicle and began chasing the hunters. The husband tried stopping the hunters by shooting a pistol out of his window, then rammed the hunters’ vehicle and later flipped his own vehicle over, suffering serious injuries. The husband was cited for DWI and deadly conduct. The individuals in the other vehicle denied having a weapon or shooting at anything, however, they were unaware that the When he contacted the landowner, the very nervous landowner agreed to accompany Smith to the dump site.

At the site, the landowner admitted to killing the deer, saying he “just got a new rifle and went to hunt hogs. No hogs showed, but the deer did and I had an itchy trigger finger.” Case and restitution pending.

STOLEN GAME CAMERA THE LEAST OF HIS PROBLEMS Haskell County Game Warden Ryan Peacock received information concerning a stolen game camera and the identity of the suspect, who was in jail at the time. During an interview, the suspect provided information regarding the whereabouts of the stolen game camera and the game camera housing. Peacock obtained and executed a search warrant on the property and house described by the suspect. The stolen property was located. During the execution of the warrant, Ryan also observed, in plain view, other illegal items, namely an illegal shotgun, five large marijuana plants and 41 small

911 call they had made had not been dropped. Heard in the background on the recording was “Hide the gun in them woods,” and “Not that far, we’re gonna come back and get it tonight.” Upon hearing the 911 tape, the occupants decided to change their statements and admitted to shooting at multiple animals that day from the road. The subjects also confessed to multiple burglaries of habitations and storage buildings. Roraback also interviewed the three subjects about a year-long investigation of an 8-point buck deer killed last August in Red River County. The subjects admitted to having been on the ranch illegally and shooting the buck, leaving it to waste. A total of 24 cases were filed on the three individuals.

marijuana plants. Additionally, Ryan also observed that the suspect had been stealing electricity by jumping the electric meter box. Four cases were filed, three of which were felonies. Cases are pending.

PARTY ON THE PONTOON NOT IN SLOW MOTION At Lake Livingston, a pontoon boat pulled up to a boat ramp at a high rate of speed while Polk County Game Warden Ryan Hall was checking boaters. Hall watched as the subject got out of his boat and staggered up through the parking lot to retrieve his truck. Hall stopped the man, who then failed the field sobriety tests. The man was arrested for BWI. SKI BOAT RUNS OVER KAYAK AND FLEES Guadalupe County Game Warden Kevin Frazier was called out around 10 p.m. for a boat wreck/hit-andrun on Lake Dunlap. Comal County Game Wardens Brent Satsky and Michael McCall got the original call and called Frazier for assistance.

Around dark, a ski boat ran over the front of a kayak with a man aboard.

The man had minor injuries, and the impact put both boats up against the bank in some trees. The kayaker tried to get the ski boat operator’s information but had no luck. The kayaker was holding on to the ski boat trying to reason with the driver. At one point the ski boat driver took a swing at the kayaker, who then took a picture of the operator and the TX number with his iPhone. The ski boat operator sped off, dragging the kayaker 100 yards before he let go. Satsky ran the TX number and it came back to a resident on the lake, and Frazier went to the residence. The operator was placed under arrest for assault causing bodily injury. The ski boat did have transfer marks from hitting the kayak.

GUIDE BUSTED WITH UNDERSIZED FISH Llano County Game Warden Kenneth Stannard and Lampasas County Game Warden Shaun Bayless were patrolling Lake LBJ when they

stopped to check a fishing guide.

The wardens had come across this particular guide keeping undersized fish in the past. After a quick water safety inspection, Bayless opened an ice chest full of fish and noticed several were undersized. There were eight undersized crappie and one undersized largemouth bass in the cooler. Citations were issued and all the fish were seized.

HOGTIED DOE GOES FREE, NABBERS DON’T A citizen observed two men chasing a doe around a fenced-in truck yard and reported it to Webb County Game Warden Weston Burris. The caller saw the men with 2x4s in hand, and a few minutes later saw the men dragging the doe toward the guard shack.

Weston made contact with the guard, who had hogtied the doe and put it in the closet of the shack. While interviewing the guard, the doe came to and was released. Cases pending.

OVERBOARD KAYAKERS ASSISTED BY WARDENS Aransas County Game Warden Karen Simmons and Goliad County Game Warden Kevin Fagg assisted two female subjects, one of whom was a juvenile, who fell out of their kayak in Copano Bay. The high winds and deep water made it difficult for both subjects to right the kayak and get back in. After getting the women and their kayaks into their patrol boat and safely to shore, the wardens received another kayaker-in-distress call. A male subject overturned his kayak and was hanging on to the kayak as he had no PFD with him. After bringing the man safely to shore, he was cited for failing to have any PFD with him.

LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

August 24, 2012

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August 24, 2012

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LSONews.com

TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT Sponsored by

Focusing on flounder COPANO BAY — According to Capt. Bob “Red” Van, the flounder gigging has been sensational around his home area of Rockport.

“The fishing has been unbelievable,” he said. “We are getting limits every night we go out. And the fish are really goodsized fish — a lot of 22.5-inch fish.”

Van said the flounder populations have rebounded to levels he hasn’t seen in the past 10 or 12 years.

“It is really good right now, and if they ever opened up Cedar Bayou, it would be phenomenal,” he said.

For more flounder reports, check out the LSON story on page 9.

To contact Capt. “Red” Van, call (361) 727-0045.

Conditions controlling success EAST GALVESTON BAY — Capt. George Knighten has fished from Trinity Bay to East Bay in recent weeks, and said he’s having good days and bad days across the board.

“It’s all depending on tidal movements and wind,” Knighten said. “We’ve been on them pretty steady using live shrimp.”

While trout have been consistent with the live shrimp, anglers will have to do a little searching for the redfish schools.

NORTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good under birds and pods of shad on soft plastics. Redfish are good under rafts of shad on top-waters.

Redfish are good in the marsh on small top-waters.

SOUTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good under birds and pods of shad. Trout are good at the jetty on live bait and topwaters.

BOLIVAR: Trout are good on the outgoing tide at Rollover Pass on twitchbaits, live shrimp and soft plastics.

Sand trout and croakers are good on fresh shrimp.

TRINITY BAY: Trout are good for drifters working pods of shad and mullet. Trout are good on the shell pads around

the wells on soft plastics.

Trout, redfish and flounder are good at the spillway on live bait.

EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are good for drifters working deep shell on limetreuse and plum plastics. Trout are fair to good on the shell adjacent to the channel on live bait. Birds have worked on calm days.

WEST GALVESTON BAY: Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp and crabs.

Offshore is good for kingfish, ling and dolphin. Tarpon have been good along the beachfront.

TEXAS CITY: Trout are fair to good on the reefs and in the channel on live shrimp and

croakers. Redfish and sand trout are fair to good in Moses Lake on shrimp.

FREEPORT: Trout are good at San Luis Pass on shrimp, twitchbaits and soft plastics.

The surf has held trout on live bait and artificials when green water creeps along the beach.

Trout, redfish, sand trout and sheepshead are good on live shrimp on the reefs in Christmas.

“When you do find them it gets pretty wild, with lots of oversized fish,” he said. “Right now they’re pretty deep, laying low.

When we get a couple of cold fronts, it’ll move them back to the shoreline.”

Artificials haven’t been soliciting as many bites as the shrimp.

To contact Capt. George Knighten, call (832) 310-9146.

On the upswing BAFFIN BAY — Fishing has picked up the last couple of weeks, according to area fishing guide Capt. Steve Schultz.

“It really has been good even though it’s been hot down here, we’ve had a late summer spurt,” he said. “It’s been awesome.”

Schultz has had his best luck with the trout, but said the reds are starting to make their appearance.

“There was kind of a lull in our bite, but here recently it’s picked up,” he said. “We’re throwing croaker and piggy perch, but we have plastics tied on all the time if we see a school of reds.”

Anglers should target areas with structure, such as grass beds or sand pockets.

To contact Capt. Steve Schultz, call (361) 949-7359.

— John Keith

top-waters. Redfish and black drum are fair on live shrimp in Oyster Lake and around Shell Island.

PORT O'CONNOR: Trout and redfish are fair to good on top-waters and live bait over sand, grass and shell in San Antonio Bay. Trout and redfish are fair for drifters working the back lakes with live shrimp.

EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair for drifters on live shrimp over midbay reefs.

Redfish are schooling in the middle of the bay and best around slicks.

ROCKPORT: Trout are fair in the guts and channels on free–lined shrimp. Trout are fair over grass while drifting with live shrimp. Redfish are good on piggy perch and shrimp around Mud Island.

WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair on sand and grass humps on soft plastics and

PORT ARANSAS: Trout, redfish and sheepshead are fair to good at the jetty on shrimp

and croakers. Offshore is good for dolphin, ling, kingfish and tuna.

CORPUS CHRISTI: Trout are fair to good on the edge of the spoils on croakers, piggy perch, scented plastics and live shrimp. Redfish are good in the potholes on shrimp and croakers.

BAFFIN BAY: Trout are good on top-waters, croakers and soft plastics around deep rocks and grass. Redfish are fair to good for sight–casters on the flats on small top-waters.

PORT MANSFIELD: Trout are good on top-waters on the edge of the channel and around sand and grass.

Redfish are fair to good while drifting pot holes on scented

plastics and plastics under popping corks. Offshore is good for kingfish, dolphin, ling and tuna.

SOUTH PADRE: Trout are good over sand and grass in South Bay on scented plastics and artificial or live shrimp.

Tarpon are showing at the pass. Redfish are good on the flats on gold spoons, scented plastics and small lipless crankbaits.

PORT ISABEL: Trout and redfish are fair to good on the flats on live shrimp and artificial shrimp under a popping cork. Trout are good on the deeper edges and flats on top-waters and live shrimp.

