August 26, 2011 - Lone Star Outdoor News - Fishing & Hunting

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August 26, 2011

Dove galore Group endures earthquake to reach Argentina dove hunt.

Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper

August 26, 2011

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Volume 8, Issue 1

Bad crop reports can be good news for dove hunters

Inside

By Bill Miller

Lone Star outdoor newS Texas agriculturalists have to look hard to see anything positive on the sunbaked landscape.

❘❚ FISHING

Britteny’s law

Cattlemen can’t find decent Texas hay to supplement the parched rangelands, so bales are being shipped in from as See DOVE HUNTERS, Page 14

INSIDE

n Dove of Texas: Page 15 DOVE CANDY: Drought has ravaged Texas croplands, but a stunted ear of corn is still valuable food for dove. Photo by LSON.

Tragic death leads to boating safety changes.

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Surf’s up

Stingy waters yield trout, reds, sharks.

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Billfish

Better, but guides think ‘bite’ is a few weeks off.

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❘❚ HUNTING

Dog days of early fall

Large schools of reds staging in Baffin

Heat an issue during dove, bow seasons Push back Drought actually offers conservation opportunities.

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Archery discount Some ranchers offer lower-cost hunts and no kill fees.

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For the Table. . . . . . .

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Outdoor Datebook . . . .

Outfitters and Businesses .

Sun, Moon and Tide data .

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Action good on King Ranch shoreline

By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS

By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS

For the past few weeks, guides along Baffin Bay have seen huge schools of redfish getting ready for the fall spawn.

“There are a lot of fish moving from Baffin to the Gulf right now,” said Capt. Jon Fails. “There have been huge schools in Baffin, but they have started drawing down a little bit in the past week.

“They are also in the Intracoastal Waterway, staging themselves for spawning.”

Along with high water temperatures affecting the fish, salinity in the bays is very high, Fails said.

See REDS, Page 19

HOT DOG: Moose, a black lab, takes a break from the Texas heat by cooling down in a water trough on a ranch in Atascosa County. It is important for dove hunters and bowhunters in the early season to recognize the signs of heat-related illnesses and take steps to prevent them. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

Moose was hot.

During an afternoon of chasing birds, the faithful black lab needed to cool off.

But Moose wasn’t waiting for the hunt to end — he needed to cool off now. So, he proceeded to the nearest water trough to get a drink and soak.

It’s often easy for dogs to cool down, but hunters might need to take a few precautions during dove and early bow season this year.

The heat has been darned near unbearable across much of Texas this summer, with temperatures soaring to more than 100 degrees daily in most places.

Dove hunters, along with bowhunters in early October, face the brunt of the heat when afield.

Those hunters should be aware of the dangers of extreme heat and how to cope with them.

See DOG DAYS, Page 21

San Angelo angler aims to be among bass fishing’s elite RUNNING START: Austin Terry has wanted to be a professional angler since age 9 when he hooked an 11-pound lunker on O.H. Ivie. Photo

by Jason Hook, for LSON.

By Bill Miller

Lone Star outdoor newS O.H. Ivie Reservoir, impounded in 1990, was producing big bass within a decade, including a memorable lunker caught in June 2000.

A KGKL Big Bass tour-

nament carried a top prize of $10,000, and several 10pounders had been caught.

But the biggest fish that day wasn’t hooked by any of the contestants.

Nine-year-old Austin Terry of San Angelo had been fishing on the lake with his family

when he caught the big largemouth on a Carolina-rigged worm.

Russell Smith, former San Angelo police chief turned outdoor writer, was covering the weigh-ins for a local See SAN ANGELO, Page 16

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August 26, 2011

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August 26, 2011

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HUNTING

Drought can present opportunities to help wildlife habitat Better watering, grazing plans, hog control all possible

By Bill Miller

Lone Star Outdoor News The old saying “good luck comes to those who are prepared to receive it” was bore out the weekend of Aug. 12-14.

Rain showers pierced the high-pressure dome that has helped keep triple-digit heat over Texas for much of the summer.

The storms did nothing to end the statewide drought. North Texas, for example, only got a few inches that weekend, bringing the yearly total to about 16 inches, far below the normal 23 inches.

And searing temperatures soon returned across the state.

But some who received the rain called it miraculous, and those who had special “catchment” containers or “guzzlers” could keep a lot of it for wildlife.

“A half-inch to 3 inches of rain can sure fill up a water catchment, if you have it in place,” said Jesse Oetgen, technical guidance biologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife

Department. ple who install guzzlers.

“I’m in Weatherford,” For example, NRCS he said, “and here at my officials recently house, the gauge only described a guzzler had half an inch. But if that costs $1,975 per I had a guzunit, but the zler, with agency would maybe an reimburse as 8-by-4 sheet much as $840 n How much do of corrugated to purchasers game animals metal that who meet cridrink? See page 19 runs into a teria for the gutter sysprograms. tem, I could have caught People should contact many gallons.” the NRCS agents in Oetgen said the their counties for more Shackelford County information. area, northeast of And do-it-yourselfers Abilene, got 2-3 inches can find cheaper ways to of rain. build catchment systems.

“If you can catch that, Richard Kincheloe of you can save several Dallas said he has been hundred gallons, but it exploring “tons of sites” depends on the size of the for systems that can be structure,” Oetgen said. “built for cheap” on his He said guzzlers could family’s KV Ranch in be designed to overflow, Bosque County. “which creates a green, lush microenvironment that attracts insects and, See DROUGHT, Page 19 thus, turkey and quail.”

An Internet search HYDRATION: Catchment using the words “wildsystems that collect rainwater life” and “guzzler” can were handy structures in direct landowners to mid-August when rain showdealers that sell catchers briefly visited parts of Texment systems. as. Installing them are some of The Natural Resources the things landowners can do Conservation Service even while drought continues has programs that can to hammer the state. Photo by make payments to peoDavid J. Sams, LSON.

MORE

Bowhunting-only ranches offer more affordable hunting

By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News

with people from our church,” said the businessman. “It’s been real good and fun.”

But it was another dove hunt in February 2010 that was the ultimate adventure — in both danger and fun.

Brushy Creek Ranch owner Pete Denney decided years ago on a simple philosophy — be a lean and mean bowhunting-only operation that keeps costs low and lets hunters hunt.

That philosophy has worked, especially charging clients only a daily fee to hunt regardless of what they kill, instead of a trophy fee determined by the size of the animal.

More and more ranches across the state are catering strictly to bowhunters, and their prices reflect it.

“It just kind of started at less dollars per day,” Denney said.

“As our costs went up, we had to go up with it, but we priced it at what we thought was fair and what we felt the market could bear.”

See ADVENTURE, Page 6

See BOWHUNTING, Page 6

DOVE CLOUD: Huge flocks of dove were available for Texas hunter Ike Standley during a 2010 trip to Argentina. But first, he had to endure a massive earthquake during a stop in Chile. Photo by Ike Standley.

Ultimate adventure redefined Group weathers earthquake, mountain bus trip to reach Argentina hunt

By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star Outdoor News Ike Standley of Garden Ridge will be heading to his longtime opening-day dove hunting spot in September near Pleasanton.

“We’ve been going there for years and years

A SHARP DEAL: Bowhunters can take advantage of ranches that do not allow rifle hunting, usually at discounted prices from other ranches. Photo by Bill Miller, LSON.

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LoneOStar Outdoor News

More Texans charged in ‘Operation Cimarron’

By Bill Miller

Lone Star Outdoor News A federal investigation into an illegal hunting operation run by Texans in southern Kansas has resulted in charges against several other Texans.

Misdemeanor charges against 12 new defendants, including three from Louisiana, were handed down Aug. 11 in a Kansas federal court.

The men were clients of the illegal operation called “Camp Lone Star” near Coldwater, Kan., prosecutors said.

Each of the new defendants was ordered to appear

Sept. 8 in Kansas to answer the federal charges.

The Texans are: Douglas Baker of Palestine; Zach Belrose of Center; Kyle Bush of Timpson; Arthur Clemons of Cushing; Charles Sapp of Center; James Donnan of Center; James Jacobs of Shelbyville; and Michael Scarber of Center.

The men from Louisiana are: Jerry Deville of Denham Springs; Michael Herne, of Monroe; and Harry Wells also of Denham Springs.

Another man, Bazil Moore, was also charged, but his hometown was not listed.

“Operation Cimarron” —

the investigation of the camp — has been called the largest case in the history of wildlife law enforcement in Kansas.

It has already resulted in the convictions of two Texans who operated the camp: James Bobby Butler Jr., and brother Marlin Jackson Butler, both of Martinsville.

Court records show that from 2005 through 2008, the brothers encouraged customers to take deer without proper licenses and tags.

In some instances, customers took more deer than bag limits allowed or used illegal equipment, such as spotlights or guns during

archery season.

The Butler brothers were charged with conspiracy and interstate trafficking of game illegally taken in Kansas — a violation of the federal Lacey Act. The Butlers pleaded guilty in June. Once that happened, prosecutors started focusing on their customers.

Jim Cross, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s office in Wichita, confirmed that as many as 60 people were under investigation in Operation Cimarron.

However, he declined to say if more people would be charged in the case.

August 26, 2011

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$3.4 million raised for TDA You wouldn’t know the economy was down had you attended the Texas Deer Association’s annual fund-raising weekend, Aug. 10-14, in San Antonio.

The group, comprised of hunters, deer breeders and ranch owners, had more than 1,500 people attend the banquet, seminars and auction, which raised more than $3.4 million in gross sales.

“In this economy at this time, I’m just amazed we had that type of turnout,” said Karl Kinsel, TDA executive director. “We just moved the event to the new JW Marriot in San Antonio and we were a little apprehensive about being able to fill it because it was eight times as big as the previous place. Well, we filled it.”

Kinsel was especially proud of how the group raised nearly $200,000 for the TDA Political Action Committee.

The event included several deer auctions, a fashion show and brunch, casino night, golf outings and seminars from some of the leaders in deer management across the state.

—Staff report

Hunting show tattoo showcase WEB SITE

n See more outdoor tattoos online. www.LSONews.com OUTDOOR INK: We saw plenty of tattoos at the Texas Trophy Hunters 2011 Extravaganza Aug. 19-21 in Fort Worth. And while we saw a lot of ladies with ink, we couldn’t find any with bass, bucks or hooks. But here (from left) are some of the better ones we saw. (1) Midlothian’s Tim Smith formed his chest tat from this engraving on an antique powder horn: “I with the gun and brother ball, in any fight, we equal all.” (2) TV personality Brian “Pig Man” Quaca of Groesbeck has boar heads on his forearms. (3) David Gallop got his deer tracks, including dewclaws, in Granbury. (4) Alvin Knotts of Streeman got his while serving the Marine Corps in North Carolina. See more at LSONews.com. Want to share your outdoor tattoo? E-mail it (high-resolution jpegs only) to news@lonestaroutdoornews.com. Photos by Bill Miller, Lone Star Outdoor News.

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Adventure Continued From Page 4

FROM DANGER TO FUN: Ike Standley, a businessman from Garden Ridge, enjoyed excellent wing shooting in Argentina, once he got out of quake-ravaged Santiago, Chile. “It should be on any dove hunter’s list,” he said of hunting near Cordoba. Photo by Ike Standley.

Bowhunting Continued From Page 4

Denney said he could offer hunts at lower daily rates than many outfitters because he owns the land and doesn’t have to cover leasing costs. That spells opportunity for many bowhunters who want to spend less than outfits that sell hunts on a sliding scale based on trophy sizes.

“We don’t have kill fees,” he said.

“We do have penalty fees if someone kills a buck with less than a 14-inch spread. That’s our incentive to let younger bucks walk.”

Denney, like many bowhunting-only ranches, provides a

bunk house and cook shack, but keeps costs low by doing semiguided hunts and allowing hunters to move around parts of the ranch, instead of being stuck in one tripod stand the whole time.

“Low overhead equals lower costs to the client,” Denney said.

“A lot of clients prefer it that way.

If we were high fencing the property and bringing in genetics, we’d probably go that route (to a trophy fee-based pricing system). But we are trying to keep costs low.

“We’re just more of a budgetminded outfit.”

The size of deer might be a little smaller, but a hunter can shoot the biggest buck he can find. That alone makes it a more attractive deal to some bowhunters.

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“I had saved up to go to Argentina with a group of 12,” he said. “Six of us went down a few days early to do a wine tour in Chile, then we met up with the rest of the group in Santiago to fly to Cordoba, Argentina the next day.”

But that night, a massive earthquake hit Santiago, registering 8.8 on the Richter scale.

“We were staying in a 16-story hotel,” Standley said. “You couldn’t stand to walk to get to the interior of the building — the only choice was to crawl.”

During the night, sirens blared, the building swayed and power was cut.

“We were sure glad when morning came and we could see,” he said.

Santiago’s buildings, known for their structural soundness after earthquakes in the 1960s, held up fairly well. The streets and glass in many buildings didn’t, though.

But the group was still determined to get to their hunt.

“We spent most of the next day trying to get out of Santiago — it helped that two in our group spoke Spanish,” Standley said. “That night we were able to get on a double-decker bus trip over the Andes.”

Part two of the adventure had begun.

“The mountains are incredibly high and the switchbacks were treacherous — when you looked out the window you couldn’t see bottom,” he said.

“And there were one-way tunnels through the mountains. Fortunately it was at night.”

Once they reached Argentina, the outfitter, the Beretta

Chad Davis, manager of the bowhunting-only Buffalo Mountain Ranch near Abilene, said the ranch has no trophy or kill fees, just a daily fee to hunt.