— TPWD

LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

REVIVING: After Connor Kelly brought his billfish beside the boat, the captain would not let it be brought aboard, preferring to release the fish quickly. Photo by Conor Harrison, LSON.

First billfish Continued From Page 1

ing as first mate for his dad, Ingleside Capt. Dan Kelly, during the summers off from school.

But some things do get him excited. The 48-hour offshore adventure aboard the Freeport-based Papara Rey in mid-August certainly qualified.

The main reason for the trip was to get young Kelly hooked up to a billfish, and Capt. Kenneth Doxey made sure it happened.

After several hours of trolling on the second day, and two nice wahoo already in the cooler, a marlin finally rose next to a weedline to strike the blue artificial bait several hundred yards behind the boat. The fight was on.

Connor jumped from his position in the back of the boat into the fighting chair, as deck hand Matt Fishbeck handed him the large reel and strapped him into the chair.

Connor’s dad yelled encouragement as the marlin tail walked several times, stripping line as he powered away from the boat.

“This is your billfish, boy,” Dan Kelly yelled. “Keep cranking on that reel and don’t point the rod toward him. You’re doing great.”

Connor struggled for more than 10 minutes as Doxey maneuvered the boat to keep pace with the frantic marlin’s dives, twists and turns. But the young man held fast, and soon the marlin was coming straight up from the bottom.

All hands were on deck as the captain shouted he could see color. Soon, the big fish was beside the boat as Fishbeck, now joined by First Mate Barrett Garrison, grabbed the leader and brought the marlin securely to the side of the boat.

Dad and son shared a few special moments leaning over the side of the boat, watching the big, 150-pound fish come back to life after the grueling fight. After a few minutes of

reviving the fish, Garrison released the fish back into the deep. The marlin kicked its tail several times, pointed downward and swam off.

High-fives and war whoops followed on the deck.

“Connor, you did it,” yelled Dan Kelly. “I’m really proud of you.”

Connor was shaking after the fight as the adrenaline was released into his body.

“That was a big fish,” Connor said, out of breath after the fight. “That was cool.”

Back at the dock after the trip, the crew presented Connor with the flag, signed by everyone on board, and the lure that caught the fish — a huge surprise from Capt. Lee Weidner, who helped with the trip.

“You’re one lucky man,” Doxey said to Connor. “I thought Lee would give you his wife before he gave you that lure. That has caught a lot of billfish.”

Maybe none as special as the marlin on this trip.

See video at LSONews.com

August 24, 2012

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Etiquette Continued From Page 1

tioned, it also put his line of fire in-line with a permanent ground blind on LongShore Ranch.”

Darden said even though an accident never occurred, he still viewed it as a serious problem.

“It was always a cause for concern when sitting in this northern blind,” he said. “This particular neighbor also seemed to shoot a lot, so it made one quite nervous as to whether or not the next shot would stray and find the blind, or worse yet, the hunter inside.”

When Darden talked to his lessor about the situation, the owner informed him that discussions with the problematic neighbor had led nowhere, and suggested Darden “shoot the timer off” the neighbor’s feeder.

“Although we never took such a measure, we did place coyote carcasses along this particular fence line in hopes of warding off any game that he could take a shot at across or near the fence line,” Darden said.

Having the neighbor hunt close to the fence line wasn’t the issue with Darden, but solely the direction the neighbor’s stand was facing,

with the neighbor’s feeder between Darden’s stand and his own.

“The fact of the matter is, I hunt fence lines,” he said. “However, if you are knowingly shooting across a fence, you’re endangering others.

This was my biggest gripe.”

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s fishing and hunting regulations booklet displays two legal situations that can arise from hunters who choose to hunt fence lines.

Retrieving wildlife is the first issue addressed in the booklet.

“No person may pursue a wounded wildlife resource across a property line without the consent of landowner of the property where the wildlife resource has fled,” according to the booklet.

Trespassing can also be a problem.

“It is unlawful for any person, while hunting or engaging in recreational shooting, to knowingly discharge a firearm in such a fashion as to cause a projectile to cross a property line, unless the person owns the property on both sides of the property line or has obtained written permission from the owner of any

land crossed by the projectile.”

Captain Shawn Phillips of TPWD’s law enforcement division in Lufkin said fence line problems are common, and communication is the biggest factor in understanding or settling the disputes.

“We’ve had a lot of cases come up, and what we try to encourage people to do is be a good neighbor,” he said. “If you can have a good relationship with the adjacent landowner before a problem comes up, the outcome is going to be a lot better.”

Phillips said there can be tricky situations, even though legally there is no reason a stand or feeder can’t be put close to a fence line.

“If you’re going to hunt an area and put a stand along a fence line, and it offends that guy, the right thing to do would be to move it,” he said. “But the guy doesn’t have any right to tell you you can’t put your stand on the fence line.

“And if I kill a deer and it falls dead right there, I’m good — but if I follow the blood trail and it goes into his property, he doesn’t have to let me in.”

CUTTING IT CLOSE: Without the proper communication, feeders set close to fence lines can cause safety concerns, or at the least rub the neighboring landowner the wrong way. Photo by Chris Darden.

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Junior angler Continued From Page 9

After the close miss, Harrell threw the rig back out and caught a 5.2-pound bass directly beside the boat.

“We were about to go weigh it because I knew I’d beaten the record, but I said ‘This is too much fun, and I’m going to keep fishing,’” he said. “We kept fishing and had caught some smaller fish, so we were about to leave and I said ‘Dad, this is my last cast.’”

Saving the best for last, Harrell got a hit as soon as the rig went under the water.

“I told my friend he had better get the net, because I knew it was going to be a good one,” he said. “I got her to the side of the boat and she had a mouth like you wouldn’t believe. She looked like a football.”

Harrell threw back the 5-pound bass he had caught earlier, and took the bigger bass to get certified.

Chinese Deer Continued From Page 1

means deer, so it’s like Deer City,” she said. “Natasha isn’t my real name, though; no one here could pronounce my real name.”

Zheng raises more than 9,000 deer on four farms, and attended the convention to learn more about the deer industry in the U.S., especially the deer-handling chutes and equipment. He also wanted to get more ideas for the upcoming Chinese Deer Industry Association conference.

“And the quality of the mounts are much better here,” Natasha said. “We want to learn about the techniques used.”

The deer in China aren’t raised for hunting purposes, though.

“In China, we’re not allowed to use guns, and it’s illegal to hunt (in all but a few select locations),” she said. “But we’re definitely interested in it.”

The deer, mostly sika, are raised for their velvet.

“It is used for medicinal and healthcare products,” she said.

“We produce 200 products that are sold in more than 600 stores.”

Kelly Butler of Azle is hosting the Zhengs.

“The velvet contains natural chondroitins and is used for products for joints,” Butler said. “Not to mention it is rumored to be an aphrodisiac. And they are working with Dr. Mike Bringans (a veterinarian) on cross-breeding sika with red stag to improve the velvet.”

Butler said Chinese hunters could be an emerging market for American ranches.

“We’ll be taking them on ranch tours, and we are working on bringing groups of Chinese to America to hunt,” Butler said. “There are visa issues, and allowing the mounts to be sent to China is a real problem — that one will probably take a while.”

Zheng said there were once hundreds of thousands of wild animals in China.

Now, there are about 200 select hunting preserves that allow hunting by Chinese residents for government-approved species.

For most of the hunters, it’s the first time they have ever held a shotgun or rifle, as the guns have to be owned by the registered hunting clubs.

Before 2006, there were limited chances to hunt in China for blue sheep, Tibetan gazelle, Himalayan ibex, Tian Shan ibex and a few other species. Game population studies are being conducted at the Dulan International Hunting Ground in an effort to reopen hunting under a new regulatory scheme. The area was established specifically for hunting in 1986, and has seen an increase in population of several species, including the blue sheep and Tibetan gazelle.

Hunting is being studied as a means of population control, since the animals have damaged habitat in areas of the mountainous region.

“The scales shot right over 7.5, straight to 8.14 and I just couldn’t believe it,” he said. “It was crazy; it was like a dream day.”

The elder Harrell was also impressed with how the day turned out.

“I’ve never seen black bass school like that; they were schooling like white bass do,” he said. “Dillon caught a 5.2 and I was like, ‘That’s a big fish.’

“Then he hung that 8 and I was like, ‘That’s a really big fish.’”

According to Dillon’s mom, Elizabeth Harrell, the record catch was exciting, but nothing to be surprised about.

“He’s been catching fish that would make grown men cry since he was 8 or 9 years old,” she said. “Big fish are not a surprise to me anymore.

“If he’s got a pole and some water, he’s going to catch a fish.”

Dove Season Dates 2012-13 Dove:

North and Central Zones: Sept. 1–Oct. 24 and Dec. 22-Jan. 6.

South Zone: Sept. 21-Oct. 24 and Dec. 22-Jan. 6.

Daily bag limit: 15 mourning, white-winged or white-tipped doves in the aggregate, to include no more than two white-tipped doves.

Shooting hours: Thirty minutes before sunrise to sunset.

Special White-winged Dove Area:

Sept. 1-2, 8-9; Sept. 21-Oct. 28 and Dec. 22-Jan. 18.

Daily bag limit: 15 mourning, white-winged or white-tipped doves in the aggregate, to include no more than two white-tipped doves. During the Sept.

1-2, 8-9 open season, the 15-dove bag limit may include no more than four mourning doves.

■ Dove Story: Shooting hours: Sept. 1-2, 8-9, noon to sunset. Remainder of seaPage 4 son, 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.

SEE MORE

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Searching shorelines for action When you need to find bait or structure, zoom in with help from marine binos

By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News

Anglers along the Gulf Coast or fishing their local lakes around Texas have to key in on one thing to find the fish they are after.

“Bait,” said Rockport Capt. George Rose. “If there is no bait there, there aren’t going to be any fish. I look for slicks or bait in the water.”

Bait is also what Baffin Bay guide Les Cobb keys in on while looking for fish activity.

“I look for active bait,” Cobb said. “If I see baitfish fleeing something, it is a pretty good indication that something is there. I know what areas hold fish, but if I pull into an area and don’t see any bait, I will move pretty quick because the fish will not be there if there is noth- SEARCHING FOR BAIT: While on a recent bay-fishing adventure, Nick Kohleffel scans the shoreline for active bait. The aid of a good pair of marine binoculars can help find bait quickly, leading to more time fishing. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON. ing to eat.”

But bobbing up and down in a boat makes searching shorelines and weed lines tough if you don’t have the not two hours later, the boat had three wahoo in the cooler and had released a billfish (see right binoculars to help. story on front cover).

Several companies make binos specifically for use in a marine environment.

Other manufacturers also make marine-specific glass for the angler who spends a lot of Nikon’s Oceanpro binoculars feature multiple layers of anti-reflective material that time on the water. reduces glare and helps resolution. They are also coated with BaK4 high index prisms and Leica’s Trinovoid Marine binoculars come with a floatable strap to save anglers from the multicoated lenses for clearer viewing. Grip is also an important consideration. pain of losing them overboard.

“A big key is to have a lower magnification with a wider view on the water,” said Nick Minox also makes a sturdy pair of marine glasses that come with a digital compass in case Kohleffel, Nikon rep for Owens Outdoor Sales in Boerne. “Something in the 8x56-range will you lose your way. hold steadier on moving water. That makes it much easier to spot bait moving.”

“We use them a lot while fishing offshore,” said angler Gary Roe. “They're a very valuable While on a recent offshore trip, anglers used a pair of marine field glasses from the tuna tool for finding schools of baitfish being attacked from below by predators. They are also tower to locate weedlines while trolling for wahoo and marlin. The search paid off when, useful in finding weedlines,floating debris and color changes or rips.”

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Summer Cats Continued From Page 8

THEY BITE ARTIFICIALS, ALSO: The best bait for catfish this summer has been punchbait, but bass anglers occasionally land them on spinner baits, too. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.

he said. “It’s a punchbait and it is all I need.”

A little farther west, guide Weldon Kirk said he is catching good numbers of eatingsized fish in the mornings.

“It has been pretty good,” Kirk said. “I caught 50 cats this morning before 11 a.m. on Somerville Lake. I am still catching them in 3 to 5 feet of water.”

Kirk said he normally fishes Fayette Lake, but the water temperatures have been so high that the fish are losing too much weight.

“It was 95 degrees at the boat ramp the other day,” he said. “This time of year, the water gets so hot that the fish lose weight.

You’ll catch what should be a 6-pound fish and he will be 4 pounds. It’s depressing.”

Kirk said he is having his best luck using CJ’s Punchbait.

“It is doing awesome,” he said. “The mornings are a little better than the afternoons, unless you want to fish at night.”

Other solid reports have emerged in the past few weeks from Grapevine Lake, Lake Lavon and Benbrook Lake.

In North Texas, well-known guide Chad Ferguson said the fishing has been good, with a few hit-or-miss days.

“We are catching real good numbers of channel cats,” he said. “They have been keeping me pretty busy.”

Ferguson has used punchbait to land many of his fish on Eagle Mountain Reservoir.

“It seems like 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. has been good, along with about 5 to 9 p.m. in the evenings,” he said. “We have caught bigger fish in the afternoons, but not as many.

“The difference in the morning and afternoons is with the fisherman, not the fish.”

Darrell Taylor, (936) 788-4413 Weldon Kirk, (979) 229-3103 Chad Ferguson, (817) 522-3804

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HEROES SHARE AN ADVENTURE

â– Want to share hunting and fishing photos with other Lone Star Outdoor News readers?

E-mail them with contact and caption information to news@lonestaroutdoornews.com. High-resolution original jpegs only. Mail prints to Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355.

Quihi angler JOE MANAK caught and released this trout fishing the rocks in Baffin Bay using a silver phantom-colored soft plastic.

College Station friends SALLY JANE MONTEROLA, left, and KATARINA KOUNTAKIS hooked this pair of slot-sized redfish near Rockport in early August.

Spring Branch hunter ERICA CLARKE harvested this nice 8-pointer in Mason County on Nov. 18, 2011. Erica was shooting a .243 handed down from her grandfather.

Hunting friends JUSTIN ROWLAND, left, and ROEL VELA took this hog and buck last season in San Manuel. The pair were guided on the hunt by Jaime Carrales.

Dallas angler SCOTT CHILDERS hoists this 60-pound yellowfin tuna he caught out of Venice, La., on his first offshore trip.

DENDEA BALLI from Mission fought this 30-pound jack crevalle for 20 minutes before landing the fish two hours offshore from South Padre Island.

On his first trip to Nueces Bay, Hondo angler KELDON RUNNELS, 10, caught this nice redfish.

OUTDOOR BUSINESS Executive Editor Craig Nyhus Managing Editor Conor Harrison Associate Editor Mark England Graphics Editor Amy Moore Business/Products Editor Mary Helen Aguirre Intern John Keith Operations Manager Mike Hughs Accounting Ginger Hoolan Web site Bruce Soileau

National Advertising Mike Nelson Accounts Manager Advertising Sales Jaimey Honea Founder & CEO David J. Sams

Contributors Kyle Carter David Draper Shannon Drawe Wilbur Lundeen Aaron Reed

Advertising Call (214) 361-2276 or email mhughs@lone staroutdoornews.com to request a media kit.

Erich Schlegel David Sikes Scott Sommerlatte Chuck Uzzle Ralph Winingham

For home delivery subscriptions www.LSONews.com (214) 361-2276

Lone Star Outdoor News, ISSN 2162-8300, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. A mailed subscription is $30 for 24 issues. Newsstand copies are $2, in certain markets copies are free, one per person. Copyright 2012 with all rights reserved. Reproduction and/or use of any photographic or written material without written permission by the publisher is prohibited.

Subscribers may send address changes to: Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355 or e-mail them to news@ lonestaroutdoornews.com.

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NATIONAL Free hunting days in Oklahoma Oklahoma Free Hunting Days take place Sept. 1-2, during which Oklahoma residents do not need a hunting license or HIP permit to go afield.

According to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s migratory game bird biologist, Josh Richardson, Free Hunting Days is a great way to introduce someone to hunting.

“Dove season is a great time to introduce or reintroduce people to the world of hunting,” Richardson said. “Gear requirements are low, dove are found everywhere and usually in high numbers, and the hunting can occur in more of a social type outing — perfect for those new hunters who need supervision or instruction. And with the Free Hunting Days, potential new hunters don’t even have to buy a license to try this out.”

— Oklahoma DWC

Duck blinds being removed Permanent blinds on two northeastern Arkansas wildlife management areas will be removed before this year’s waterfowl season.

Commissioners with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission unanimously approved a plan to remove the blinds on Big Lake and St. Francis Sunken Lands WMAs. Permanent blinds are not allowed on any of the state’s other WMAs. Last year, AGFC Director Loren Hitchcock stopped the practice of sportsmen accessing and manipulating habitat on Big Lake, St. Francis Sunken Lands and Dave Donaldson Black River WMAs. The practice is not allowed on any other state WMA. The blind removal plan will allow

hunters, who claim a blind, the opportunity to remove the blind and any personal equipment between Aug. 30 and Oct. 14.

Beginning Oct. 15, the AGFC will begin dismantling the blinds.

Decoys also will no longer be allowed overnight on the three WMAs. — Arkansas GFC

Fisherman’s body recovered in Sabine Parish Search and Rescue officials recovered the body of a Noble man from Toledo Bend Sabine Parish on Aug. 16.

Search crews from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office recovered the body of Brandon Jeane, 27, around 9:45 p.m.

Officials were notified about a fisherman who fell overboard in Toledo Bend around 6:45 p.m. on Aug. 16. Jeane was fishing with his uncle in a 16-foot boat when he fell overboard without a personal flotation device. According to the uncle, Jeane never resurfaced and the uncle called for help.

— Louisiana DWF

More fish records in New Mexico New Mexico’s big-fish story of the summer just keeps getting bigger.

This time, Marcos Mata of Albuquerque owns the bragging rights with a 50.5-inch, 38-pound, 2-ounce tiger muskie — the latest in a string of state-record fish caught at Bluewater Lake. Mata’s monster muskie topped the previous state record by more than 6 pounds. It is the fourth time the state record has changed hands in the

past 18 months.

Mata caught the record fish July 23 on a 2-inch Silver Minnow lure. Previous state record muskies included a 31-pound, 14-ounce fish caught by Justin Easley of Edgewood; an 18-pound, .05-ounce muskie caught by Steve Roen of Truth or Consequences; and a 17-pound, 8-ounce muskie caught

by Anastasia Alfaro of Albuquerque.

— New Mexico DGF

Colorado anglers check temps Drought conditions and low water flows throughout the state have Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminding anglers to monitor water temperature when they are trout fishing.

Several water-specific recommendations have already been released this summer. However, aquatic biologists recognize that fish can be stressed due to temperatures in many different coldwater fishing locations.

“Handling fish in waters that are 68 degrees and above can put undue stress on them, causing mortalities and compromising the fishery as a whole,” said Ken Kehmeier, senior aquatic biologist for the Northeast region. “We ask that anglers keep in mind the production opportunity of a fishery and not solely the fishing opportunity. Get out and fish, but bring along a thermometer and try to fish early in the day for the best opportunities.”

— Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Oklahoma accepts $40,000 for conservation At its August meeting, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission voted to accept nearly

$40,000 in donations that will help the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation accomplish a range of conservation initiatives.

The $40,000 was comprised of donations from several conservation partners, including $20,000 from the Oklahoma Station Chapter of Safari Club International for a scholastic shooting sports pilot program to be implemented by the Wildlife Department in Oklahoma schools; $10,000 from the Oklahoma Station Chapter of Safari Club International for the development of the department’s Operation Game Thief trailer used to educate the public on the importance of following game laws; $3,500 from the Oklahoma State Game Warden Association and another $3,000 from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation for the Wildlife Department Youth Camp, which hosts a group of teenage campers for one week each summer and teaches them about conservation, game laws, and careers at the wildlife department; and $1,000 from the Indian Territory Chapter of Quail Forever for prescribed burns, ridge-top clearing and water impoundments on the Spavinaw Wildlife Management Area.

— Oklahoma DWC

EHD killing deer in Nebraska Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease continues to kill deer over much of Nebraska, spreading from the Missouri River to as far west as Garden County.

This disease historically has occurred in the state since the 1970s, but this year seems to be particularly prevalent. EHD normally occurs in late August to early September when hot and dry conditions exist. This year it started in

mid-July. Because the disease is spread by biting insects, it usually does not persist much beyond the first frost.

Given this year’s outbreak, some hunters may expect to see fewer deer in their area this fall.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will not know the full impact of the disease until after the close of the deer seasons. However, deer populations typically have recovered fairly quickly following past EHD die-offs. Game and Parks has no plans to modify 2012 deer seasons in response to EHD losses.

— Nebraska Game and Parks

More elk country conserved on Montana’s Tenderfoot Several partnering organizations have finalized a deal to ensure the future of wildlife habitat and public access on 1,920 acres along pristine Tenderfoot Creek in central Montana.

The lands, now part of the Lewis and Clark National Forest, were previously part of the Bair Ranch.

The Bair Ranch Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Tenderfoot Trust and U.S. Forest Service worked together to transfer the property.

Sections of the Bair Ranch are intermingled with federal lands in a checkerboard pattern. The partners have been working for several years to consolidate lands into public ownership. Larger contiguous blocks of ownership help avert longterm habitat fragmentation, which is critical for elk and other wildlife, resource managers and hunters.

All together, 3,400 acres now have been moved into public ownership.

— Tenderfoot Trust

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DATEBOOK August 24-26

Texas Trophy Hunters Association Hunters Extravaganza Alamodome, San Antonio (800) 800-3207 ttha.com

August 25

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Hunter Safety Course Copper Breaks State Park, Hardeman County (940) 839-4331 tpwd.state.tx.us Big Brothers Big Sisters 20th Annual Clay Shoot Alpine Shooting Range, Fort Worth (817) 905-4653 fortworthclayshoot.com Quail Coalition South Texas Chapter Banquet Kingsville quailcoalition.org

August 29

Delta Waterfowl East Bernard Dinner Riverside Hall (281) 924-2569 deltawaterfowl.org

August 30

Coastal Conservation Association Orange County Chapter Annual Banquet Bridge City Community Center (409) 980-3667 ccatexas.org Ducks Unlimited Johnson County Dinner Johnson County Sheriff’s Posse Building (817) 946-7460 ducks.org/Texas

September 1-2

Dallas Safari Club Dove Hunt Hailey Ranch near Abilene (972) 980-9800 biggame.org

September 5

Houston Safari Club Monthly Meeting Houston Raquet Club (713) 623-8866 houstonsafariclub.org

September 6-7

North Texas Oilfield Appreciation Days Sporting Clays Classic Elm Fork Shooting Sports Complex (940) 393-6200

September 8

Ducks Unlimited Center Dinner Windham Civic Center (936) 591-2047 ducks.org/Texas

September 8-9

Bass Champs Tournament East Region Championship Toledo Bend (817) 439-3274 basschamps.com

September 13

Coastal Conservation Association Heart of the Hills Chapter Banquet Boerne Convention and Community Center (713) 626-4222 ccatexas.org Ducks Unlimited Lake Lewisville Dinner Highland Village (214) 287-1219 ducks.org/Texas

Ducks Unlimited Garland-Mesquite Banquet The Atrium (469) 323-3997 ducks.org/Texas Delta Waterfowl Dallas Dinner Royal Oaks Country Club (972) 881-8000 deltawaterfowl.org

September 14-15

Texas Wildlife Association 3rd Annual Barbecue Cook-off Freeman Exposition Hall, San Antonio (800) 839-9453 ext. 114 texas-wildlife.org

September 15

Bargain Hunters Outdoors Annual Open Season Event Weatherford (817) 598-0026 bargainhunteroutdoors.com

September 15-16

Bass Champs Tournament North Region Championship Lake Lewisville (817) 439-3274 basschamps.com

September 20

September 21-22

2012 Central Texas Hunting and Outdoor Expo Rockdale (512) 446-2030 tx-rockdalechamber.civicplus.com

September 22

Dallas Safari Club Fall Youth SAFETY Event Greystone Castle (972) 980-9800 biggame.org

September 27

Ducks Unlimited San Antonio Banquet Alzafar Shrine Temple (210) 381-8299 ducks.org/Texas

September 29-30

Bass Champs Tournament Central Region Championship Lake LBJ (817) 439-3274 basschamps.com

October 3 Ducks Unlimited Lone Star Chapter Banquet American Legion Hall, Llano (512) 755-9770 ducks.org/Texas

Dallas Safari Club Monthly Meeting Glen Eagles Country Club, Plano (972) 980-9800 biggame.org

October 13-14

Ducks Unlimited Heart of Texas Banquet Pfluger Hall, Pflugerville (512) 461-3568 ducks.org/Texas

Taxidermy King Big Game and Trophy Mount Auction Will Rogers Memorial Center, Fort Worth (512) 451-7633 taxidermyking.com

Galveston Bay Foundation Bike Around the Bay bikearoundthebay.org

October 19-20

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2012 CCA STAR leaderboard (as of Aug. 20) Starkids Scholarship Division (ages 6-10): Flounder: Briley Eason; 6 pounds, 12 ounces Sheepshead: Tatiana Ybarra; 8 pounds, 3 ounces Gafftop: Dylan Collazo; 7 pounds, 14 ounces Scholarship Trout Division (ages 11-17): Upper Coast trout: Thomas Shelton; 7 pounds, 10 ounces Middle Coast trout: Hunter Rutkowski; 7 pounds, 1 ounce Lower Coast trout: Caden Dicks; 8 pounds, 1 ounce Scholarship Inshore Division: Flounder: Forrest Karl; 6 pounds Sheepshead: S. Chance Davis; 8 pounds, 13 ounces Gafftop: Ky Terrell; 6 pounds, 9 ounces Main Divisions: Upper Coast trout: Michael Fesco; 8 pounds, 10 ounces Middle Coast trout: J. Santos Ramirez; 9 pounds, 8 ounces Lower Coast trout: Weldon West; 9 pounds, 7 ounces Kingfish: William R. Hendrix; 52 pounds Dorado: Stephen Filtsch; 41 pounds, 4 ounces Ling: John F. Shults; 81 pounds Flounder: Holland Dekeyzer; 7 pounds, 8 ounces Sheepshead: Jonathon Garay; 8 pounds, 6 ounces Gafftop: Chris Brown; 7 pounds, 11 ounces Tagged Redfish: David Matula, Tony Gonzalez, Ralph McGrew — CCA STAR

Red tide high near Galveston Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is working with other agencies to monitor a red tide event along the upper Texas coast.

The bloom was first confirmed on August 12 by biologists with the Texas Department of

LoneOStar Outdoor News

State Health Services, who collected samples around the Galveston area to follow up on reports of dead fish washing ashore.

The bloom is suspected to have caused fish kills along a number of locations along the upper coast, including Crystal Beach, Galveston, Surfside, Sargent’s and Matagorda beaches.

The last red tide occurrence in Texas was in 2011-2012 and occurred from Boca Chica to the lower reaches of Galveston Bay. Officials believe 1 million fish have been killed by this outbreak, nearly all bait fish.

— TPWD

Angler brags about too many limits, gets busted On June 21, a resident of Travis County had a fishing experience like he had never experienced before.

While fishing Lake Austin, the male subject was “On Fire!” The fisherman was pulling in bass left and right. He landed 40 bass — 22 were keepers and 15 remained in his boat.

The fisherman just couldn’t resist keeping a little extra, especially since his family was in town and he had promised them a fish fry.

He was so overjoyed with his success that he bragged on the Austin Bass Fishing Forum about his 15 one-man bass limit.

It was just a matter of time before the members of the forum began to reply informing the fisherman of his unethical fishing trip. Seventy pages later, the incident filtered its way to Travis County Game Warden Christy Vales.

Vales made contact with the fisherman via cell phone, and a face-to-face interview was set up later due to him being offshore for a month. During this period, Vales was asked to do an interview for KXAN News due to the concern from local fishermen and their outrage with the fisherman. On Aug. 14, the fisherman contacted Vales and requested to meet and bring closure to his 15 one-man bass limit.

Vales and fellow Game Warden Jeff Hill completed the interview on Aug. 15, and the fisherman was cited one case for every two fish over his daily limit, one warning for over his possession limit, and five charges for civil restitution. The cases are pending.