“We pride ourselves on being a working man’s hunting ranch,” Davis said. “We’ve had guys show up and pay a couple hundred dollars and shoot a 150-class deer.”

Davis said despite the rough economy, Buffalo Mountain’s bookings have been up this year, perhaps due to the affordability of the hunting and the chance to shoot a trophy deer.

However, with most archery hunts, it’s always a roll of the dice when it comes to shooting a trophy, according to Davis.

“It’s still hunting,” he said.

Trident-rated Estancia Los Chanares, had arranged for a plane to pick up the group and get them to Cordoba.

Then the trip changed from extreme danger to extreme fun.

“A friend had told me before I went that going down there is like a lifetime of opening mornings within the first 30 minutes,” Standley said. “I didn’t believe him.

“I do now.”

Standley doesn’t claim to be an expert shot by any means, but he accomplished his goal of more than 1,000 birds in a day’s hunt.

“And the last morning I shot 157 birds in the first 30 minutes, all within a few miles from the lodge.”

Danger hasn’t been a stranger to the veteran and hunter, but the earthquake tops the list.

While serving in Vietnam with the Air Force, “we were mortared and rocketed not constantly, but close,” he said. “And the last night at the air base before coming home, it was constant. I didn’t think we would make it back.”

Standley also flies an ultralight aircraft that sustained a catastrophic failure in 2007.

“On the way down, I was scared I wasn’t going to make it,” he said. “But I got out of it with a fractured leg.

“But that damn earthquake was the worst — just hoping that building would stay together.”

Despite the hair-raising trip, Standley is saving up to return, hopefully next winter.

“It should be on any dove hunter’s list,” he said.

GRUB: Many bowhunting-only ranches provide similar amenities to larger, more expensive outfits. Here, hunters at the Buffalo Mountain Ranch gather before dinner to talk about the day's hunt. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.

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LoneOStar Outdoor News

Black bear shot in Kerr County

By Conor Harrison

illegal, although some bruins do travel into the state from Oklahoma, Arkansas and Mexico. Oklahoma does have a bear season in some parts of the state.

Whittenburg said he is a lifelong conservationist and hunter. He said he has hunted big game in Africa and big bears in Alaska, and knows what a dangerous sit-

Krueger, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department district four wildlife leader, the A Mexican black bear was 2-year-old bear weighed 102 shot and killed Aug. 10 on a pounds and stood less than small ranch in Kerr County 2 feet at the shoulder. The after the landowner felt threatbear’s length from nose to ened while walking his dogs. tail was 51 inches.

J.A. Whittenburg V and It may have walked 150 his two Jack Russell terrimiles from Mexico in search ers were walking on the of food and water. land near the famous YO TPWD conducted a routine investigation Ranch when the because the bear is bear wandered out an endangered spefrom the brush cies. Whittenburg and approached said he hasn’t heard the dogs. from the game war“It was around dens since they were 7:20 a.m. and out on his property.

I was checking “We’re getting a a well house,” few reports of peoWhittenburg said. ple seeing bears “I noticed someduring daylight thing out of the corhours, and that’s ner of my eye and unusual,” Krueger at first I thought said. “It’s the assoit was a pig. I kept ciated water around looking at it and homes and the quickly realized it food. The pet food, was a bear. the smell of cook“My dogs made ing; all those things eye contact and he could attract bears.” started coming our LONE STAR BRUIN: Game wardens examine the paw of a Recent bear way. I was between black bear that was killed this month on a ranch in Kerr sightings could County.

Photo by J. Whittenburg. the bear and my dogs involve young and I had about three bears that have seconds to react.” uation looks like and how to been turned out by their Whittenburg said he protect himself. mothers and are trying to always carries a gun with He also said he has gotten establish their own home him and he just had time to harassing phone calls from ranges. get the bear in the sights of a animal rights activists since Because of the drought, .223-caliber rifle. the shooting, which was cov- the bears appear to be travel“He was about 40 yards ered widely in the media. ing longer distances, someaway and headed in our “I tell them to go to the zoo times even hundreds of direction,” he said. “I yelled and jump in the bear’s cage and miles, to find better habitat and I could see it was locked see how they react,” he said. conditions. Known breedin with my dogs. He was Whittenburg immediately ing bear populations in coming at my dogs so I shot called his father and Texas Texas are in far West Texas, and he dropped.” game wardens to explain so it’s possible bears seen in Black bears are endangered what had happened.

Central Texas traveled from in Texas and hunting them is According to Mike there, or from Mexico.

Lone Star Outdoor News

August 26, 2011

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FISHING

Tragedy inspires changes in boating safety laws

By Mark England

Lone Star Outdoor News Tim Lindt’s persistence the last five years proved successful when the Legislature updated a law, originally written to protect anglers, to bar boaters from circling anyone engaged in water activities.

The new law passed earlier this year during the BRITTENY SAGE LINDT most recent session of the Legislature. It went into effect immediately. A violation constitutes a Class C misdemeanor.

There’s no elation, though, when he discusses the

Britteny Sage Lindt Act, named after his daughter, 15, who died Aug. 18, 2006 at Lewisville Lake.

She fell off an inner tube attached to a Jet Ski and a circling boat — trying to create waves — struck and killed her.

The boat driver admitted to drinking, but a jury found him not guilty of intoxication manslaughter.

“I’ve been going at this full-bore for five years with one goal: to save lives,” Lindt said. “We See TRAGEDY, Page 21 FOR BRITTENY: Pro angler Helen Gordon put a wrap on her boat promoting the Britteny Sage Lindt Fund, which works to improve water safety. The girl’s fellow cheerleaders from Marcus High School in Flower Mound helped promote the fund. Photo by Elizabeth Greene.

Flexibility pays off in tough surf bite

LUKE WARM: Surf anglers have been switching lure colors to keep up with changes in water clarity. Those willing to be flexible have been bringing plenty of fish to shore. Photo by LSON.

By Nicholas Conklin Lone Star Outdoor News

Big bait hurlers on the beaches have had to wait out a rather tough surf bite, but, for those who have, good numbers of redfish, trout and even sharks have been brought to shore.

Mike Chance of Buda said he

recently landed several limits of trout near Port Aransas. Fishing mostly Rapala Skitterwalks in black and chrome, Chance said that surf anglers need to be flexible in tough fishing months like August.

“The color can change overnight,” Chance said. “Recently I caught a limit on trout on a black-

Billfish anglers hoping for fall

By Nicholas Conklin Lone Star Outdoor News

Peak conditions for billfish are just around the corner.

However, captains and anglers have reported several difficult months until now for marlin, sailfish and swordfish.

Despite the recent Texas Legends Billfish Tournament reporting more than 100 billfish caught, captains have said that rough seas have slowed the bite.

Capt. Bill Cannan of Port O’Connor reported that his boat did not fare well in the tournament and only hooked into a few

small fish. He said the winning boat recorded 14 sailfish, four white marlin and a blue marlin.

But Cannan has found some success landing sailfish near the “Tequila” and “Cervesa” offshore production rigs with live bait. He added, however, that anglers south of those rigs can also have success with sailfish.

“I am pulling natural baits on a slow troll anywhere from 3 to 5 knots,” Cannan said. “We’re pulling them behind Ilanders and have been doing well.”

Cannan said that the rigs have been holding bait well recently, so anglers should troll near them.

and-chrome Skitterwalk, then went back the next morning to try it again and they wouldn’t touch the lure.”

When that happened, Chance switched to lighter colors like blue, pearl and chartreuse and caught several fish. Chance said that his most productive bite has been from first light until 10 a.m.,

Poor weather and warm water has also restricted fishing, said Capt. Ann Johnston of Johnston’s Sport Fishing.

On a recent five-day trip, she only landed one sailfish.

“I am just talking about high winds,” Johnston said. “The temperature of the water at 154 miles yesterday was 90 degrees, and the fish don’t like that.”

Johnston also said that rough seas and reoccurring swells have been an issue during her trips. She said that normally in August, she will see 10 or 15 calm days that are just slick as glass. But this summer she hasn’t had but a couple.

Johnston said that this has limited her catch totals and her time on the water.

She cited the Poco Bueno Tournament out of Port O’Connor, which was held in late July, as a perfect example of how tough the fishing has been during the summer months.

The field had 101 boats compet-

and that he has found many fish holding along rip currents.

“You’ll see the dirty water crossing the sandbar and moving out away from the beach, and a lot of times reds will hold up in there waiting for bait to come through,” Chance said.

For this technique, Chance suggested “free lining” the bait and

letting the current take it out, away from the beach.

But the big shark bite has stalled for some lately, according to Brad Potter of Breakaway Tackle, a Corpus Christi-based company specializing in surf gear.

“I haven’t had any shark lately because the water down there (south of Corpus) was too cold and dirty,” Potter said.

Potter did report that a 12 1/2foot tiger shark was recently caught near Bob Hall Pier in Corpus Christi. According to reports, the tiger shark was successfully released.

Potter said that redfish and trout have been fair on red and white top-water lures along the Padre Island National Seashore.

Farther south, Capt. Billy Sandifer reported a tough surf bite.

He said the emergence of Sargasso weeds have conspired to stop the bite. However, he did report that the weed issue had begun to clear up and he is expecting fishing to improve.

“Come about Sept. 10, you can just turn that coin over and everything will be the exact different,” Sandifer said.

Not all of the fishing has been poor. Sandifer said anglers have been catching trout on top-waters, and ladyfish on flies. He even reported the occasional tarpon hookup and shark averaging 5 to 6 feet.

Sandifer said that because of the fall migrations of fish into the surf to spawn and feed, he expects this fall surf season to be very productive for anglers.

To contact Capt. Billy Sandifer, call (361) 937-8446

BILLFISH BITE: Chris Sessions holds a sailfish he caught. Some guides are starting to report improved offshore fishing for sailfish and marlin. Rough seas, however, limited the bite earlier this summer, the guides said. Photo by Chris Sessions.

ing, but very few fish were boated.

Johnston said her boat caught only one fish, but it was an under-

sized marlin (under 101 inches).

Many Poco anglers reported similar results, Johnston said.

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Low water levels at Toledo Bend force tournaments to relocate

By Nicholas Conklin Lone Star Outdoor News

Dangerously low lake levels on Toledo Bend Reservoir have forced Bass Champs to relocate the Oct. 1 East Region Championship tournament.

The new venue is Sam Rayburn Reservoir, said Jeff Welch, Bass Champs vice president. The date is unchanged.

Bass Champs officials decided to move the tournament nearly two months in advance to give anglers plenty of time to adjust.

“I would love to wait until the week before and say ‘Please let it rain,’” Welch said. “But if you wait until the week before, then you tell everyone you’re moving, then everybody is upset because you didn’t give them enough time.”

Preparation time is important, Welch said, because tournament rules stipulate anglers can practice at a lake up to a week before the competition. After that the lake is off-limits until the tournament starts.

Welch also said that the decision allows anglers to adjust travel plans.

The Sabine River Authority recommended that the tournament be moved, but Bass Champs officials made the ultimate decision to move, Welch said.

Because of the makeup of Toledo Bend, the current water levels have become unsafe, Welch said.

When the lake was built, boat lanes were cut through the vast amounts of sunken timber.

However, the lanes were cut only 8 feet below normal pool, which is 172 feet.

But now, the water levels have dropped below those lanes, exposing timber and creating a boating hazard, Welch said.

Low lake levels caused by drought have been reported across the state in recent months.

But Welch said low levels were also a concern last year when the same tournament was held at Toledo Bend.

“We pushed the envelope and we had some tough spots,” he said. “When a lot of these lakes were built they didn’t envision record low lake levels.”

The last time a Bass Champs event had to be moved because of low lake levels was 11 years ago, Welch said.

Two other tournaments have since been canceled on Toledo Bend, according to Linda CurtisSparks, director of tourism for Toledo Bend Lake Country.

“We have confirmed that the BFL Cowboy Division has canceled their September tournament,” Curtis-Sparks said. “We just hope that we get rain between September and November.”

The other tournament is in Louisiana, Curtis-Sparks said.

Curtis-Sparks added that only 12 boat launches remain open on the lake and, she said that anglers should attempt to launch at Sam McGill, Cypress Bend and Pleasure Point because they are the deepest and most easily accessible.

For current water conditions and levels of all Texas lakes, including those that share a border with other states, visit LSONews.com and see fishing news links to our friends.

LoneOStar Outdoor News

August 26, 2011

Page 9

Officials evaluating size of Angler Recognition Program

By Bill Miller

Lone Star Outdoor News The popular Angler Recognition Program offered by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is moving forward.

But the recent retirement of the staffer who ran it for nine years and budget cuts are challenging TPWD officials to take stock of the program’s size.

“We’re sort of still in the process of evaluating how much we’ll be able to maintain,” said Ken Kurzawski, director of inland fisheries regulations and information.

The program keeps state records for inland and saltwater species. These records are kept for all bays, rivers and lakes — public or private.

Numerous accomplishments are recognized, including first

fish for any angler, no matter the age, and for catching a trophy fish of any qualifying species.

A lot of people, many of them youth, submit their catches to be considered for “water body records” on particular lakes, rivers or areas on the coast.

Also, the program recognizes anglers who achieve “elite status” by catching five trophyclass fish in saltwater or freshwater categories.

The program’s “outstanding angler” award acknowledges a catch that “does not fit other award categories but still deserves recognition,” according to TPWD. All sorts of records for the program itself were broken in 2010, including the submitting of 1,233 catches for awards. That’s the most in a single year, beating

Bluegill Family Fishing Tournament Sept. 24 at Freshwater Fisheries Center The annual Bluegill Family Fishing Tournament will be Saturday, Sept. 24 at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens.

Teams must consist of one adult, age 18 or older, and one child under 18. Each team can weigh in a maximum of four fish.

Multiple teams can fish from the same boat, making it possible for both parents to partner with different children and still fish as a family. Team members don’t have to be related.

Teams may choose to fish either on Lake Athens,

913 in 2009, according to TPWD. However, the program’s longtime administrator, Joedy Gray, announced his retirement in July.

That, plus well-publicized budget cuts at TPWD, has caused some anglers to ask about the program’s future.

Kurzawski explained that Ron Smith is now running the program. That responsibility, however, has been added to Smith’s existing duties of providing outreach programs on TPWD’s paddling trails.

Nevertheless, Kurzawski said anglers should continue submitting their catches for awards considerations.

“We recognize all the time Joedy put into it,” Kurzawski said, “and we sure don’t want that to go to waste, especially with something that people enjoy.”

which is adjacent to TFFC, or in TFFC’s ponds and streams, some of which have been stocked with bluegills.

Anglers who plan to fish on Lake Athens are advised to check lake and boat ramp conditions before going to be sure water levels will permit launching. Contact the City of Athens, (903) 675-5131.

All species of sunfish or bream (except largemouth bass) are allowed.

Pre-registration is required. Mail registration must be received by Wednesday, Sept. 21. To request a registration form by mail, call (903) 670-2222.

Otherwise, teams may register in person on the day of the event by going to the admissions booth at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center after 7 a.m.

A $15 entry fee per team will be charged.

—Staff report

Page 10

August 26, 2011

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

TEXAS FISHING REPORT Sponsored by

HOT BITES LARGEMOUTH BASS

BROWNWOOD: Good on redbug Grande Bass worms, spinnerbaits and watermelon red Berkley saber tails over brush piles in 10–15 feet.

CALAVERAS: Good on dark soft plastic worms, spinnerbaits and crankbaits over reed beds.

COLEMAN: Good on pumpkinseed soft plastic worms and lizards.

POSSUM KINGDOM: Good on Yellow Magics early, later switching to Carolina rigs, Texas rigs, shaky heads and deep-diving crankbaits.

TRAVIS: Good on red shad worms, chartreuse top-waters and white grubs in 15–25 feet.

WHITE, HYBRID, STRIPER

BRIDGEPORT: White bass and hybird stripers are good on slabs.

LAVON: White bass are good on slabs.

LIVINGSTON: Striped bass are good but small on pet spoons, Rat–L–Traps and Zara Spooks. White bass are good on pet spoons and troll tubes.

RAY HUBBARD: White bass are excellent on humps in 17–23 feet with hybrids mixed in.

TAWAKONI: White bass are excellent on chartreuse and white SSS Slabs and tailspins — schooling on points early and late.

CATFISH

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

FALCON: Channel and blue catfish are excellent on frozen shrimp, cut bait and stinkbait.

TAWAKONI: Excellent in deep water drifting, cut bait and fresh shad.

CRAPPIE BROWNWOOD: Good on minnows and Li’l Fishies in 10–20 feet.

GRAPEVINE: Good on minnows.

ALAN HENRY: Water lightly stained; 86–90 degrees; 5.41’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters early, later switching to Carolina rigs, jigs and Texas rigs.

AMISTAD: Water clear; 84–87 degrees; 5.45’ low. Largemouth bass are good on frogs, spooks, Pop–Rs, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, swimbaits and soft plastic worms. Catfish are good on cheesebait, shrimp, and nightcrawlers under a cork in 6–15 feet. Yellow catfish are good on trotlines, droplines and throwlines on live perch.

ATHENS: Water clear, 88–94 degrees; 3.66’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged worms, shakyheads and medium-running crankbaits — midday concentrate on deeper brush piles. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on prepared bait.

good on nightcrawlers.

heads and finesse jigs around docks — best action is in early morning with deep brush piles producing throughout the day. White bass are good on slabs. Hybrid stripers are good on live shad. Crappie are fair to good on minnows.

CHOKE CANYON: Water clear; 79–82 degrees; 9.73’ low. Largemouth bass are good on white spinnerbaits and watermelon soft plastics on main lake points. Channel and blue catfish are good on shrimp and stinkbait.

good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are fair to good on prepared baits.

LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 88–94 degrees; 2.22’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on Texas rigs, top-waters early and jigs later in the day off brush piles. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on cut shad.

LAVON: Water lightly stained; 89–94 degrees; 8.06’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged creature baits,

HOT SPOT

BASTROP: Water clear; 83–86 degrees.

Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Channel and blue catfish are good on shrimp and stinkbait.

BELTON: Water stained; 82–86 degrees; 6.82’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastic worms. Hybrid striper are fair on live shad. Yellow catfish are good on trotlines baited with live perch and frozen shad.

BOB SANDLIN: Water lightly stained; 88–94 degrees; 7.02’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged worms and football jigs off ledges and in brush piles. Crappie are good on live minnows. White bass are good on Humdingers and top-waters. Catfish are fair to good on trotlines or juglines with Redneck’s Catfish Bait Soap.

BRAUNIG: Water clear. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and dark soft plastic worms over grass beds. Channel catfish are excellent on liver, shrimp, cut bait and cheesebait near the dam.

BRIDGEPORT: Water clear; 89–95 degrees; 11.20’ low. Largemouth bass are good on medium-running crankbaits in shad patterns and Texas-rigged LFT Hyper Worms along main lake points and deeper docks. Best colors are watermelon/chartreuse. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. White bass are good on slabs. Hybrid stripers are good on slabs.

BROWNWOOD: Water clear; 14.84’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on redbug Grande Bass worms, spinnerbaits and watermelon red Berkley saber tails over brush piles in 10–15 feet. Hybrid striper are good drifting shad around docks at night. White bass are good on Li’l Fishies and minnows off lighted docks at night.

Crappie are good on minnows and Li’l Fishies in 10–20 feet. Channel catfish are good on trotlines baited with cut bait and chicken livers. Yellow catfish are good on trotlines baited with live perch.

BUCHANAN: Water clear; 80–83 degrees; 24.60’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon Skip–N–Pop top-waters, white buzzbaits and Erratic jigs, and weightless Texas-rigged purple flake Whacky Sticks off points in 5–15 feet at first light. Crappie are good on minnows and blue tube jigs over brush piles. Channel catfish are good on live bait and stinkbait.

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

CADDO: Water stained; 88–94 degrees; 1.33’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged worms and topwaters early, late switching to shallow crankbaits around isolated cover.

CALAVERAS: Water clear. Largemouth bass are good on dark soft plastic worms, spinnerbaits and crankbaits over reed beds. Striped bass are good on chicken livers and shad along the shoreline. Channel and blue catfish are good on cheesebait, shrimp and shad near the railroad trestle.

CEDAR CREEK: Water lightly stained; 89–95 degrees; 5.38’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas rigs, shaky

Stillhouse Hollow Lake Guide reports the past week have told of solid catches of largemouth bass fishing deep with Texas-rigged worms and lipless crankbaits.

Downrigging at first light has worked well for suspended white bass, followed by good action locating schools of white bass later in the day.

Photo by LSON.

COLEMAN: Water clear; 78–82 degrees; 14.56’ low. Largemouth bass are good on pumpkinseed soft plastic worms and lizards. Crappie are good on minnows and pink tube jigs. Channel catfish are good on trotlines baited with live perch and shrimp.

CONROE: Water fairly clear; 81–84 degrees; 4.01’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on pumpkinseed Carolinarigged soft plastics, spinnerbaits and Rat–L–Traps. Striped bass are fair on live bait. Crappie are fair on minnows and blue tube jigs. Catfish are good on bloodbait, liver and shrimp.

FALCON: Water stained to clear; 87–91 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on large soft plastics and spinnerbaits in 5–15 feet. Channel and blue catfish are excellent on frozen shrimp, cut bait and stinkbait.

FORK: Water fairly clear; 89–95 degrees; 5.44’ low. Largemouth bass are good on 3/4 oz. football head jigs with LFT Hyper Freak trailers and Carolina rigs in deeper water along main lake humps, drops and brush piles, deepdiving crankbaits and watermelon/ green pumpkin 1/2 oz. flipping jigs in 12–15 feet along creek channels.

Good shallow bite early on top-waters and soft plastics. The night bite has been good after midnight. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on cut shad and prepared bait.

GRAPEVINE: Water clear; 89–94 degrees; 2.37’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged worms, finesse jigs and medium crankbaits along main lake points — docks are productive as well. There has also been a good deep crankbait bite along offshore structure.

Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are good on top-waters and Rat–L–Traps. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers and cut shad.

JOE POOL: Water clear; 88–94 degrees; 2.22’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas rigs, top-waters early and medium crankbaits. Deeper brush piles are best later in day. Crappie are

top-waters and medium crankbaits.

White bass are good on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs around bridge columns. Catfish are good on cut shad and nightcrawlers.

LBJ: Water fairly clear; 82–85 degrees; 0.34’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on weightless watermelon Whacky Sticks, JDC Skip–N–Pop top-waters and Bleeding Shad Rat–L–Traps along seawalls in 5–15 feet. Yellow and blue catfish are fair on trotlines baited with perch.

LEWISVILLE: Water clear; 89–94 degrees; 3.88’ low. Largemouth bass are good on medium-running crankbaits, shaky heads and Texas-rigged plastics on main lake points in 10–15 feet or football head jigs along same areas. Weightless Senkos around boat stalls are producing, too. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on slabs. Hybrid stripers are fair on slabs and Sassy Shad. Catfish are good on prepared bait.

LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 85–88 degrees; 1.93’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Striped bass are good but small on pet spoons, Rat–L–Traps and Zara Spooks. White bass are good on pet spoons and troll tubes. Crappie are fair on minnows. Blue catfish are good on shad. Yellow catfish are fair on live bait.

NAVARRO MILLS: Water lightly stained; 89–92 degrees; 2.51’ low. Largemouth bass to 3 pounds are good on minnows from the fishing docks. White bass are good on Little Georges near the boat ramp in Liberty Hill Park.

Crappie are fair but mostly small on minnows over brush piles in 12–16 feet. Channel catfish are good on stinkbait and shrimp. Blue catfish are good on trotlines and juglines baited with perch. Yellow catfish to 38 pounds are good on trotlines baited with perch.

O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 85–89 degrees; 33.66’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on Texas rigs, shaky heads and jigs with top-water action early. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair to good on Humdingers. Catfish are

PALESTINE: Water lightly stained; 89–94 degrees; 4.83’ low. Largemouth bass are good on medium crankbaits, Texas-rigged worms and shakyheads.

Crappie are good on minnows and jigs.

Hybrid stripers are fair on slabs, Sassy Shad and live shad. White bass are fair to good on slabs and minnows. Catfish are good on prepared bait.

POSSUM KINGDOM: Water stained; 83–89 degrees; 5.9’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Yellow Magics early, later switching to Carolina rigs, Texas rigs, shaky heads and deep-diving crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair to good on slabs and Little Georges.

Striped bass are fair on live shad. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers.

RAY HUBBARD: Water fairly clear; 89–95 degrees; 4.00’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged creature baits, finesse jigs and medium-to-deep crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and Road Runners. White bass are excellent on humps in 17–23 feet with hybrids mixed in. Catfish are good on prepared baits.

RAY ROBERTS: Water clear; 89–94 degrees; 3.06’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Gene Larew Salt Flickr-rigged on a shaky head on main lake points with rock and 3/4 oz. Revenge Football head jigs in chameleon/chartreuse.

Crappie are good early and late on jigs and minnows in brush in 20–25 feet.

White bass are excellent — schooling early from the dam to the marina.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water fairly clear; 89–94 degrees; 5.36’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on Texasrigged worms, deep crankbaits and top-waters. Shakyheads around the deeper docks are effective.

SAM RAYBURN: Water lightly stained; 80–84 degrees; 11.02’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon crankbaits and spinnerbaits.

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

SOMERVILLE: Water murky; 84–87 degrees; 7.95’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and spinnerbaits.

Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows.

Channel and blue catfish are fair on shrimp, minnows, and nightcrawlers.

TAWAKONI: Water fairly clear; 89–95 degrees; 4.94’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters early, later switching to black/blue Firewater 1/2 oz. jigs, soft plastics and square-bill crankbaits. Crappie are fair on 1/16 oz. curl tail grubs and small minnows on docks, bridge pilings and deep timber. White bass are excellent on chartreuse and white SSS Slabs and tailspins. Striped bass and hybrid striper are good on 4” to 6” white or shad-pattern Sassy Shad in the shallows early then suspending deep during the day. Catfish are excellent in deep water drifting, cut bait and fresh shad.

TEXOMA: Water fairly clear; 88–94 degrees; 5.21’ low. Largemouth bass are good on medium-running crankbaits in shad patterns, Texas-rigged finesse worms, shaky heads and top-waters.

Schooling noted throughout the day.

Crappie are good on minnows and jigs.

Striped bass are good on live shad.

Catfish are good on cut and live shad.

TOLEDO BEND: Water stained; 79–82 degrees; 10.12’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on redbug and plum soft plastic worms and top-waters early and late.

White bass are good on spoons and Li’l Fishies. Crappie are slow. Bream are good on crickets and nightcrawlers off docks. Channel and blue catfish are good on trotlines baited with live bait, stinkbait and chicken livers.

TRAVIS: Water stained; 82–85 degrees; 44.28’ low. Largemouth bass are good on red shad worms, chartreuse top-waters and white grubs in 15–25 feet. White bass are fair on minnows and pet spoons in 10–20 feet. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are good on stinkbait and fresh cut perch in 15–30 feet.