— TPWD

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Easily obtained lake records going unclaimed Anglers missing opportunities to get their name in the books

By John Keith

Lone Star Outdoor News Many anglers either aren’t worried about catching record fish, or assume they never will.

But there are a number of water bodies across the state that haven’t even had submissions for certain species of fish, and this leaves the door open for the angler who wants to obtain a record.

Ron Smith, of the Inland Fisheries Department of Texas Parks and Wildlife, said the relative newness of the water body program could be a reason for lack of submissions.

“We started the water body program in 2009, so some of the water bodies haven’t even had people submit records,” he said. “The program hasn’t had time to catch up with itself — not all the water bodies have been visited by a competitive angler that participates in this.”

Smith said the minimum requirements to submit a weight record for approval include a fish being at least half a pound for adults, or .2 pounds for a junior angler.

“People can submit a fish if there’s no prior record, and that will become the record until somebody beats it,” he said. “There are a lot of water bodies people haven’t submitted records for, especially in the catch and release program.”

The qualifications for a catch and release record are different compared to a weight record where the angler must find a certified scale. Anglers must submit a picture holding the fish, a picture of the fish being measured, and also have a witness who can verify the accuracy.

Another way anglers can get into the record books is trying a less common form of fishing, such as using a fly rod.

“We have a lot of people who will set a record for rod and reel and then they’ll try other methods of fishing,” Smith said.

Charles Dewey of San Antonio is one of the more prolific record-setters in the state, setting 137 total records, nine of which have been state records. He said being aware of the records before he fishes a particular water body makes a big difference, as well as submitting records for less-popular fish.

“I’m well aware of the records and how to get them,” Dewey said.

“And I mean, who wants to get the green sunfish record for Leon Creek? Well, I do.”

Dewey thinks that not only are some anglers unaware of the current records or maybe don’t have a fishing license, but they don’t care to go through the process to obtain the record, either.

“The bass record for Live Oak City Lake is 5.25 pounds, and I watched a guy pull out a bass that

RECORD RIO: Charles Dewey caught this private water body record Rio Grande cichlid, weighing 1.52 pounds, on May 30 in San Antonio. Photo by Charles Dewey.

must have been 8 pounds, and the guy looked at it and put it back like it was nothing,” he said. “I told him it would have been a record and he said, ‘I don’t care about records; I just like to catch them.’”

Dewey said even though he enjoys catching records, he knows

it isn’t for everyone.

“If you want it bad enough, you have to be dedicated,” he said.

“Records are just icing on the cake.”

A quick look on the TPWD website shows instances of records that are unclaimed. For example, at Falcon Reservoir, there are

LONE STAR MARKET

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

no catfish or crappie submittals for fly-fishing records. On Lake Tawakoni, there is no submitted white bass record on a fly rod. On Navarro Mills, there is no submission for a largemouth by a junior angler, and zero submittals for any fly-fishing records.

Page 28

August 24, 2012

LoneOStar Outdoor News

Sun | Moon | Tides Texas Coast Tides Sabine Pass, jetty Date Time Aug 24 1:27 AM Aug 25 12:44 AM Aug 26 1:44 AM Aug 27 2:22 AM Aug 28 2:52 AM Aug 29 3:17 AM Aug 30 3:39 AM Aug 31 3:59 AM Sep 01 4:17 AM Sep 02 4:35 AM Sep 03 4:51 AM Sep 04 5:04 AM Sep 05 5:12 AM Sep 06 12:03 AM Sep 07 4:06 AM

Height 2.5L 2.7H 2.8H 2.9H 2.8H 2.7H 2.7H 2.6H 2.5H 2.5H 2.5H 2.5H 2.5H 2.4L 2.6H

Time 5:54 AM 4:22 PM 5:30 PM 7:22 AM 7:44 AM 8:14 AM 8:48 AM 9:24 AM 10:01 AM 10:38 AM 11:16 AM 11:57 AM 12:41 PM 5:05 AM 2:29 PM

Height 2.6H -0.2L -0.3L 2.6L 2.5L 2.2L 2.0L 1.7L 1.4L 1.2L 1.0L 0.8L 0.7L 2.6H 0.6L

Galveston Bay entrance, south jetty Date Aug 24 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 27 Aug 28 Aug 29 Aug 30 Aug 31 Sep 01 Sep 02 Sep 03 Sep 04 Sep 05 Sep 06 Sep 07

Time 1:53 AM 1:31 AM 2:31 AM 3:09 AM 3:39 AM 4:04 AM 4:26 AM 4:46 AM 5:04 AM 5:22 AM 5:38 AM 5:51 AM 12:08 AM 12:29 AM 4:53 AM

San Luis Pass

Date Time Aug 24 12:17 AM Aug 25 2:01 AM Aug 26 3:01 AM Aug 27 3:39 AM Aug 28 4:09 AM Aug 29 4:34 AM Aug 30 4:56 AM Aug 31 5:16 AM Sep 01 5:34 AM Sep 02 5:52 AM Sep 03 12:08 AM Sep 04 12:38 AM Sep 05 1:04 AM Sep 06 1:25 AM Sep 07 5:23 AM

Freeport Harbor Date Time Aug 24 3:31 PM Aug 25 12:48 AM Aug 26 2:00 AM Aug 27 2:50 AM Aug 28 3:29 AM Aug 29 3:58 AM Aug 30 4:20 AM Aug 31 4:37 AM Sep 01 4:52 AM Sep 02 5:05 AM Sep 03 5:16 AM Sep 04 12:47 AM Sep 05 1:57 AM Sep 06 1:43 PM Sep 07 2:39 PM

Height 2.0L 2.2H 2.3H 2.3H 2.3H 2.2H 2.1H 2.1H 2.0H 2.0H 2.0H 2.0H 1.7L 1.9L 2.1H

Time 6:41 AM 4:48 PM 5:56 PM 7:48 AM 8:10 AM 8:40 AM 9:14 AM 9:50 AM 10:27 AM 11:04 AM 11:42 AM 12:23 PM 5:59 AM 5:52 AM 2:55 PM

Height 2.1H -0.2L -0.2L 2.1L 2.0L 1.8L 1.6L 1.3L 1.1L 0.9L 0.8L 0.6L 2.0H 2.0H 0.5L

Height 1.2H 1.3H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.3H 1.3H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 0.7L 0.9L 1.0L 1.1L 1.3H

Time 2:49 AM 5:44 PM 6:52 PM 8:44 AM 9:06 AM 9:36 AM 10:10 AM 10:46 AM 11:23 AM 12:00 PM 6:08 AM 6:21 AM 6:29 AM 6:22 AM 3:51 PM

Height 1.2L -0.1L -0.1L 1.3L 1.2L 1.1L 0.9L 0.8L 0.7L 0.6L 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 0.3L

Height -0.1L 1.8H 1.9H 1.9H 1.9H 1.8H 1.7H 1.6H 1.5H 1.4H 1.4H 1.1L 1.3L 0.4L 0.4L

Time

Height

4:44 PM 5:55 PM 7:02 PM 9:41 AM 9:50 AM 10:08 AM 10:29 AM 10:53 AM 11:19 AM 11:47 AM 5:25 AM 5:24 AM 10:59 PM

-0.2L -0.2L -0.2L 1.4L 1.3L 1.1L 1.0L 0.8L 0.7L 0.6L 1.4H 1.4H 1.6H

Time 3:11 PM

Height -0.2L

9:58 AM 11:31 AM 12:48 PM 1:57 PM 3:02 PM 4:07 PM 5:11 PM 6:19 PM 7:33 PM 8:58 PM 1:31 PM

2.7H 2.7H 2.7H 2.7H 2.6H 2.6H 2.5H 2.5H 2.5H 2.5H 0.7L

Time 3:37 PM

Height -0.1L

10:45 AM 12:18 PM 1:35 PM 2:44 PM 3:49 PM 4:54 PM 5:58 PM 7:06 PM 8:20 PM 1:07 PM 1:57 PM

2.1H 2.1H 2.1H 2.1H 2.1H 2.1H 2.0H 2.0H 2.0H 0.6L 0.5L

Time 7:11 AM

Height 1.3H

11:15 AM 12:48 PM 2:05 PM 3:14 PM 4:19 PM 5:24 PM 6:28 PM 12:38 PM 1:19 PM 2:03 PM 2:53 PM

1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.2H 1.2H 0.5L 0.4L 0.3L 0.3L

Time

Height

11:48 AM 1:18 PM 2:32 PM 3:39 PM 4:43 PM 5:45 PM 6:48 PM 12:19 PM 12:57 PM

1.4H 1.5H 1.5H 1.5H 1.5H 1.6H 1.6H 0.5L 0.4L

Time

Height

6:32 PM -0.2L 7:27 PM -0.1L 8:16 PM 0.1L 8:59 PM 0.4L 9:38 PM 0.8L 10:14 PM 1.2L 10:46 PM 1.5 L 11:16 PM 1.9L 11:42 PM 2.2L

Time

Height

6:58 PM -0.2L 7:53 PM -0.1L 8:42 PM 0.1L 9:25 PM 0.4L 10:04 PM 0.6L 10:40 PM 0.9L 11:12 PM 1.2L 11:42 PM 1.5L 9:45 PM

2.0H

Time Height 4:33 PM -0.1L 7:54 PM -0.1L 8:49 PM 0.0L 9:38 PM 0.1L 10:21 PM 0.2L 11:00 PM 0.4L 11:36 PM 0.6L 7:36 PM 8:50 PM 10:15 PM