SALTWATER SCENE NORTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good under birds and pods of shad on soft plastics. Redfish are good in the marsh on small top-waters and Gulps. Drifters have worked slicks.

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

Kingfish, ling, dolphin and tuna are good offshore.

BOLIVAR: Trout are good on the south shoreline on Bass Assassins, Trout Killers and Sand Eels. Trout, sand trout and redfish are good at Rollover Pass.

TRINITY BAY: Trout are good for drifters working pods of shad and mullet on plastics and live shrimp under a popping cork. Redfish are good on live bait around the reefs.

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

WEST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair to good in the surf and around San Luis Pass on live shrimp and top-waters. Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp and crabs. Tarpon are showing on the beachfront.

TEXAS CITY: Trout are fair to good around Dollar Reef on live shrimp and croakers.

Redfish are fair to good in Moses Lake on mullet and shrimp.

FREEPORT: Trout are good at San Luis Pass on shrimp, Super Spooks and She Dogs. Trout are fair to good on live bait on the Surfside beach.

Kingfish and bull redfish are good offshore.

EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are good for drifters on live shrimp over humps and scattered shell.

Redfish are fair to good on the edge of the drop–off along the south shoreline on mullet.

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

PORT O’CONNOR: Trout and redfish are fair on live bait over sand, grass and shell in San Antonio Bay and around Pass Cavallo. Trout and redfish are fair for drifters working the back lakes with live shrimp. Trout are good in the surf and at the jetty.

Tarpon have been showing at the jetty.

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

PORT ARANSAS: Trout and Spanish mackerel are fair to good at the jetty on shrimp and croakers.

Trout are good in the surf on top-waters and croakers. Offshore is good for amberjack, kingfish, tuna and dolphin.

CORPUS CHRISTI: Trout are fair on the edge of the spoils on piggy perch and live shrimp.

Redfish are good in the potholes on shrimp.

Trout are good in the surf on croakers.

BAFFIN BAY: Trout are good on top-waters around rocks and grass. Redfish are fair to good in knee–deep water on Super Spooks, She Pups, gold spoons and SkitterWalks.

PORT MANSFIELD: Trout are good on topwaters around sand and grass. Redfish are fair to good while drifting pot holes on topwaters and soft plastics under a popping cork.

Offshore is good for kingfish, ling and dolphin.

SOUTH PADRE: Trout, redfish and snook are fair to good in South Bay and Mexiquita Flats.

Tarpon and snook are good on DOA Shrimp and live shad at the jetty.

PORT ISABEL: Trout and redfish are fair to good while drifting sand and grass flats on live shrimp and DOA Shrimp under popping corks.

LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

Five Texans qualify for ‘Classic’ on Lake Conroe Five PAA Tournament Series pros from Texas have qualified for the fifth annual Toyota Texas Bass Classic World Championship to be held Oct. 28-30 on Lake Conroe.

Takahiro Omori, Gary Yamamoto, Cody Bird, Chris Basher and Harold Allen will join 10 other qualifying Tournament Series anglers who will receive invitations.

The event will also host a 50-angler field assembled from the top professionalleagues in the world, including the PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series, Bassmaster Elite Series and the Walmart FLW Tour.

Led by Professional Angler Association Angler of the Year Todd Auten of South Carolina, the 15 anglers will have two weeks to accept or decline their berths.

If any decline, the next anglers in the Tournament Series point standings will be invited until the field is completed.

Defending champion Brian Snowden of Missouri and four sponsor invitees will join the 15 Bassmaster Elite Series and 15 FLW Tour anglers who accepted invitations for the event on Lake Conroe.

Following three days of practice, the pros will participate in the U.S. Reel Pro-Am on Oct. 27 and then begin competition the following morning.

ONE OF FIVE: Texan Takahiro Omori is one of five Texas “We’re treated like professional golfers anglers to quailify for the TTBA Classic World Champiwhen we’re there,” said Auten, who secured onship Oct.28-30 on Lake Conroe. Photo by Doug Cox. the PAA Angler of the Year title recently. “I think the TTBC is run very well and very $100,000 and a Legend boat with professionally. an Evinrude E-TEC engine.

“It’s a different kind of tournaAuten said Lake Conroe provides ment. I wouldn't say that it’s lowa challenge for the field and could key, but it’s fun and comfortable n Tournament Briefs have an extra twist this year if fishing that kind of tournament.

See page 25 water levels are low. Drought conYou qualify to get into it, there’s ditions and a drawdown of water no entry fee and everyone in it from Conroe into Lake Houston wants to win. It's a fun week and competi- could alter his plans to fish shallow. tive event.”

“Usually when water level is around the The remaining qualifying PAA docks there’s plenty for me to fish along the Tournament Series anglers who will receive shoreline,” Auten said. “But with the low lake invitations are: Mike McClelland, Arkansas; conditions, you'll have to focus more on offChad Morgenthaler, Illinois; Derek Remitz, shore stuff and brush piles. I think it’ll fish Alabama; Tommy Biffle, Oklahoma; Terry totally different and smaller, and for someButcher, Oklahoma; Brian Travis, North one who fishes shallow it’ll be different.

Carolina; Shane Long, Missouri; GaryClouse, “I've never been one to find something Tennessee and James Watson, Missouri. and just camp out, so it'll be interesting to The TTBC will pay out more $420,000 in see what we have when we get to Conroe.” cash and prizes, with the winner receiving — Staff report

SEE MORE

Texas STAR in home stretch The current leaderboard for the CCA Texas STAR Tournament follows: REGULAR DIVISION n Flounder (18-inch min. length): 7 pounds 2 ounces, Robert Goode Sr. n Sheepshead: 9 pounds 4 ounces, Ramon Zapata. n Gafftop: 8 pounds 4 ounces, Jerome Ard. n Speckled trout (Upper Coast): 9 pounds 3 ounces, David Elmore. n Speckled trout (Middle Coast): 8 pounds 14 ounces, Michael Leach. n Speckled Trout (Lower Coast): 9 pounds 10 ounces, Nolan Casey. n Kingfish (30-pound min.): 55 pounds 7 ounces, Barry

Shaneyfelt Jr. n Dorado (20-pound min.): 44 pounds 12 ounces, Darrell Rittiman. n Ling (cobia): 84 pounds, Robert Kirschner.

ACADEMY SPORTS & OUTDOORS STARTEENS SCHOLARSHIP TROUT DIVISION (AGES 11-17) n Speckled Trout (Upper Coast): 7 pounds 9 ounces, Sterling Mcintosh. n Speckled Trout (Middle Coast): 7 pounds 5 ounces, Benjamin Koehler. n Speckled Trout (Lower Coast): 8 pounds 6 ounces,

Carter Goyen. n Flounder (18-inch min. length): 5 pounds 3 ounces, Christopher Ford. n Sheepshead: 8 pounds 15 ounces, Robbie Laskoskie. n Gafftop: 7 pounds 6 ounces, Brittany.

Leatherwood.

STARKIDS SCHOLARSHIP DIVISION (AGES 6-10 ONLY) n Flounder (18-inch min. length): 3 pounds 11 ounces, Dylan Gill. n Sheepshead: 8 pounds 7 ounces, Aven Campos. n Gafftop: 7 pounds 7 ounces, Camden Ritchey.

Results are as of August 22. For more information, including a list of weigh-in stations and registration locations, visit www.LSONews.com.

August 26, 2011

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August 26, 2011

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

GAME WARDEN BLOTTER HEAT-RELATED TRAGEDY Reeves County Game Warden Jared Self received a report of a missing man. The man had been looking for arrowheads. With the assistance of other federal, state, and local departments, a search was conducted and the man's body was recovered in extremely dense brush several hours later, approximately 1/2 mile from where he had left the highway. With temperatures around 106 degrees, heat was believed to have been a factor in the man’s death.

TRESPASSERS WITH STOLEN GUN NABBED While on night patrol in the Trinity River bottoms, Dallas County Game Warden David Bosecker observed a group of hunters on a property without the landowner’s permission.

Five men were identified and admitted to hunting feral hogs. Bosecker checked the trespassers’ firearms and found one of the rifles had been reported stolen. Cases pending.

WARDENS HELP LOCATE DEHYDRATED YOUNGSTERS Angelina County Game Warden Tim Walker and Jasper County Game Warden Justin Eddins respond to a call in the Angelina National Forest that three teenage girls were lost. Upon arrival, the wardens were notified that there were 21 dehydrated individuals, one of whom was suffering from heat exhaustion. The wardens joined with Forest Service personnel, Angelina and Jasper County deputies to assist the youngsters. The heat exhaustion victim was transported by EMS to Lufkin to be treated.

RUNNING AWAY ONLY ADDED TO CITATIONS A man operating a flat-bottomed boat on Sam Rayburn Reservoir was checked by Angelina County Game Warden Tim Walker. The operator was two life jackets short and didn't have identification on his person.

Walker checked the subject through the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office,

DRUNK SPOTLIGHTER DIDN’T SEE HOGS, BUT SAW JAIL CELL Grayson County Game Wardens Michael Hummert and Colt Gaulden observed a vehicle travelling down county roads shining a light. The wardens followed the vehicle for almost 15 miles as it con-

sistently spotlighted both sides of the roadway. The wardens finally stopped the vehicle as it neared a main road. The driver and passenger were found to have a loaded firearm with a night vision scope sitting

and it was learned the man had warrants in two counties. Walker advised the man that he was going to jail and would allow him to contact someone to help his wife load their boat.

Walker then followed the violator to shore. When the violator landed his boat, he fled on foot. Walker was able to quickly land his boat and apprehend the violator after a 150-yard chase. Cases pending.

JUST A FEW TOO MANY Galveston County Game Warden Adam Clark cited a recreational fisherman for possessing 28 undersized red drum. Cases pending.

CRABBY ARGUMENT ON THE BAY Aransas County Game Warden Scott McLeod responded to a call concerning a commercial crab fisherman chasing a sport fisherman out on the bay. McLeod launched his patrol boat and made contact.

The commercial crab fisherman said that he caught the sport fisherman running his traps and keeping the crabs. Statements were taken and the investigation continues.

STOLEN ATV OPERATOR ESCAPES Montgomery County Game Warden Brannon Meinkowsky was on patrol when he noticed an ATV being operated on a public road. When he

between them. There were also two young boys in the backseat of the truck.

The driver said that they were looking for hogs and would have shot one from the county road if they had seen any. The passen-

attempted to stop the ATV, the driver drove through the backyard of a residence and then began to drive over trees and brush as he traveled through the woods. While fleeing, the operator wrecked the ATV and fled on foot. It was found that the ATV had been reported stolen.

TOO MANY REDFISH IN COOLER LEAST OF PROBLEMS Game Wardens Brian Srba and Morgan Inman were patrolling the Sabine River when they observed a boat with no visible license numbers. Contact was made at the residence of one of the boat occupants. An ice chest containing three untagged red drum and two undersized red drum was discovered. The owner of the ice chest also tried to remove a container containing marijuana from the area. An alligator snapping turtle shell was also found at the residence. Cases pending.

TURTLE SELLER GETS CITATION Travis County Game Warden Christy Vales responded to a call regarding the sale of red-eared sliders (turtles) at a local flea market.

Vales made contact with a man selling several red-eared sliders and the vendor was unable to produce a valid non-game dealer's permit or dealer records. Cases pending.

ger was cited for hunting from a public road and for an open container. The driver was arrested for felony DWI with a child passenger and hunting from a public road. Cases pending.

ROAD KILL WARRIOR… OR NOT Aransas County Game Warden Derek Reeder responded to a call about a man who had several deer carcasses in his backyard. Reeder found four buck heads still in velvet, one doe and a couple of ice chests filled with deer meat. The subject said he had found all of the deer, one by one, after they had apparently been run over.

Several cases pending.

NO LICENSE, NO FISHING Duval County Game Warden Coronado came across two fishermen from Louisiana on Choke Canyon Reservoir in McMullen County. Coronado discovered that the men had five largemouth bass in the livewell. One of the men produced a non-resident fishing license; the other man stated that he had forgotten his wallet back at their camp. After gathering more information and making a call to La Porte Communications, it was determined the other man did not have a valid Texas fishing license. He was issued a citation.

VOLUNTEER IN FISH REMOVAL OPERATION TRIES TO KEEP THE FISH Hood County Game Warden Deshanna Creager responded to a request for assistance from the "Kills and Spills" team regarding the safe

Congratulations, Carson! You can claim your Nikon 10x42 Trailblazer ATB binoculars at the Nikon Sport Optics dealer nearest you: Glick Twins

419 W Us Highway 83 Pharr, TX 78577 (956) 787-4291

tchmber while wa tience last Dece pa of k. e oo tu cC vir M e learned th a ranch near ES, 8, of Donna h the brush on e trail CARSON HUGH e its way throug “Gordo” becaus av d we me ck na bu ck nt ni oi s -p wa ne rds d, ni ol ya d s 0 ol ar 11 an ing 5 1/2 ye e deer, about s buck, aged at belly. Finally th 2-250-calier .2 e be th tle m The South Texa lit fro a d d it. The roun ng showed he ha and Carson took ter while climbi camera images oadside target er. Moments la br ld a ou d . sh te ck ’s en bu ck t es rs bu pr away, behind the It was his fi uarely placed gs feel funny.” ber rifle was sq his dad, “My le ld to on rs Ca d, blin down from the

removal of fish from the Paluxy River.

The fish needed to be removed due to an ongoing maintenance issue that left little to no water in the area.

One individual who had previously volunteered instructed all of the others to keep whatever they found and she would take the ticket. Creager made contact with the individual, and the volunteer was escorted out of the area without further incident.

LOST, DEHYDRATED AND CONFUSED Runnels County Game Warden Lane Pinckney and Concho County Game Warden Brad Clark were patrolling O.H. Ivie Reservoir when they noticed three men swimming along the bank outside of their two small boats. When the wardens approached, one of the men said he was glad to see them because he wanted to know if they had seen their friend. The friend had gotten frustrated about the boat not working and getting turned around on the lake, so he decided to jump out of the boat and walk to the camp. He left the boat six hours earlier and had not been seen. One of the men took the wardens to where the friend jumped out of the boat, and it turned out that he got out of the boat on the opposite side of the lake and in a remote part of the county, so he would have to swim across or walk around the entire lake to get to camp.

The wardens found the man approximately one hour later at a boat ramp about four miles from his camp. The man was very tired, thirsty, and a little bit confused but otherwise unharmed.

After wardens questioned the man on his motive behind getting out of a perfectly good boat, he could not come up with a good answer. He did assure the wardens it would be the last time he did that. Clark asked the man how he stayed hydrated when walking through the brush, and he stated he drank water out of a cow track. The man refused medical treatment and was taken back to his camp.

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August 26, 2011

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Dove hunters Continued From Page 1

far away as the Dakotas. Some ranchers have decided to go ahead and cull their herds.

A lot of farmers see no economic point in harvesting their low-yield crops, throttled by drought.

But where a farmer sees a stunted ear of corn, hunters see opportunities to go after the estimated 40 million dove that live in Texas each fall.

“A 3- to 4-inch ear of corn normally would have been a foot long,” said Dr. Travis Miller, extension program leader at Texas A&M University.

“Now,” he added, “the farmer has to say, ‘Was this trip worth it?’

“If it’s not economical to combine, they won’t combine.

“There will be ears out there, and those fields are going to be pretty attractive to birds.”

Some farmers, Miller said, may have left strips of standing corn to qualify for crop insurance.

And corn production wasn’t completely dismal, Miller said, especially on the black land prairie on the east side of Interstate 35, from around Hillsboro to San Marcos.

“There will be some waste grain in some of those fields,” added Dr. Jim Cathey, an extension wildlife specialist for TAMU. But Cathey recently noticed other potential dove magnets while driving on Texas 21 between College Station and Bastrop — stands of “volunteer” sorghum that selfseeded from previously planted crops.

As for wheat, Miller said those harvests were completed in early summer, and resident dove and blackbirds have had ample time to eat waste grain in those fields.

“If people left any stubble standing, there may still be wheat in those fields,” Miller said. “But farmers don’t leave stubble standing unless they planted it specifically to attract birds.”

Corn stalks may also be absent, because with cattle feed at such a premium, a lot of corn farmers baled the remnants to sell for silage.

“Milo is going to be the same way,” said Dr. Larry Redmon, a forage specialist at TAMU. Crop remnants will be hard to find on the high plains and on through the Panhandle where even irrigated fields suffered, Miller said.

The three professors agreed, however,

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Countdown to dove openers n Dove season opens Thursday, Sept. 1, in the Central and North Zones. It continues through Sunday Oct. 23 and starts again Dec. 23-Jan. 8. n In the South Zone, the season runs Friday, Sept. 23 through Sunday, Oct. 30, and reopens Dec. 23 through Jan. 23. n There is a 15-bird daily bag with not more than two white-tipped doves in all three zones. n The special White-winged Dove Area will open to white-winged dove afternoon-only (noon to sunset) hunting the first two full weekends in September; Sept. 3-4 and 10-11. It reopens when the regular South Zone season begins on Sept. 23 through Oct. 30 and again from Dec. 23 through Jan. 19. n During the early two weekends, the daily bag limit is 15 birds, to include not more than four mourning doves and two whitetipped doves. Once the general season opens, the aggregate bag limit will be 15. that weeds fared much better, providing yet another opportunity for dove hunters.

“A lot of people didn’t do herbicide control this year because they knew they wouldn’t make a crop,” Cathey said, “so a variety of weeds came up.”

“So,” Redmon added, “as you look around countryside, you see a lot of croton — the seed makers.”

Hunters, therefore, should be looking for stands of sunflowers, ragweed and crotons like dove weed.

“I know that’s probably where I’m going to be looking,” Cathey said.

“I think we’ll be hunting over more nativetype crops this season,” Redmon said, “and from that perspective I’m excited about a good dove season.”

But if hunters are fortunate to locate the complete dove habitat trifecta — food, cover and water — they may want to set up along the water.

That way the feeding areas will be spared from a lot of gunfire, and the dove will feel safe returning to them to eat.

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Dove and pigeons of Texas The Lone Star State is home to many species of dove and pigeons, but you can only hunt some of them. Here’s how to tell them apart.

Hunt these MOURNING DOVE

WHITE-WINGED DOVE

WHITE-TIPPED DOVE

These are common throughout Texas, especially in agricultural areas. They’re generally seen in flights of one or two, but they sometimes mix with whitewings.

You can distinguish them by their slightly smaller size and pointed tails. Their wing beats are rapid and their flight baths are erratic.

They’re slightly bigger than mourning doves and distinguishable by a round tail and a white bar on each wing. You’ll see them in September, staging in flocks before starting their fall migrations to Central America.

They’ll be along the Rio Grande and in Upper South Texas, but more of them are being spotted in North, Central and West Texas.

Only found in South Texas, this dove is remarkable for being slightly larger than a whitewing.

It also flies alone and close to the ground.

Look for the rust or cinnamoncolored linings on the underside of its wings.

ROCK DOVE (Feral Pigeon) This bird is unprotected and can be hunted anytime.

It is an “introduced” species that is raised by people.

They’re common in cities, but also around farms. They’re also large, and their colors range from all white to gray or brown.

*There is no bag limit or closed season for Eurasian collared doves in Texas (image not shown).

Don't hunt these

(You’ll get a fine — $25 to $500 per bird, according to TPWD)

RED-BILLED PIGEON

INCA AND GROUND DOVES

BAND-TAILED PIGEON

It will fly with whitewings near the Rio Grande, so it’s easily misidentified. But note: it’s big, like a domestic pigeon; it has a pink head and shoulders, and a bluish gray body.

It gets its name from its reddish bill.

Both are common in South Texas, and both are about half the size of a mourning dove, gray in color and prone to fly near the ground. They differ in that the Inca has a scaly appearance with a long tail that has white margins.

The ground dove’s tail is short and rounded.

A distinct, white neckband ought to easily distinguish this big-bodied bird from other pigeons and doves. It also has a broad, gray tail band and it’s usually found in the pine and oak woods that cover mountains of the Trans-Pecos region.

­­ ­–Illustrations by TPWD

<— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —— — — — Clip for your camp $ — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — >

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August 26, 2011

LoneOStar Outdoor News

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TECHNIQUE: Austin Terry sets a hook while fishing on Lake Nasworthy near his home in San Angelo. He is perfecting his tournament skills so that he can use any technique on any lake. Photo by Jason Hook, for LSON.

San Angelo Continued From Page 1

newspaper when the Terry family pulled into Concho Park Marina.

“Ronnie, his daddy, was yelling, ‘Man, he has a fish!’” said Smith, now a book author. “Let me tell you, all the fishermen were worried to death when they pulled that thing out of the livewell.”

It weighed 11 pounds, said Austin, now a 20-yearold junior at Angelo State University.

“I remember someone said, ‘Don’t worry, this kid isn’t in the tournament,’” he recalled.

“But they weighed it, and everyone was amazed by it.

“After that, I was hooked.”

Seven years later, Austin won the Texas State Junior Bassmasters Championship at Amistad Reservoir. He arrived there after driving with his dad all night from Amarillo, where he played in a football game for San Angelo’s Central High School.

In 2008 he finished 10th at the World Junior Bass Masters at Syracuse, N.Y. The angler has since competed in tournaments conducted by Bass Champs, FLW, and just about every group in between.

According to Smith, “His name is showing up pretty

regularly in the money.”

His dad has supported him at every step, going back to the monumental year when Austin was 9. Not only did he catch the 11-pound bass, he also arrowed a mountain lion near Fort Davis.

“I just believe in him,” said Ronnie, himself a longtime tournament angler.

“Whenever he did stuff, he excelled at it. I know people who bowhunted forever and never harvested a deer.

“But the first deer Austin shot at, he harvested it.”

Now Austin aims to be among the Bassmaster Elites. To get there he plans to compete in that organization’s Opens series.

He also intends to graduate with a degree in marketing to learn how to better represent the sponsors he has, and the ones he hopes to get.

His boat is wrapped by Falcon Rods. He is also developing a professional bowhunting resume, and he has picked up sponsors from Muzzy broadheads, Carbon Express arrows and Bushnell.

But Austin isn’t taking anything for granted.

“I have great sponsors,” he said, “but you have to have a bunch of them and

you have to promote them so that they can get revenue through you.

“It’s so hard to get the first one, but now it just seems, with times being tougher, people are less inclined to let out more products and bring on new people.”

To get companies to notice him, Austin has to win, and win big.

But, he said, his experiences in recent years have added to his skills, and his confidence.

During a 2008 Elite series tournament at Amistad Reservoir, Austin got to be a co-angler with both Kevin VanDam, now a four-time winner of the Bassmaster Classic, and Gerald Swindle, who has made 11 appearances at the Classic.

VanDam, Austin said, corrected him on the right way to use jerkbaits. Swindle encouraged him to switch from a shaky head rig to a drop shot for finesse fishing.

“I know a lot of people think I’m lucky, but I spend a lot of time on the water looking for them,” Austin said.

“And you got to be able to use any technique at any lake.

“I’m trying to be equally good with everything, and to not get hung up on what I like, but what the fish want.”

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August 26, 2011

Page 17

HEROES

ROD SMITH of New Braunfels had his children busy last fall filling the family’s freezer. Son ALEX, 14, got an 8-point buck on a ranch near Carrizo Springs; daughter ALLISON, 9, bottom right, took her first buck on a ranch south of Nixon, where youngest daughter EMMA, 7, top right, also got her first deer, a doe. Said dad, “No hunting for me last year … too busy with the kids!”

COLE OWENS, 10, of The Woodlands shot his first buck, an axis, recently while hunting with friend ART WILSON in Kendall County.

HEIDI SWEET of The Woodlands caught this 8-pound crevalle jack recently while visiting Marco Island, Fla.

SHARE AN ADVENTURE n Want to share hunting and fishing photos with other Lone Star Outdoor News readers? E-mail them with contact and

MICHAEL YANEZ, 9, of Rio Hondo caught this 19-inch redfish recently while fishing with his dad, SMILEY, off of South Padre Island.

caption information to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com. High-resolution original jpegs only. Mail prints to Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355.

Two knee replacements couldn’t slow down WILLIAM HUTCHISON, 78, of Santa Fe, N.M., who toppled this gobbler at first light one day last April. He was hunting in Comanche County.

CHAS HUTCHISON, 8, of Dallas, was fishing with his dad, CHUCK, when he landed this 10-pound bass last April in Comanche County.

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DATEBOOK August 26-28

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

August 27

6th Annual Fishing for Hope Tournament South Padre (956) 362-3100 Quail Coalition South Texas Chapter Banquet J.K Northway Coliseum, Kingsville (214) 524-4122 www.quailcoalition.org 10th Annual Big Brothers Big Sisters Clay Shoot Alpine Shooting Range, Fort Worth (817) 905-4653 www.bbbstx.org/ftworthclayshoot

Texas Big Game Awards Region 4 and 8 Banquet Freeman Exposition Hall San Antonio (210) 826-2904 www.texasbiggameawards.org

August 31

September 8

Ducks Unlimited El Paso Trap Shoot (915) 799-9101 www.ducks.org

September 6

Ducks Unlimited Pearland/Friendswood Sportsmen’s Night Out, Pearland (713) 703-7238 www.ducks.org/texas

August 29

Purina Wildlife Series Event Bar None Country Store Waco (254) 848-9112 www.wildlife.purinamills.com

August 30

Purina Wildlife Series Event Temple Feed Belton (254) 778-7975 www.wildlife.purinamills.com

Purina Wildlife Series Event Mumme’s Inc. Hondo (830) 426-3313 www.wildlife.purinamills.com Purina Wildlife Series Event Lone Star Country Store Corpus Christi (361) 387-2668 www.wildlife.purinamills.com

September 7

Purina Wildlife Series Event Farmers Co-op of El Campo (979) 543-9004 www.wildlife.purinamills.com Houston Safari Club Monthly meeting (713) 623-8844 www.houstonsafariclub.org

Purina Wildlife Series Event Barkley’s Home and Ranch, Comfort (830) 249-2656 www.wildlife.purinamills.com

September 9-11

1st International South Padre Fishing Tournament Sea Ranch Marina (800) 657-2373

September 10

Texas Deer Association Greater Houston Chapter Sportsmen’s Banquet (210) 767-8300 www.texasdeerassociation.com

September 15

Texas Deer Association Waco Chapter Sportsmen’s Banquet (210) 767-8300 www.texasdeerassociation.com Dallas Safari Club Monthly meeting, Speaker Larry Weishuhn (972) 980-9800 www.biggame.org

September 16-17

Dallas Safari Club Dove Shoot (972) 980-9800 www.biggame.org

September 17

Karnes City Rotary Club Lonesome Dove Fest (830) 780-3314 www.lonesomedovefest.com

September 22

Coastal Conservation Association Lower Laguna Madre Chapter Fundraiser Schlitterbahn South Padre Island (956) 299-0601 www.ccatexas.org

September 22-24

National Hunting and Fishing Day Round Rock (512) 292-1113 www.kidsoutdoorzone.org

September 27

Texas AgriLife Extension Service Wildlife Guide Training Workshop Corpus Christi (979) 845-1023 www.naturetousrism.tamu.edu

September 29

Quail Coalition Cross Timbers Chapter Dinner Fort Worth (817) 731-3402 www.quailcoalition.org

Executive Editor Craig Nyhus Editor Bill Miller Associate Editor Conor Harrison Associate Editor Mark England Graphics Editor Amy Moore Business/Products Editor Mary Helen Aguirre Operations Manager Mike Hughs Accounting Ginger Hoolan Web site Bruce Soileau

National Advertising Mike Nelson Accounts Manager Classified/Outfitters Blazing Paths Media Advertising Intern Nicholas Conklin Founder & CEO David J. Sams

Contributors Kyle Carter Alan Clemons David Draper Wilbur Lundeen Aaron Reed Erich Schlegel David Sikes Scott Sommerlatte Chuck Uzzle Ralph Winingham

Advertising Call (214) 361-2276 or e-mail editor@lone staroutdoornews.com to request a media kit.