1.2H 1.2H 1.2H

Time

Height

8:01 PM -0.1L 8:56 PM 0.0L 9:45 PM 0.2L 10:31 PM 0.5L 11:15 PM 0.7L 11:59 PM 0.9L 7:58 PM 9:18 PM

1.6H 1.6H

LSONews.com

Solunar | Sun times | Moon times

Moon Phases First

August 24

Port O’Connor Date Aug 24 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 27 Aug 28 Aug 29 Aug 30 Aug 31 Sep 01 Sep 02 Sep 03 Sep 04 Sep 05 Sep 06 Sep 07

Time 6:51 AM 7:26 AM 8:13 AM 9:04 AM 9:55 AM 10:27 AM 9:11 AM 12:02 AM 12:33 AM 12:51 AM 12:51 AM 5:40 AM 5:46 AM 5:57 AM 6:03 AM

Rockport Date Aug 24 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 27 Aug 28 Aug 29 Aug 30 Aug 31 Sep 01 Sep 02 Sep 03 Sep 04 Sep 05 Sep 06 Sep 07

Time 8:47 AM 9:43 AM 10:46 AM 11:52 AM 12:57 PM 2:03 PM 3:14 PM 12:15 AM 12:31 AM 12:29 AM 6:32 AM 6:43 AM 7:08 AM 7:46 AM 8:35 AM

Sept. 16

Houston Height 0.9H 0.9H 1.0H 1.0H 0.9H 0.9H 0.8H 0.3L 0.4L 0.6L 0.7L 0.8H 0.9H 0.9H 1.0H

Time 5:59 PM 7:10 PM 8:22 PM 9:30 PM 10:30 PM 11:21 PM

Height 0.0L 0.0L 0.0L 0.0L 0.1L 0.2L

Time

Height

Time

Height

8:43 AM 8:22 AM 6:51 AM 6:11 AM 3:00 PM 3:35 PM 4:17 PM 5:09 PM

0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.8H 0.4L 0.4L 0.3L 0.3L

12:42 PM 1:20 PM 1:56 PM 2:28 PM

0.7L 0.6L 0.5L 0.4L

4:39 PM 6:54 PM 10:23 PM

0.7H 0.7H 0.7H

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

Time 7:24 PM 8:24 PM 9:23 PM 10:18 PM 11:07 PM 11:46 PM

Height 0.0L 0.0L 0.0L 0.1L 0.1L 0.1L

Time

Height

Time

Height

4:43 PM 7:06 AM 6:36 AM 3:01 PM 3:56 PM 4:49 PM 5:41 PM 6:35 PM

0.4H 0.3H 0.3H 0.2L 0.2L 0.2L 0.2L 0.2L

Height 2.1H 2.2H 2.2H 2.2H 2.0H 1.9H 1.7H 1.6H 1.5H 1.5H 1.5H 1.4L 1.6L 0.6L 0.6L

South Padre Island Date Time Aug 24 12:12 AM Aug 25 1:53 AM Aug 26 2:52 AM Aug 27 3:32 AM Aug 28 3:59 AM Aug 29 4:16 AM Aug 30 4:26 AM Aug 31 4:32 AM Sep 01 4:35 AM Sep 02 4:35 AM Sep 03 4:32 AM Sep 04 12:23 AM Sep 05 1:11 AM Sep 06 1:23 PM Sep 07 12:14 AM

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

Sept. 8

August 31

Port Aransas, H. Caldwell Pier Date Time Aug 24 12:09 AM Aug 25 1:35 AM Aug 26 2:29 AM Aug 27 3:09 AM Aug 28 3:39 AM Aug 29 4:03 AM Aug 30 4:20 AM Aug 31 4:33 AM Sep 01 4:42 AM Sep 02 4:47 AM Sep 03 4:46 AM Sep 04 12:25 AM Sep 05 1:23 AM Sep 06 1:22 PM Sep 07 2:21 PM

Last

Full

Height 1.5H 1.6H 1.7H 1.7H 1.7H 1.6H 1.5H 1.4H 1.3H 1.3H 1.2H 1.1L 1.3L 0.4L 1.5H

Time 3:16 PM 4:25 PM 5:33 PM 6:36 PM 7:35 PM 9:07 AM 9:17 AM 9:39 AM 10:07 AM 10:38 AM 11:12 AM 4:36 AM 4:11 AM 11:35 PM

Height 0.1L 0.0L -0.1L -0.1L -0.1L 1.5L 1.3L 1.1L 1.0L 0.8L 0.7L 1.6H 1.6H 1.9H

Time 3:07 PM 4:17 PM 5:27 PM 6:33 PM 7:33 PM 8:35 AM 8:54 AM 9:24 AM 9:59 AM 10:35 AM 11:12 AM 4:23 AM 4:02 AM

Height -0.3L -0.4L -0.3L -0.3L -0.1L 1.4L 1.3L 1.1L 0.8L 0.7L 0.5L 1.3H 1.3H

2:19 PM

0.4L

2012 Aug-Sep 24 Fri Q 25 Sat 26 Sun 27 Mon 28 Tue 29 Wed 30 Thu > 31 Fri > 01 Sat F 02 Sun > 03 Mon > 04 Tue 05 Wed 06 Thu 07 Fri 08 Sat Q 09 Sun 10 Mon 11 Tue 12 Wed

A.M. Minor Major ----- 5:46 12:29 6:44 1:24 7:39 2:17 8:31 3:07 9:20 3:55 10:07 4:41 10:53 5:28 11:39 6:15 12:03 7:03 12:52 7:53 1:41 8:43 2:32 9:34 3:23 10:26 4:14 11:16 5:04 ----- 5:53 12:29 6:41 1:15 7:27 2:00 8:12 2:43 8:55

Dallas 12:16 PM 1:53 PM

0.3L 0.3L

6:44 PM

0.3H

Time

Height

Time

Height

12:11 PM 1:46 PM 3:04 PM 4:16 PM 5:25 PM 6:36 PM 11:50 AM 12:32 PM

1.6H 1.6H 1.7H 1.7H 1.8H 1.8H 0.7L 0.6L

8:28 PM 9:17 PM 10:04 PM 10:50 PM 11:36 PM

0.1L 0.3L 0.5L 0.8L 1.1L

7:55 PM 9:32 PM

1.9H 1.9H

Time

Height

Time

Height

12:02 PM 1:40 PM 3:01 PM 4:15 PM 5:27 PM 6:41 PM 11:52 AM 12:35 PM

1.5H 1.5H 1.5H 1.5H 1.5H 1.5H 0.4L 0.4L

8:28 PM 9:19 PM 10:07 PM 10:53 PM 11:38 PM

0.1L 0.3L 0.5L 0.7L 0.9L

8:03 PM 9:46 PM

1.5H 1.5H

2012 Aug-Sep 24 Fri Q 25 Sat 26 Sun 27 Mon 28 Tue 29 Wed 30 Thu > 31 Fri > 01 Sat F 02 Sun > 03 Mon > 04 Tue 05 Wed 06 Thu 07 Fri 08 Sat Q 09 Sun 10 Mon 11 Tue 12 Wed

A.M. Minor Major ----- 5:51 12:34 6:49 1:30 7:44 2:22 8:37 3:12 9:26 4:00 10:13 4:47 10:59 5:33 11:45 6:20 12:09 7:09 12:57 7:58 1:47 8:49 2:37 9:40 3:28 10:31 4:19 11:22 5:10 ----- 5:59 12:34 6:47 1:21 7:33 2:05 8:17 2:49 9:01

San Antonio

2012 A.M. Aug-Sep Minor Major 24 Fri Q ----- 5:58 25 Sat 12:41 6:56 26 Sun 1:37 7:51 27 Mon 2:29 8:44 28 Tue 3:19 9:33 29 Wed 4:07 10:20 30 Thu > 4:54 11:06 31 Fri > 5:40 11:52 01 Sat F 6:27 12:16 02 Sun > 7:16 1:04 03 Mon > 8:05 1:54 04 Tue 8:56 2:44 05 Wed 9:47 3:35 06 Thu 10:38 4:26 07 Fri 11:29 5:17 08 Sat Q ----- 6:06 09 Sun 12:41 6:54 10 Mon 1:28 7:40 11 Tue 2:12 8:24 12 Wed 2:56 9:08

Amarillo

2012 A.M. Aug-Sep Minor 24 Fri Q 12:02 25 Sat 12:55 26 Sun 1:50 27 Mon 2:43 28 Tue 3:33 29 Wed 4:21 30 Thu > 5:07 31 Fri > 5:54 01 Sat F 6:41 02 Sun > 7:29 03 Mon > 8:19 04 Tue 9:09 05 Wed 10:00 06 Thu 10:51 07 Fri 11:42 08 Sat Q 12:07 09 Sun 12:55 10 Mon 1:41 11 Tue 2:26 12 Wed 3:09

OUTDOOR PUZZLER | By Wilbur “Wib” Lundeen ACROSS 1. Act to remove meat from carcass 3. Crappie rigging method, ____ rigging 6. Male dall 8. This brings in the catch 9. Deer meat 11. A hunter’s quarry in Florida 12. The hunt and fish permit 14. Tasty fish bites well in winter 16. A cover for small game and wildfowl 18. Angler’s name for a very large sturgeon 20. A buck’s collection of does 21. A group of decoys 22. A young moose 24. A young seal 26. Crappie, perch classed as ____ fish 27. A shell that fails to fire 28. The fur seeker’s gear 30. Fish eggs 32. A brand of cold weather tent 34. The largest bass, ____ bass

Solution on Page 30 5.

6.

7.

10.

13.

15.

16.

17.

19.

23.

25.

26.

29.

31.

35.

37.

38.

39.

42.

43.

44.

45.

Female pheasant Female dall A salmon Act of fish hitting a bait Male turkey A sound made by the wild turkey Used to sharpen hooks A species of duck

46. A very good firewood

32.

DOWN 1. To seach for food 2. Device that expels a spent shell 3. Used for bait at times 4. Best time to hunt whitetails

33.

34.

36.

40.

41.

A game trail Foul weather wear An eel To skin a game afield Fish breathing organs The white weasel A game bird Large groups of animals Small game classed as a varmint Term for large smooth area under water The fastest American animal To steal game or fish illegally A shooting sport Add to lake water for safe drinking Prevents easy removal of an arrow A very good walleye bait A method of hunting A fly-fishing lure Pack catch in this to take home The electric swimmer

Major 6:12 7:09 8:05 8:57 9:46 10:33 11:19 ----12:29 1:18 2:07 2:58 3:49 4:40 5:30 6:19 7:07 7:53 8:38 9:21

P.M. Minor 12:00 12:58 1:53 2:45 3:34 4:20 5:05 5:51 6:37 7:25 8:15 9:06 9:58 10:49 11:40 12:05 12:53 1:40 2:24 3:08

Major 6:15 7:13 8:08 8:59 9:47 10:33 11:18 ----12:26 1:14 2:04 2:55 3:46 4:37 5:28 6:18 7:06 7:52 8:36 9:20

SUN Rises Sets 06:53 07:52 06:54 07:51 06:54 07:50 06:55 07:49 06:56 07:48 06:56 07:47 06:57 07:46 06:57 07:44 06:58 07:43 06:58 07:42 06:59 07:41 06:59 07:40 07:00 07:39 07:00 07:37 07:01 07:36 07:01 07:35 07:02 07:34 07:02 07:33 07:03 07:31 07:03 07:30

MOON Rises Sets 2:10p NoMoon 3:11p 12:54a 4:07p 1:52a 4:58p 2:54a 5:44p 3:57a 6:25p 4:59a 7:02p 6:00a 7:37p 6:59a 8:11p 7:56a 8:45p 8:52a 9:20p 9:48a 9:57p 10:43a 10:36p 11:37a 11:18p 12:31p NoMoon 1:22p 12:04a 2:12p 12:52a 3:00p 1:44a 3:45p 2:38a 4:27p 3:35a 5:07p

P.M. Minor Major 12:06 6:21 1:04 7:19 1:59 8:13 2:51 9:05 3:39 9:53 4:26 10:38 5:11 11:23 5:56 ----6:43 12:32 7:31 1:20 8:21 2:09 9:12 3:00 10:03 3:52 10:55 4:43 11:46 5:34 12:11 6:23 12:59 7:11 1:45 7:57 2:30 8:42 3:13 9:25

SUN MOON Rises Sets Rises Sets 06:55 08:01 2:23p NoMoon 06:56 08:00 3:24p 12:52a 06:57 07:59 4:20p 1:51a 06:57 07:58 5:10p 2:53a 06:58 07:56 5:54p 3:57a 06:59 07:55 6:34p 5:01a 06:59 07:54 7:10p 6:03a 07:00 07:53 7:43p 7:03a 07:01 07:51 8:16p 8:02a 07:01 07:50 8:48p 9:00a 07:02 07:49 9:22p 9:57a 07:03 07:47 9:58p 10:53a 07:03 07:46 10:36p 11:48a 07:04 07:45 11:18p 12:43p 07:04 07:43 NoMoon 1:35p 07:05 07:42 12:02a 2:25p 07:06 07:41 12:51a 3:12p 07:06 07:39 1:43a 3:57p 07:07 07:38 2:38a 4:38p 07:08 07:37 3:36a 5:17p

P.M. Minor Major 12:13 6:28 1:11 7:26 2:06 8:20 2:58 9:12 3:46 10:00 4:33 10:45 5:18 11:30 6:03 ----6:50 12:39 7:38 1:27 8:28 2:16 9:19 3:07 10:10 3:59 11:02 4:50 11:53 5:41 12:18 6:30 1:06 7:18 1:52 8:04 2:37 8:49 3:20 9:32

SUN MOON Rises Sets Rises 07:06 08:04 2:22p 07:07 08:03 3:23p 07:07 08:02 4:20p 07:08 08:01 5:11p 07:08 08:00 5:56p 07:09 07:59 6:37p 07:09 07:58 7:15p 07:10 07:57 7:50p 07:10 07:56 8:24p 07:11 07:54 8:58p 07:11 07:53 9:33p 07:12 07:52 10:10p 07:12 07:51 10:50p 07:13 07:50 11:32p 07:13 07:48 NoMoon 07:14 07:47 12:17a 07:14 07:46 1:06a 07:15 07:45 1:58a 07:15 07:44 2:52a 07:16 07:42 3:49a

P.M. Minor 12:26 1:24 2:19 3:11 4:00 4:46 5:31 6:17 7:03 7:51 8:41 9:32 10:24 11:15 ----12:31 1:19 2:05 2:50 3:34

SUN Rises 07:13 07:14 07:15 07:15 07:16 07:17 07:18 07:18 07:19 07:20 07:21 07:21 07:22 07:23 07:23 07:24 07:25 07:26 07:26 07:27

Major 6:41 7:39 8:34 9:25 10:13 10:59 11:44 12:05 12:52 1:40 2:30 3:21 4:12 5:03 5:54 6:43 7:31 8:18 9:02 9:46

MOON Sets Rises 08:24 2:49p 08:23 3:51p 08:22 4:47p 08:20 5:36p 08:19 6:19p 08:18 6:57p 08:16 7:32p 08:15 8:04p 08:14 8:36p 08:12 9:07p 08:11 9:40p 08:09 10:15p 08:08 10:53p 08:07 11:33p 08:05 NoMoon 08:04 12:18a 08:02 1:07a 08:01 1:59a 08:00 2:55a 07:58 3:54a

Sets 12:12a 1:07a 2:06a 3:08a 4:11a 5:13a 6:13a 7:12a 8:09a 9:05a 10:01a 10:55a 11:50a 12:43p 1:35p 2:24p 3:12p 3:57p 4:39p 5:19p

Sets 12:14a 1:08a 2:07a 3:09a 4:14a 5:19a 6:22a 7:24a 8:24a 9:22a 10:20a 11:18a 12:14p 1:09p 2:01p 2:52p 3:39p 4:23p 5:03p 5:41p

FOR THE TABLE Dove dumplings 10-12 dove breasts 1/4 cup oil Salt, pepper to taste 1/4 chopped onion 2 cups flour 1/4 cup shortening 2 eggs 1/4 cup milk 2 cubes chicken bullion Rinse and dry the dove. Brown in the oil, drain. Place dove in a pot and barely cover with water.

Add the salt, pepper and onion.

Cover and simmer until meat is

tender. Combine the flour with some salt in a bowl. Add the shortening and mix until crumbly.

Stir in eggs and milk. Roll out the dough to about 1/8-inch thick. Cut into 2-inch squares. Remove dove from pot, add chicken bullion and bring to a boil. Drop the dumplings into pot one at a time. Cook about 20 minutes or until tender.

Add dove back into pot, cover and simmer about 10 minutes.

— backwoodsbound.com

Bluegills with cheese sauce 1 lb. bluegill fillets 1/4 cup chopped onion 2 tbsps. butter 1 tbsp. flour 1/2 tsp. dry mustard 1/4 tsp. caraway seeds 1/4 cup milk 1/2 cup shredded cheese 4 tbsps. beer Arrange the fish in a greased

baking dish. Bake at 450 degrees until the fish flakes easy. While the fish is cooking, melt butter in a saucepan, add onion and cook over medium heat until tender.

Stir in flour, mustard and caraway seeds. Add the milk and stir until thick and bubbly. Add the cheese and beer and cook on low until melted. Pour sauce over fish.

— easyfishrecipes.com

*email LSON your favorite recipe to news@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

August 24, 2012

Page 29

PRODUCTS CUSH-IT: This 2012 ICAST-winning accessory from Luna Sea is a slip-on cushion that protects anglers’ prized fly rods by keeping them afloat if they fall in the water. The Cush-It lies softly against a fisherman’s wrist and forearm while offering that added grip needed to battle monster fish. The cushioned rod butt comes in various colors and sizes to fit anything from big offshore rods to smaller inshore fishing rods. This durable fish-fighting aid sells for about $13 to $27, depending on the size.

>>

For information, visit: www.lunaseasports.com

580P SUNRISE LENSES: Costa Sunglasses’ new high-contrast specialty 580 lenses, which earned a Best of Show in the eyewear category at the 2012 ICAST Show, are lightweight and impact-resistant.

And, most importantly for anglers, the polarized lenses allow for maximum light transmission and enhanced depth perception that reduce glare, enabling wearers to see through the water more clearly in the early morning or late afternoon prime fishing hours when outside light is low. With sharp angles, wide temples and no-slip construction, the modern frames are a breeze to wear. Available in black, silver and tortoise frames, the Corbina sunglasses sell for about $170.

>>

(800) 447-3700 www.costadelmar.com

DIAMANTINA MERINO WOOL JACKET: Warm, breathable, quiet and soft, Cabela’s newest jacket offers comfort and versatility: hunters can wear it alone on cool fall outings or they can layer it during colder winter hunts. The jacket’s shell is a soft merino wool 220gram knitted fleece, which helps retain body warmth even when wet by drawing moisture to the outer layer. The lining in the two front panels is a polyester tricot knit. The jacket features zippered chest and hand-warmer pockets plus a shock-corded waist. It is available in Cabela’s Outfitter Camo and sells for just under $100.

(972) 432-2444 www.pulsarnv.com

>>

(800) 551-0541 www.goldtip.com

CLASSIFIEDS 1, 2, 3 PERSON FAMILY PACKAGE HUNT 1-Whitetail Buck: up to 140 B&C gross score.