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 free, one per person. Copyright 2011 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 editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

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­­ ­–Illustrations by TPWD

LoneOStar Outdoor News

August 26, 2011

Page 19

Drought

Reds

Continued From Page 4

Continued From Page 1

As an example, he described large tractor tires placed flat on the ground and sealed with concrete. Portions of the exposed sidewall are trimmed with reciprocating saws to create wider openings.

And, because tires are black, they absorb heat, which can keep the water from freezing over in winter.

Oetgen said periods of drought also provide opportunities to do other improvements.

The most common practices are brush control and clearing silt from dried-out ponds and tanks to enlarge their volumes when rains return.

Oetgen said he is preparing a lecture for landowners in Palo Pinto County who were beset by wildfires last spring.

He also said people who lost fences in the fires could consider new strategies for rotating cattle herds to ease grazing pressure. Such a plan could leave more grass for wildlife.

“It’s an opportunity to rebuild new fences in different locations,” he explained. “Where they had two pastures, now they can create two or four.”

And drought also lends the opportunity to combat another ongoing problem for landowners.

“The species it hurts more than anything is feral hogs, which is OK for most people,” said David Synatzske, area manager for the Chaparral Wildlife Management Area southwest of San Antonio.

“They can’t regulate their body temperatures with their fat contents,” he added, “so they wallow, to help (stay cool).”

Dr. Roel R. Lopez, wildlife professor at Texas A&M University, said a feral hog probably drinks the same amount as a domestic pig. He referred to a study that shows an adult boar will drink as much as five gallons per day.

By comparison, a white-tailed deer will consume a gallon per day in extreme heat.

Therefore, Oetgen said, “Hogs will concentrate near watering sources. As pigs move to those areas, it makes it easier to trap or hunt them.”

“We are trying to do as much lure fishing as we can,” he said, “but the grass is floating pretty bad right now and the bays are really salty, so we have gone to cut mullet this past week.

“We have about a three-hour window in the morning before the fishing shuts down.”

October is normally the month big bull reds will come inshore to spawn, and anglers along the coast take advantage.

Fails said the bigger fish are staging in the Gulf, and guides are waiting for them to come closer.

“Half of our catch recently has been oversized reds,” Fails added. “There are a lot of slot fish in the 6- to 8-foot depth, but I usually don’t fish that deep. We really need a tropical storm to push some water back into these bays.”

Capt. Carl Wentrcek said his guides have been catching redfish from large schools along the King Ranch shoreline, the Boat Hole area and the Dead Man Hole, both south of Corpus.

“There have been some bigger reds caught,” he said, “but it’s still a little early for the bigger fish yet. Most of them have been at the top end of the keeper size.”

Wentrcek said he’s been using artificials, and the top-water bite has been good the past few weeks early in the morning. He said many guides have gone to using piggy perch and croakers because of the tough conditions in August.

“The fishing is good for this time of year,” he said. “The bays are really salty and we could sure use some fresh water and a little cooler temperatures, though.”

Several other area guides reported hitting the big schools along the King Ranch shoreline and said anything you throw at the schools will produce slotsized fish.

The guides said they expect October will be fantastic this year for big redfish, especially if the coast gets some rain.

To contact Jon Fails, call (361) 949-0133 To contact Carl Wentrcek, call (800) 368-8175

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Tragedy

Dog days

Continued From Page 8

Continued From Page 1

average 50 deaths a year on Texas lakes (related to boating accidents). I understand the ramifications of being one of those 50 families annually.

“If we save one life, which I’m confident we have, we’ve achieved our goal.”

Tubers are among those who frequently ask boaters to circle them and create waves, a TPWD official said.

“They hit the waves and become airborne,” said Jeffery Parrish, TPWD’s boating law administrator. “It’s very popular, especially for people with personal watercraft.”

It can be a problem, however, because a lot of people take their boats from the showroom to the lake — with no stopover in a classroom.

“Eighty percent of the people on the water have never taken a watercraft education course,” Lindt said.

“A lot of people have lost their lives from actions that are caused by a lack of education.”

Besides the anti-circling law, Lindt lobbied for the law requiring those born on or after Sept. 1, 1993 to take boater education.

He praised bill sponsors Sen. Chris Harris, Arlington, and Rep. Tan Parker, Flower Mound, for their “supportiveness and tenaciousness.”

Lindt admits, however, that he sought a faster phase-in of the law.

“I wanted a fast phase-in, as Alabama did, where everyone had to take watercraft education within five years,” Lindt said.

“Boating deaths decreased by 50 percent there.

“The bottom line is that it will take 30 years or more to get to where everyone has to take watercraft education in Texas. Is it a huge improvement? Absolutely.

But we had to make concessions.”

A sophomore at Marcus High School in Flower Mound, Britteny was a cheerleader and a volleyball player.

“Britteny loved life and she shared that love with you,” said Helen Gordon, a pro angler from Flower Mound who fished on the defunct WBT. “Her goal in life was to be a pediatric surgeon. That speaks for itself as to the type of person she was.”

Gordon put a wrapping on her boat and truck promoting the Britteny Sage Lindt Fund, which works to improve water safety.

The wrapping was in bright pink, Britteny’s favorite color.

Gordon and her husband, Scott, also helped organize a bass tournament to raise money for the fund.

The tournament, in its fourth year, will be Oct. 1 at Lewisville Lake. (Details are available online www.grapevineseries.com).

Anglers understand the need for safety on Texas lakes, Gordon said.

“If you’re on the water like I am, you want the boating safety laws to be stricter,” she said. “It’s about my safety, too. The bottom line, though, is that Britteny should have come home that day.”

It’s been five years, but Gordon believes Britteny gave her family and friends a sign meant to ease their suffering.

At her fishing tournaments, Gordon began seeing ladybugs all around her. It was so unusual that she mentioned it to the Lindts: Tim and Kari and their son, Tyler.

“Kari started crying,” Gordon said. “They explained that one day they had been wearing pink bracelets (made to raise funds). A ladybug landed on one and Kari said, ‘Britteny, how do you like your pink bracelet?’

“And it jumped up, fluttered and landed back on the bracelet.

“And when they were driving down to Austin to try and get the Legislature to pass these bills, there was a ladybug on the dashboard.

“I guess you believe or you don’t. But I believe it’s Britteny letting us know that she’s OK, and she’s there with us.”

There are several factors that affect the body’s ability to cool itself during hot weather. The elderly and small children are most at risk for heat exhaustion, heat stroke and other heat-related illnesses.

According to the Texas Agrilife Extension Service, there are some common sense steps to take while hunting this fall in high temperatures, including drinking plenty of fluids before heading outdoors, wearing lightcolored clothes and pacing yourself while outdoors.

“Drink lots of cool water, even more than you think you need, when the weather is hot and humid — high humidity makes heat injuries more likely because perspiration does not evaporate from the skin as quickly; this causes the body to cool down more slowly,” according to the TAE Service.

“Water is best; fruit and vegetable juices are good, too.”

The service also recommend drinking at least a gallon of liquid a day when the outside temperature is above 90 degrees and you are not in air-conditioned surround-

ings. This will mean drinking one-and-a-half times as much liquid as your thirst signals you to drink. Do not drink beer or other alcoholic beverages, coffee, tea or other drinks containing caffeine because they cause you to lose fluid, some believe.

When dove hunting, pick a spot to sit in the shade, if possible. Wear light-colored camouflage and carry a small cooler with lots of water for you and your dog.

Bowhunters sitting in a hot blind can mitigate heat by wearing light-colored clothes that wick moisture away from the body.

If you notice yourself or someone you are hunting with showing signs of a heat-related illness, including cramping, headache, dizziness, stomachache, fatigue or nausea, take these steps to cool down: HEAT CRAMPS • Rest in a cool, shaded place.

• Drink cool water slowly (4 ounces every 15 minutes).

• Stretch the cramped muscle lightly.

• Massage the cramped area gently.

HEAT EXHAUSTION • Rest in a cool, shaded place.

• Lie down with feet raised 8 to 12 inches.

• Loosen all clothing.

• Drink cool water (4 ounces every 15 minutes).

• Place cool, wet clothes on forehead and body.

August 26, 2011

Page 21

Deadline Sept. 14 to apply for conservation scholarships The Texas Wildlife Association Foundation and the San Antonio Livestock Exposition, Inc. have joined forces to offer five $10,000 Natural Resource-Excellence in Education Scholarships in the fall of 2011.

The scholarships will be awarded to five freshmen at Texas universities majoring in a natural resource related field such as agricultural science, wildlife science, forestry, range science or similar majors.

Completed applications must be postmarked by Sept. 14. To download an application and to see eligibility requirements, go to www.texas-wildlife.org.

“It just makes sense to identify our future leaders and support them while they are getting their educations,” said Charles Davidson, a TWAF trustee. “We all will benefit from their expertise in the years to come.”

—Staff report

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Sun | Moon | Tides Texas Coast Tides Sabine Pass, jetty

Date Time Height Aug 26 3:20 a.m. 2.7 H Aug 27 3:33 a.m. 2.7 H Aug 28 3:48 a.m. 2.5 H Aug 29 4:04 a.m. 2.5 H Aug 30 4:20 a.m. 2.5 H Aug 31 4:37 a.m. 2.5 H Sep 01 4:53 a.m. 2.5 H Sep 02 12:08 a.m. 2.1 L Sep 03 1:09 a.m. 2.5 L Sep 04 3:04 p.m. 0.0 L Sep 05 12:45 a.m. 3.0 H Sep 06 1:50 a.m. 3.0 H Sep 07 2:29 a.m. 3.0 H Sep 08 2:55 a.m. 2.9 H Sep 09 3:12 a.m. 2.9 H

Time Height 7:09 a.m. 2.5 L 7:40 a.m. 2.3 L 8:22 a.m. 2.0 L 9:08 a.m. 1.4 L 9:57 a.m. 1.1 L 10:49 a.m. 0.5 L 11:45 a.m. 0.4 L 5:09 a.m. 2.7 H 5:21 a.m. 2.7 H 4:19 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

6:32 p.m.

8:08 a.m.

8:26 a.m.

0.0 L 0.0 L 0.2 L 2.5 L 2.3 L

Time Height 11:10 a.m. 2.7 H 12:39 p.m. 2.7 H 1:58 p.m. 2.7 H 3:16 p.m. 2.7 H 4:36 p.m. 2.7 H 6:00 p.m. 2.7 H 7:29 p.m. 2.9 H 12:45 p.m. 0.0 L 1:52 p.m. 0.0 L

11:24 a.m.

12:38 p.m.

Galveston Bay entrance, south jetty Date Time Height Aug 26 4:07 a.m. 2.1 H Aug 27 4:20 a.m. 2.1 H Aug 28 4:35 a.m. 2.0 H Aug 29 4:51 a.m. 2.0 H Aug 30 5:07 a.m. 2.0 H Aug 31 5:24 a.m. 2.0 H Sep 01 5:40 a.m. 2.0 H Sep 02 12:34 a.m. 1.7 L Sep 03 1:35 a.m. 2.0 L Sep 04 3:30 p.m. 0.0 L Sep 05 1:32 a.m. 2.4 H Sep 06 2:37 a.m. 2.4 H Sep 07 3:16 a.m. 2.4 H Sep 08 3:42 a.m. 2.3 H Sep 09 3:59 a.m. 2.3 H

San Luis Pass

Date Time Height Aug 26 4:37 a.m. 1.3 H Aug 27 4:50 a.m. 1.3 H Aug 28 5:05 a.m. 1.2 H Aug 29 5:21 a.m. 1.2 H Aug 30 5:37 a.m. 1.2 H Aug 31 5:54 a.m. 1.2 H Sep 01 12:39 a.m. 0.9 L Sep 02 1:30 a.m. 1.0 L Sep 03 2:31 a.m. 1.2 L Sep 04 12:16 a.m. 1.4 H Sep 05 2:02 a.m. 1.5 H Sep 06 3:07 a.m. 1.5 H Sep 07 3:46 a.m. 1.5 H Sep 08 4:12 a.m. 1.4 H Sep 09 4:29 a.m. 1.4 H

Freeport Harbor

Date Time Height Aug 26 3:29 a.m. 1.8 H Aug 27 3:42 a.m. 1.8 H Aug 28 3:57 a.m. 1.7 H Aug 29 4:13 a.m. 1.7 H Aug 30 4:29 a.m. 1.7 H Aug 31 4:46 a.m. 1.7 H Sep 01 5:02 a.m. 1.7 H Sep 02 12:31 a.m. 1.1 L Sep 03 1:32 a.m. 1.3 L Sep 04 3:27 p.m. 0.0 L Sep 05 12:54 a.m. 2.1 H Sep 06 1:59 a.m. 2.1 H Sep 07 2:38 a.m. 2.1 H Sep 08 3:04 a.m. 2.0 H Sep 09 3:21 a.m. 2.0 H

Time Height Time 7:35 a.m. 2.0 L 11:57 a.m.