1-Blackbuck: up to 18”.

1-Mature Fallow Buck.

Includes: 2 nights Lodging $5,500 + $150 per day guide fee. www.VictoriaOaksRanch.com.

Call for Details: (830) 931-9376 BLASER F3 12 GA. OVER/UNDER Factory case, accessories, warranty and 6 chokes.

Great condition. $5,500 obo. Evan.

(214) 232-8508 TROPHY WHITETAIL DEER HUNTS And/or cull hunts on high fenced ranch west of Fort Worth. Day hunts or lodging available. Contact David (817) 734-9229 or email hunt@pedros12point.com www.pedros12point.com SOUTH PADRE FISHING Reds, Trout, Flounder, Snook. Everything supplied but food and licenses.

Multiple trip discounts. Call Capt. Thomas for details or CDCT12005@aol.com.

(956) 551-1965 DEER LEASE WANTED Lone Star Outdoor News is looking for a hunting and fishing lease with all hunt and fish rights.

Central or Northwest Texas.

Camphouse is needed.

(214) 361-2276

1

$

GUIDED TROPHY WHITETAIL HUNTS On high fence ranch 100 miles southwest of the metroplex. Also management doe and day hunts available. Contact Pete or email dsrwhitetail@gmail. com. www.dsranch.net (254) 597-2364 WANTED Deer hunting lease. Call (281) 442-5330 FLOATING CABIN FOR SALE IN THE FAMOUS LANDCUT Corpus Christi, Texas.

Can be rented out with our base of repeat customers.

Priced at $125,000 or will sell shares. For example: 5 people at $25,000 each or 10 people at $12,500.

Get your buddies together and have a floating cabin to share or purchase and use as a business. Also, I have one in Baffin Bay with the same terms. Call (361) 215-3515 TEXAS DUCK STAMP COLLECTION FOR SALE 1981 thru 2011.

Call Steve Barber at (817) 832-8078 SWAP MEET BUY, SELL OR TRADE At Hills of Texas Taxidermy in Llano, Texas. Anything outdoor sports related.

September 29, 2012. For booth information call (325) 247-4963

DOVE HUNTS OPENING WEEKEND Near Waco. Sunflowers, Milo and Tanks. Camp Space Available. Call Roger: 254855-2997 or Terry Myers: (254) 644-9948 2-3 DAY PACKAGE HUNTS Elk and whitetail; high fence. Reata Ranch, Glen Rose, TX. Bow or rifle; 140 to 160 pt. whitetail and 4x4 to 9x9 on elk; Does & cows optional; bass fishing; nice 4 bedroom house.

(214) 522-3154 TEXASARCHERY.INFO STATE WATERFOWL STAMP/PRINT COLLECTION FOR SALE 32 total signed and numbered state prints and stamps from around the country 12 state first; Louisiana, Vermont, Arizona,Kansas, Rhode Island, Kentucky, Connecticut, Idaho, Virginia, Nebraska, Canada, Australia. 10 from South Carolina. All unframed.

Great art work for any water fowlers office wall or hunting camp. Call and ask for David.

(214) 361-2276 2000 FLEETWOOD WILDERNESS TRAVEL TRAILER Oversized propane tanks.

Central A/C and heating.

1/2 Ton towable. Queen bed. $5,600 OBO. (713) 454-9049

PER WORD 2 issues minimum

>>

GOLD TIP ARROWS: Gold Tip’s Smart Carbon Technology not only yields an arrow shaft that is unmatched in durability and consistency, but also guarantees straightness retention. With Gold Tip Smart Carbon, the arrow’s out of the box straightness is maintained over the course of its lifetime, shot after shot, no questions asked. Gold Tip, a premier manufacturer of hunting and target arrows headquartered in Orem, Utah sports an extensive lineup of 100 percent carbon arrow shafts that are the choice of the world’s top archers and bowhunters alike. Utilizing Smart Carbon Technology, Gold Tip arrows are at home on the professional 3-D circuit or in the mountains and woodlands that hold the world’s largest big game animals.

>>

(800) 237-4444 www.cabelas.com

PHANTOM 4X60 GEN3 RIFLESCOPE: Pulsar has introduced its line of Generation 3 night vision optics, which are built from lightweight, advanced materials and military grade components. The optics, including the Phantom 4x6 Gen 3 riflescope, are designed for use during nighttime. The optics’ image intensifiers provide increased detection of low light levels and a gated power supply for increased performance in dynamic lighting environments. The rugged riflescope is fully weatherproofed and can be used in virtually any hunting locale, from ice fields to deserts.

With such features as wide-aperture lens for a sharp, clear picture; a fast start-up function for making quick assessments; and the ability to choose the most suitable reticle configuration with the touch of a button, the Phantom is a night hunter’s go-to scope. The compact, ergonomically designed riflescope has an MSRP of $3,849.99.

Mail in, Email us, or Call (214) 361-2276

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August 24, 2012

Puzzle solution from Page 28

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

Teal sightings early “Cooler WX and TEAL buzzing all around.”

That was the Facebook post of a fisherman near Port O’Connor.

Comments like that stoke the hunting fire for waterfowlers waiting for the teal opener on Sept. 15, and Internet posters feel like the birds are early this year.

In Brazoria County, a post on 2coolfishing reported a group of 25 bluewings, while other positive reports came from Matagorda. Replies from Palacios, Corpus Christi and Rockport were negative.

On the Texas Hunting Forum, sightings were reported in the Panhandle

and North Texas, while sightings were more rare in Central Texas.

A post from West Texas indicated a few hundred teal had moved in, earlier than normal.

LONE STAR MARKET

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

But several posts reflected the true thoughts of the hunters in response to the early sightings. They hope the birds won’t have moved on before the season opens.

— Staff report

LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

August 24, 2012

Page 31

Bear sightings up in West Texas The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is advising landowners in San Angelo, Junction, and the surrounding counties of a recent increase in black bear sightings.

The first of a flurry of sightings occurred about 20 miles west of Junction on IH 10 on Aug. 6. This was followed by two sightings about 20 miles west of Menard on Highway 190 on Aug. 8, and then another on U.S. Highway 67 between Mertzon and Barnhart (about 30 miles southwest of San Angelo) on the Aug. 12.

“The drought and wildfires have caused bears to disperse in search of food into portions

of the state where they have not been seen for some time,” said TPWD wildlife diversity biologist Jonah Evans, TPWD’s bear coordinator.

“Although all of the sightings have been of a relatively small bear, we cannot be certain that they are all of the same individual. From the reports, it appears that the bear or bears exhibited a healthy fear of humans and is of very little danger to people.”

Black bears are the smallest North American bear, usually weighing between 100-300 pounds.

He said the risk of being attacked by a bear is fairly low. In the last 100 years there have been only 14 fatal

River and stream survey for Hill Country Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Inland Fisheries Division is partnering with Texas Tech University’s Department of Biological Sciences and the TTU Llano River Field Station to conduct a four-month survey of anglers who fish Texas Hill Country rivers and streams.

The survey will determine recreational angling effort (time spent fishing), gather information on angler attitudes and opinions, and evaluate the economic impact of angling in the region’s rivers and streams.

Anglers who have fished a Hill Country river or stream during the past 12 months are encouraged to participate in the survey. Information from anglers who target Guadalupe bass, the state fish of Texas, is of special interest. TPWD is engaged in an ongoing effort to restore and preserve Guadalupe bass populations in the Llano, Blanco, Pedernales, San Antonio and James River watersheds.

Anglers can participate in the survey through a link on the TPWD fishing Web page www. tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/ or directly at www.research.net/s/ HillCountryFishingSurvey.

— TPWD

Feds dismiss E15 challenge The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit dismissed on procedural grounds the recreational boating industry’s challenge of the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to allow E15 into the U.S. fuel supply. The Engine Products Group, a coalition of organizations, sought to block the EPA decision.

This decision puts the E15 at gas pumps across the country, a move that could spell problems for American boaters and owners of gaspowered lawn and yard equipment that can be damaged by the higher ethanol level in fuel.

In 2011, the EPA approved the use of E15 highway motor vehicles with model years beginning in 2001.

The partial waiver excluded marine engines and other non-road engines such as snowmobiles and lawn and garden equipment.

NMMA has been concerned that the waiver will lead to widespread misfueling by consumers.

The EPA also refused to mandate that if a facility sells E15 it would also offer E10 fuel for the nation’s estimated 13 million registered powerboat owners or the hundreds of millions of owners of gasoline-powered equipment.

NMMA has distributed labels for the marine industry to warn against fueling marine engines with E15.

— NMMA

black bear attacks on humans in the lower 48 states. In comparison, there are an average of 86 deaths each year from lightning strikes, 12 from rattlesnakes, 20 from domestic dogs, and 40 from bees.

TPWD is asking for people in this part of the state to report any observations of a bear in the area.

“The best thing people can do for this bear is secure their trash, bird feeders, and pet food, so the bear doesn't become habituated to human foods,” Evans said. “The saying ‘A fed bear is a dead bear’ is very true. If it becomes habituated, it may have to be relocated or destroyed.”

Earlier this month, TPWD

relocated a bear from Starr County to state lands along the Devils River. That bear had become very habituated to humans and was causing concern in the area.

Since black bears are a threatened species in Texas, they can not be legally hunted or harmed.

On August 10, Sutton County Game Warden Will Allison was investigating and was finally able to confirm through photos the sighting of a black bear in Sutton County. The bear had steadily been moving north to northeast over the past week and was last seen crossing Interstate 10 east of Sonora.

— KOSA-TV/TPWD

Photo by Suzann Julien.

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August 24, 2012

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