8:06 a.m. 1.9 L 01:26 p.m.

8:48 a.m. 1.6 L 02:45 p.m.

9:34 a.m. 1.1 L 04:0 p.m.

10:23 a.m. 0.9 L 05:23 p.m.

11:15 a.m. 0.4 L 06:47 p.m.

12:11 p.m. 0.3 L 08:16 p.m.

5:56 a.m. 2.1 H 01:11 p.m.

6:08 a.m. 2.1 H 02:18 p.m.

4:45 p.m.

5:56 p.m.

6:58 p.m.

8:34 a.m.

8:52 a.m.

0.0 L 0.0 L 0.1 L 2.0 L 12:11 p.m.

1.9 L 01:25 p.m.

2.7 H 2.7 H Height 2.1 H 2.1 H 2.1 H 2.1 H 2.1 H 2.1 H 2.3 H 0.0 L 0.0 L

2.1 H 2.1 H

Time 7:28 p.m.

8:13 p.m.

8:58 p.m.

9:43 p.m.

10:29 p.m.

11:17 p.m.

9:08 p.m. 2.9 H 10:59 p.m. 2.9 H

7:24 p.m. 0.4 L 8:07 p.m. 0.5 L Time 7:54 p.m.

8:39 p.m.

9:24 p.m.

10:09 p.m.

10:55 p.m.

11:43 p.m.

7:50 p.m. 0.3 L 8:33 p.m. 0.4 L Time 8:50 p.m.

9:35 p.m.

10:20 p.m.

11:05 p.m.

11:51 p.m.

Time Height 7:32 a.m. 1.3 L 8:03 a.m. 1.2 L 8:45 a.m. 1.0 L 9:31 a.m. 0.7 L 10:20 a.m. 0.5 L 11:12 a.m. 0.3 L 12:08 p.m. 0.2 L 5:18 a.m. 1.8 H 5:30 a.m. 1.8 H

Time 7:51 p.m.

8:36 p.m.

9:21 p.m.

10:06 p.m.

10:52 p.m.

11:40 p.m.

4:42 p.m.

5:53 p.m.

6:55 p.m.

8:31 a.m.

8:49 a.m.

0.0 L 0.0 L 0.1 L 1.3 L 1.2 L

11:33 a.m.

12:47 p.m.

1.8 H 1.8 H

Height -0.1 L 0.0 L 0.3 L 0.6 L 1.0 L 1.4 L

9:55 p.m. 2.3 H 11:46 p.m. 2.3 H

Time Height Time Height 8:31 a.m. 1.2 L 12:27 p.m. 1.3 H 9:02 a.m. 1.1 L 1:56 p.m. 1.3 H 9:44 a.m. 0.9 L 3:15 p.m. 1.3 H 10:30 a.m. 0.7 L 4:33 p.m. 1.3 H 11:19 a.m. 0.5 L 5:53 p.m. 1.3 H 12:11 p.m. 0.3 L 7:17 p.m. 1.3 H 6:10 a.m. 1.2 H 1:07 p.m. 0.2 L 6:26 a.m. 1.3 H 2:07 p.m. 0.0 L 6:38 a.m. 1.3 H 3:14 p.m. 0.0 L 4:26 p.m. 0.0 L 5:41 p.m. 0.0 L 6:52 p.m. 0.0 L 7:54 p.m. 0.1 L 9:30 a.m. 1.2 L 12:41 p.m.

1.3 H 9:48 a.m. 1.1 L 01:55 p.m.

1.3 H Time Height 11:19 a.m. 1.8 H 12:48 p.m. 1.8 H 2:07 p.m. 1.8 H 3:25 p.m. 1.8 H 4:45 p.m. 1.8 H 6:09 p.m. 1.8 H 7:38 p.m. 2.0 H 1:08 p.m. 0.0 L 2:15 p.m. 0.0 L

Height -0.2 L 0.0 L 0.4 L 0.7 L 1.3 L 1.8 L

Height -0.1 L 0.0 L 0.2 L 0.3 L 0.6 L

8:46 p.m. 1.4 H 10:25 p.m. 1.4 H

8:46 p.m. 0.2 L 9:29 p.m. 0.3 L Height -0.1 L 0.0 L 0.2 L 0.4 L 0.6 L 0.9 L

9:17 p.m. 2.0 H 11:08 p.m. 2.0 H

7:47 p.m. 0.2 L 8:30 p.m. 0.3 L

LSONews.com

Solunar | Sun times | Moon times

Moon Phases New

First

Aug 29

Sept 20

Houston

Date Time Height Aug 26 10:39 a.m. 0.9 H Aug 27 12:17 p.m. 0.8 H Aug 28 12:17 a.m. 0.0 L Aug 29 2:58 a.m. 0.1 L Aug 30 1:33 a.m. 0.3 L Aug 31 1:56 a.m. 0.5 L Sep 01 1:47 a.m. 0.6 L Sep 02 5:59 a.m. 0.9 H Sep 03 6:25 a.m. 1.0 H Sep 04 7:03 a.m. 1.1 H Sep 05 7:46 a.m. 1.1 H Sep 06 8:30 a.m. 1.1 H Sep 07 9:13 a.m. 1.1 H Sep 08 9:47 a.m. 1.0 H Sep 09 9:34 a.m. 0.9 H

Rockport

Time Height 1:18 p.m. 0.39 H 2:16 p.m. 0.38 H 12:12 a.m. 0.11 L 12:44 a.m. 0.17 L 1:00 a.m. 0.23 L 12:14 a.m. 0.30 L 6:20 a.m. 0.40 H 6:40 a.m. 0.45 H 7:23 a.m. 0.49 H 8:20 a.m. 0.52 H 9:25 a.m. 0.53 H 10:33 a.m. 0.53 H 11:39 a.m. 0.53 H 12:43 p.m. 0.52 H 1:47 p.m. 0.50 H

Time Height 11:34 p.m. -0.1 L 3:29 p.m. 0.8 H 5:41 p.m. 0.7 H 7:36 a.m. 0.5 H 6:32 a.m. 0.6 H 5:59 a.m. 0.7 H 3:36 p.m. 0.0 L 4:44 p.m. -0.1 L 5:59 p.m. -0.1 L 7:20 p.m. 0.0 L 8:41 p.m. 0.0 L 9:53 p.m. 0.1 L 10:54 p.m. 0.1 L 11:38 a.m. 0.8 L Time Height 11:33 p.m. 0.07 L 3:35 p.m.

9:13 a.m.

7:20 a.m.

6:32 a.m.

4:06 p.m.

5:05 p.m.

6:03 p.m.

7:03 p.m.

8:03 p.m.

9:01 p.m.

9:54 p.m.

10:39 p.m.

11:14 p.m.

0.35 H 0.28 H 0.30 H 0.34 H 0.14 L 0.11 L 0.10 L 0.11 L 0.13 L 0.15 L 0.18 L 0.22 L 0.26 L

Port Aransas, H. Caldwell Pier Date Time Height Aug 26 4:00 a.m. 1.7 H Aug 27 4:13 a.m. 1.7 H Aug 28 4:28 a.m. 1.6 H Aug 29 4:44 a.m. 1.6 H Aug 30 5:00 a.m. 1.6 H Aug 31 5:17 a.m. 1.6 H Sep 01 5:33 a.m. 1.6 H Sep 02 12:13 a.m. 0.9 L Sep 03 1:14 a.m. 1.1 L Sep 04 3:09 p.m. 0.0 L Sep 05 1:25 a.m. 2.0 H Sep 06 2:30 a.m. 2.0 H Sep 07 3:09 a.m. 2.0 H Sep 08 3:35 a.m. 1.8 H Sep 09 3:52 a.m. 1.8 H

South Padre Island

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.

Last

Sept 12

Sept 4

Port O’Connor

Date 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 Sep 08 Sep 09

Full

Date Time Height Aug 26 4:19 a.m. 1.7 H Aug 27 4:31 a.m. 1.7 H Aug 28 4:38 a.m. 1.5 H Aug 29 4:40 a.m. 1.4 H Aug 30 4:37 a.m. 1.2 H Aug 31 4:30 a.m. 1.2 H Sep 01 12:15 a.m. 1.0 L Sep 02 1:26 a.m. 1.2 L Sep 03 1:41 p.m. -0.3 L Sep 04 12:07 a.m. 1.7 H Sep 05 1:43 a.m. 1.8 H Sep 06 2:41 a.m. 1.8 H Sep 07 3:18 a.m. 1.8 H Sep 08 3:41 a.m. 1.8 H Sep 09 3:55 a.m. 1.7 H

Time Height 7:14 a.m. 1.1 L 7:45 a.m. 1.0 L 8:27 a.m. 0.8 L 9:13 a.m. 0.6 L 10:02 a.m. 0.5 L 10:54 a.m. 0.2 L 11:50 a.m. 0.2 L 5:49 a.m. 1.7 H 6:01 a.m. 1.7 H 4:24 p.m.

5:35 p.m.

6:37 p.m.

8:13 a.m.

8:31 a.m.

0.0 L 0.0 L 0.1 L 1.1 L 1.0 L

Time Height 7:45 p.m. -0.1 L 9:09 a.m. 1.4 L 9:14 a.m. 1.3 L 9:39 a.m. 1.0 L 10:14 a.m. 0.6 L 10:57 a.m. 0.3 L 4:18 a.m. 1.2 H 3:53 a.m. 1.3 H 2:49 p.m. -0.3 L 4:02 p.m. -0.2 L 5:15 p.m. -0.1 L 6:22 p.m. 0.1 L 7:23 p.m. 0.2 L 8:24 a.m. 1.5 L

Time

Height

12:28 p.m.

1:32 p.m.

2:33 p.m.

0.4 L 0.2 L 0.1 L

1:30 p.m.

Time

11:21 a.m.

1:48 p.m.

3:04 p.m.

0.9 H Height

0.28 L 0.23 L 0.18 L

Time Height 11:50 a.m. 1.7 H 1:19 p.m. 1.7 H 2:38 p.m. 1.7 H 3:56 p.m. 1.7 H 5:16 p.m. 1.7 H 6:40 p.m. 1.7 H 8:09 p.m. 1.8 H 12:50 p.m. 0.0 L 1:57 p.m. 0.0 L

Time

Height

7:35 p.m. 0.7 H 9:42 p.m. 0.7 H

11:47 p.m. 0.2 L Time

Height

5:42 p.m. 0.32 H 9:17 p.m. 0.30 H

Time 7:33 p.m.

8:18 p.m.

9:03 p.m.

9:48 p.m.

10:34 p.m.

11:22 p.m.

Height -0.1 L 0.0 L 0.2 L 0.3 L 0.5 L 0.8 L

9:48 p.m. 1.8 H 11:39 p.m. 1.8 H

2011 Aug-Sep 26 Fri 27 Sat > 28 Sun N 29 Mon > 30 Tue > 31 Wed > 01 Thu 02 Fri 03 Sat 04 Sun 05 Mon Q 06 Tue 07 Wed 08 Thu 09 Fri 10 Sat 11 Sun > 12 Mon > 13 Tue F 14 Wed >

A.M. Minor Major 3:21 9:34 4:09 10:23 4:59 11:12 5:51 ----6:46 12:33 7:44 1:30 8:45 2:31 9:48 3:34 10:51 4:37 11:52 5:37 12:21 6:35 1:14 7:28 2:04 8:16 2:49 9:01 3:31 9:43 4:12 10:23 4:52 11:03 5:33 11:43 6:16 12:05 7:00 12:50

Dallas 2011 Aug-Sep 26 Fri 27 Sat > 28 Sun N 29 Mon > 30 Tue > 31 Wed > 01 Thu 02 Fri 03 Sat 04 Sun 05 Mon Q 06 Tue 07 Wed 08 Thu 09 Fri 10 Sat 11 Sun > 12 Mon > 13 Tue F 14 Wed >

A.M. Minor Major 3:26 9:40 4:15 10:28 5:05 11:18 5:57 ----6:51 12:38 7:50 1:36 8:51 2:37 9:54 3:39 10:57 4:42 11:57 5:43 12:26 6:40 1:20 7:33 2:09 8:22 2:55 9:07 3:37 9:48 4:18 10:28 4:58 11:08 5:39 11:49 6:21 12:11 7:06 12:55

San Antonio 12:04 p.m.

1:18 p.m.

1.7 H 1.7 H

Time

Height

11:58 a.m. 1.5 H 1:46 p.m. 1.5 H 3:18 p.m. 1.5 H 4:47 p.m. 1.5 H 6:20 p.m. 1.5 H 11:45 a.m. 0.0 L 12:40 p.m. -0.2 L

12:07 p.m.

1.6 H

7:29 p.m. 0.2 L 8:12 p.m. 0.2 L Time

Height

8:37 p.m.

9:29 p.m.

10:21 p.m.

11:16 p.m.

0.0 L 0.2 L 0.4 L 0.7 L

8:01 p.m. 1.6 H 9:58 p.m. 1.6 H

8:17 p.m. 0.4 L

2011 A.M. Aug-Sep Minor Major 26 Fri 3:33 9:47 27 Sat > 4:22 10:35 28 Sun N 5:12 11:25 29 Mon > 6:04 ----30 Tue > 6:58 12:45 31 Wed > 7:57 1:43 01 Thu 8:58 2:44 02 Fri 10:01 3:46 03 Sat 11:04 4:49 04 Sun ----- 5:50 05 Mon Q 12:33 6:47 06 Tue 1:27 7:40 07 Wed 2:16 8:29 08 Thu 3:02 9:14 09 Fri 3:44 9:55 10 Sat 4:25 10:35 11 Sun 5:05 11:15 12 Mon > 5:46 11:56 13 Tue F 6:28 12:18 14 Wed > 7:13 1:02

Amarillo

2011 A.M. Aug-Sep Minor 26 Fri 3:46 27 Sat > 4:35 28 Sun N 5:25 29 Mon > 6:17 30 Tue > 7:12 31 Wed > 8:10 01 Thu 9:11 02 Fri 10:14 03 Sat 11:17 04 Sun ----05 Mon Q 12:46 06 Tue 1:40 07 Wed 2:29 08 Thu 3:15 09 Fri 3:57 10 Sat 4:38 11 Sun > 5:18 12 Mon > 5:59 13 Tue F 6:42 14 Wed > 7:26

OUTDOOR PUZZLER | By Wilbur “Wib” Lundeen ACROSS 1. A saltwater fish 5. A species of bighorn 8. A bear scent 9. A catfish species 11. Name for the Hawaiian goose 13. Letters for grain measurement in a charge 14. Name for an in-hole fireplace 15. To change scouting routes 16. Commercial fishermen use large ones 17. A shed antler 19. Very large on the muley 22. A good item to have in the kit 23. A species of goose 25. A very large lake trout 27. A shooting sport 30. Whitetail's tail is ___ when ready to run 31. Name for a large game fish 33. Used for bait at times 34. The hunter's concealment 36. A fish-breathing organ 39. On a hawk this is a claw 40. A treatment for bow strings 41. The male dall

42.

43.

45.

46.

47.

Fish eggs Type lure that attracts by odor The formation flyers Dug in tent area for rain runoff Name for the sea bass

DOWN 1. A grouse species 2. Device on a reel to tire fish

Solution on Page 26

29.

32.

35.

37.

38.

39.

43.

44.

3. A good bait for the brown trout 4. Angler's term for a really small bass 5. Anglers consider this when fishing 6. The ___ fish family 7. The still hunter's position 8. Position to stand ready to shoot 10. Fur seeker's gear 12. A line grommet on a fish rod 16. A fly-fishing lure 18. Cause of many wildlife deaths 20. Knocking antlers together to lure deer 21. A recoil buffer, arm ____ 22. It carries the day's catch 24. Teeth can reveal this on some game 26. A large member of the deer family 28. A name for the wild boar Nature's concealment for fawns Term for a 20-gauge gun The clay pigeon Total fish allowed for the day Camo slip-on for a bow Many pheasants have this shot off The large ____ bass To construct a fly lure

Major 10:00 10:49 11:38 ----12:59 1:56 2:57 4:00 5:02 6:03 7:01 7:54 8:42 9:27 10:09 10:49 11:29 ----12:31 1:16

P.M. Minor 3:48 4:36 5:26 6:17 7:12 8:11 9:13 10:17 11:20 ----12:49 1:41 2:29 3:13 3:54 4:34 5:13 5:54 6:36 7:22

Major 10:01 10:49 11:39 12:30 12:59 1:58 2:59 4:03 5:06 6:07 7:03 7:55 8:42 9:25 10:06 10:45 11:24 ----12:26 1:11

SUN Rises Sets 06:54 07:51 06:55 07:50 06:55 07:49 06:56 07:48 06:56 07:46 06:57 07:45 06:57 07:44 06:58 07:43 06:58 07:42 06:59 07:41 06:59 07:39 07:00 07:38 07:00 07:37 07:01 07:36 07:01 07:35 07:02 07:33 07:02 07:32 07:03 07:31 07:03 07:30 07:04 07:29

MOON Rises Sets 4:11a 6:00p 5:16a 6:42p 6:22a 7:21p 7:28a 7:59p 8:35a 8:38p 9:42a 9:18p 10:51a 10:02p 11:59a 10:51p 1:06p 11:43p 2:08p NoMoon 3:05p 12:39a 3:55p 1:38a 4:40p 2:37a 5:19p 3:35a 5:54p 4:33a 6:26p 5:28a 6:57p 6:22a 7:27p 7:15a 7:57p 8:07a 8:29p 9:00a

P.M. Minor Major 3:53 10:07 4:42 10:55 5:31 11:44 6:23 12:36 7:18 1:04 8:17 2:03 9:19 3:05 10:23 4:08 11:26 5:11 ----- 6:12 12:54 7:09 1:47 8:01 2:35 8:48 3:19 9:31 4:00 10:11 4:39 10:50 5:19 11:29 5:59 ----6:42 12:32 7:27 1:17

SUN Rises Sets 06:56 08:00 06:57 07:58 06:58 07:57 06:58 07:56 06:59 07:55 07:00 07:53 07:00 07:52 07:01 07:51 07:01 07:50 07:02 07:48 07:03 07:47 07:03 07:46 07:04 07:44 07:05 07:43 07:05 07:42 07:06 07:40 07:06 07:39 07:07 07:38 07:08 07:36 07:08 07:35

MOON Rises 4:10a 5:17a 6:25a 7:33a 8:42a 9:51a 11:01a 12:11p 1:19p 2:22p 3:18p 4:08p 4:52p 5:30p 6:03p 6:34p 7:03p 7:32p 8:01p 8:31p

Sets 6:11p 6:51p 7:28p 8:05p 8:42p 9:20p 10:03p 10:50p 11:41p NoMoon 12:37a 1:36a 2:36a 3:35a 4:34a 5:31a 6:26a 7:21a 8:15a 9:09a

P.M. Minor Major 4:00 10:14 4:49 11:02 5:38 11:51 6:30 12:43 7:25 1:11 8:24 2:10 9:26 3:12 10:30 4:15 11:33 5:18 12:04 6:19 1:01 7:16 1:54 8:08 2:42 8:55 3:26 9:38 4:07 10:18 4:46 10:57 5:26 11:36 6:06 ----6:49 12:39 7:34 1:24

SUN Rises Sets 07:07 08:03 07:07 08:02 07:08 08:01 07:08 08:00 07:09 07:59 07:09 07:58 07:10 07:56 07:11 07:55 07:11 07:54 07:12 07:53 07:12 07:52 07:13 07:51 07:13 07:49 07:14 07:48 07:14 07:47 07:15 07:46 07:15 07:45 07:16 07:43 07:16 07:42 07:17 07:41

MOON Rises 4:24a 5:29a 6:35a 7:41a 8:48a 9:55a 11:04a 12:12p 1:18p 2:20p 3:17p 4:08p 4:52p 5:31p 6:07p 6:39p 7:10p 7:40p 8:10p 8:43p

Sets 6:12p 6:54p 7:34p 8:12p 8:51p 9:32p 10:16p 11:04p 11:57p NoMoon 12:53a 1:51a 2:50a 3:49a 4:46a 5:41a 6:35a 7:28a 8:20a 9:13a

P.M. Minor 4:14 5:02 5:51 6:43 7:38 8:37 9:39 10:43 11:46 12:18 1:15 2:07 2:55 3:39 4:20 5:00 5:39 6:20 7:02 7:47

SUN Rises 07:14 07:15 07:16 07:16 07:17 07:18 07:19 07:19 07:20 07:21 07:21 07:22 07:23 07:24 07:24 07:25 07:26 07:26 07:27 07:28

MOON Rises 4:27a 5:35a 6:44a 7:54a 9:04a 10:15a 11:26a 12:38p 1:46p 2:49p 3:45p 4:35p 5:17p 5:54p 6:27p 6:56p 7:24p 7:52p 8:20p 8:49p

Sets 6:36p 7:14p 7:51p 8:26p 9:01p 9:38p 10:20p 11:05p 11:56p NoMoon 12:52a 1:51a 2:52a 3:52a 4:52a 5:50a 6:47a 7:42a 8:37a 9:33a

Major 10:27 11:15 12:05 12:56 1:25 2:23 3:25 4:29 5:32 6:32 7:29 8:21 9:08 9:51 10:31 11:10 11:50 12:09 12:52 1:37

Sets 08:22 08:21 08:20 08:19 08:17 08:16 08:15 08:13 08:12 08:10 08:09 08:08 08:06 08:05 08:03 08:02 08:01 07:59 07:58 07:56

FOR THE TABLE Go to work duck 1 wild duck, cleaned Red wine vinegar Olive oil Soy sauce Garlic powder Cayenne pepper Emeril’s Essence 1 Apple 1 Orange 1/2 medium onion 1-2 stalks celery Red Wine Garlic cloves 1/2 cup chicken broth This recipe is for cooking a whole duck. Once prepared, the duck goes

into a slow oven (225 degrees) for 6 hours. It must be tightly sealed, or it will become like shoe leather.

Place duck in pan (Use a Pyrex baking dish).

Splash red wine vinegar inside and outside the duck. Drizzle olive oil over the outside of the duck and rub it in. Drizzle soy sauce over duck; sprinkle with garlic powder, salt and pepper, cayenne pepper and Emeril’s Essence. Rub all these spices into the

skin. Cut an orange in half; squeeze half the orange juice on the outside of the duck, and place half inside the cavity. Stuff the cavity with pieces of apple, onion, and celery. Add a large splash of red wine. Add 1/2 cup chicken broth to the pan. Make small slits in the skin and push small slices of garlic inside.

Seal with aluminum foil and bake at 225 degrees for six hours.

— South Carolina Dept. of Natural Resources

Easy stuffed flounder 1 whole flounder 1 cup butter, divided 1/2 cup chopped celery 1/2 cup chopped onion 3 cups chicken-flavored dry bread stuffing mix 1 (6-ounce) can lump crabmeat 1 (4-ounce) can small shrimp, liquid reserved 1 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning TM, or to taste 1 tsp. Cajun seasoning (optional) Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Lay the fish down dark side up. Make an incision next to the backbone on both sides, stopping before the head and tail. Slip the knife in between the flesh and backbone and run the knife down the ribs on both sides of the backbone.

Melt 1/2 cup of butter in a skillet over

medium heat. Sauté the onion and celery in the butter until just tender. Place the stuffing mix into a bowl, and stir the onion and celery into it along with the butter in the pan. Mix in the crab and shrimp with their juices, adding a little more liquid, or more stuffing to get a good consistency.

Melt the remaining butter, and brush some of it onto a cookie sheet. Stuff the stuffing mixture into the pockets of the flounder, and place the stuffed fish on the cookie sheet. Brush the outside of the fish with melted butter, and season with the Old Bay and, if desired, Cajun seasoning.

Bake for about 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or just until the flounder flakes easily with a fork.

— allrecipes.com

LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

August 26, 2011

Page 25

TOURNAMENT BRIEFS

Yamamoto finishes fourth in Alabama Texan Gary Yamamoto finished fourth in the PAA Neely Henry tournament Aug. 18-20 near Gadsden, Ala. The Professional Anglers Association sponsored the tournament on Lake Neely Henry.

Yamamoto, the lure maker from Mineola, was the leader after the first day of the tournament with 15.73 pounds. He finished with 33.76 pounds.

Steve Kennedy of Auburn, Ala., won the event followed by Greg Vinson of Wutumpka, Ala., PAA Angler of the Year Todd Auten of Lake Wylie, S.C., finished third.

Kennedy used multiple baits, including a Kinami Flash, spinnerbait, Texas-rigged tube, swim jig with a Kinami grub, big-bodied and hollow-bodied swimbaits, and an old Rogue jerkbait that caught most of the fish the last two days.

Let it Ride wins ‘Legends’ It took more than 19 billfish to claim the 2011 edition of the Texas Legends Tournament Aug. 13 at Port Aransas.

The Let it Ride boat, owned by Gary Edwards of Port Aransas, finished with 14 sailfish, four blue marlin and one white marlin.

Second and third places went to the Corpus Christi boats Bandit and Caliente.

Captained by Kevin Scott, Bandit boated nine sailfish and five marlins. Caliente and its captain, John Brennan, finished the weekend with seven sailfish, three white marlin and one blue marlin.

Anglers reported catching most of their fish on live bait and Ilander lures. A total of 152 billfish were caught during the event.

This tournament was based on a point system that allotted points based on the overall weight of the fish caught, as well as points for fish released.

Texans can’t close at Ouachita Three Texans made the cut and competed in the 2011 Forrest Wood Cup Aug. 11-14 on Lake Ouachita near Hot Springs, Ark., but none placed in the upper slots.

Shinichi Fukae, of Palestine, fared the best of the Texans and ended the tournament with seven fish at 17 pounds for the No. 33 spot. Next was Cody Bird, of Granbury, at No. 41, who finished with seven fish at 14 pounds, 7 ounces. Rounding out the Texans was Clark Wendlandt with seven fish at 14 pounds, 4 ounces, good enough for No. 44.

Successful anglers in this seasonending tournament reported finding most fish in deep water and chasing schools of shad.

Fishing between in depths 23 to 27 feet, the winning angler, Scott Martin of Clewsiton, Fla., fished a drop-shot with a Roboworm. However, most of Martin’s big bites came on a 1/2-ounce Sworming Hornet Fish Head Spin, which he tipped with a Yamamoto swimbait lure.

—Staff reports

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