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LoneOStar Outdoor News
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February 22, 2013
Big haul Black drum pulling line on the coast.
Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper
February 22, 2013
Volume 9, Issue 13
Shortened again
Inside
By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
Eleven days. That could be the red snapper season for Texas anglers in federal waters this season thanks to a controversial vote by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council on Feb. 9. As passed, the rule would give the National Marine Fisheries Service southeast regional administrator authority to shorten the snapper season in federal Exclusive Economic Zone waters off Texas. State waters extend from the coast out to nine
❘❚ HUNTING
Trophy 7 Hunter takes pride in free-range buck. Page 4
Water for rice fields? LCRA has plan in the works, but how soon? Page 4
❘❚ FISHING
GET THEM FAST: With new rules possibly going into effect this federal snapper season, Texas anglers could have only 11 days or less to head offshore and catch big snapper. Photo by Conor Harrison, LSON.
Prespawn bass Fish drop-offs near flats.
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Not a lot of pressure Lake Ray Roberts, near DFW Metroplex, is fishing great. Page 8
❘❚ CONTENTS
Classifieds . . . . . . . . Crossword . . . . . . . . Freshwater Fishing Report For the Table. . . . . . . Game Warden Blotter . . . Heroes. . . . . . . . . . Outdoor Datebook . . . . Outdoor Business . . . . Products . . . . . . . . . Saltwater Fishing Report . Sun, Moon and Tide data .
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Council’s revote on red snapper could shrink Texas season nautical miles. The measure failed in a morning vote 9-8, but backers pushed for a second vote in the afternoon, and two Florida representatives on the council, Larry Abele and Pamella Dana, changed their vote to pass the measure 10-7. The council gave the authority to the administrator because Texas does not follow federal guidelines for their state snapper season, something Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Coastal Fisheries Director Robin Reichers said is well within Texas’ rights.
“There has been a long-term desire to have Texas go consistent (with the federal rule),” Reichers said. “It has been a long-standing issue with the National Fisheries Service. In our view, Texas state waters are, and should be, managed by TPWD. We are within our judicial and legal rights to do that.” Other states such as Mississippi, Alabama and Florida adhere to federal guidelines even in their state waters. If the measure is enacted, the “lost” days from Texas would boost those state’s seasons by
adding more days for their anglers to fish to reach the approved season quota. When asked why he called for a revote and then changed his vote that would affect thousands of Texas anglers and businesses on the coast that depend on a 27-day snapper season to drive tourism, Abele said he had to put the fish’s health above anything else. “During the break (after his original no vote), numerous individuals, including many from Texas, said we’d rather protect the fish stock than our business,” Abele said. “If we don’t monitor this species more closely, than we aren’t going to have a season anymore. Other states should not suffer See SNAPPER, Page 15
The persistent quest for quail Hunters finding bobwhites where habitat managed and moisture received By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star outdoor newS Tired of hearing stories of quail hunters staying home or even giving up the sport completely, some Texans continue to pursue the diminutive birds, albeit with low expectations.
And a few have been pleasantly surprised. Kris Kallina guides hunts out of the 20,000-acre La Media Lodge in Hidalgo County, where a day in the field with dogs has produced positive results. “On a good day with good conditions, we are putting up
about 10 coveys per day,” he said. “The good news is that the coveys all have between 15 and 18 birds each.” Kallina credits the ungrazed CRP areas on the ranch, along with efforts to improve quail habitat. See QUAIL, Page 15
STILL HERE: Some hunters are having limited success this season where habitat conditions are good. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.
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❘❚ LSONews.com
North or south?
White bass run creeping north
Water temperatures affecting trophy trout bite
By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
Bay City trout guide Jesse Arsola knows this has been a strange year for trout along the midcoast. While the occasional big fish has been caught, Arsola said they are more spread out than normal, something he attributes to high water temperatures.
“It’s been kind of tough,” Arsola said. “We’ve caught a couple of 8-pounders, and a good number in the 4- to 8-pound range. We did lose a really big one — 12 pounds — earlier this month, but you are fishing for a few bites. “Most of the people that come here are lookSee TROUT, Page 22
A FEW BIG ONES: Big trout have been tougher than normal on the mid and lower coasts this year, possibly due to higher water temperatures. Photo by Mike McBride.
Most Texans know what it means when cars begin lining the side of roadways at river and creek crossings in early spring. The annual white bass run has begun in some creeks and rivers through the southern and southeastern portions of the state, with the run gradually moving north as the weather heats up. In Houston County, Game Warden Eddie Lehr has been checking white bass anglers regularly the past few weeks at the Highway 7 Bridge near Crockett. “Right now, the river has come up and the water is really muddy,” Lehr said. “There aren’t See WHITE BASS, Page 14
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February 22, 2013
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February 22, 2013
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February 22, 2013
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HUNTING
HARD WORK PAYS OFF: Trey Sperring is all smiles after finally tagging the big buck he had chased for the season on a low-fenced ranch. Photo by Trey Sperring.
The tale of the tall seven By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News
Cypress hunter Trey Sperring knew the buck he wanted to harvest this past season. A unique buck he had been hunting for several years, the big 7-pointer was a worthy adversary for the free-range hunter. “The ranch has been in my family since the late 1800s,” he said.
“It is a 400-acre low fence ranch in Coryell County, located just between Gatesville and Jonesboro.” Aside from leasing the land for cattle and goats, the main focus on the ranch is to produce trophy whitetails under tough circumstances — the land is not conducive to holding deer on the property, and the neighbors do not practice whitetail management as seriously as Sperring does, accord-
ing to the hunter. “Because of such circumstances, we’ve had to declare a minimum age to harvest a trophy buck at 4 1/2 years old,” he said. “We’ve had our hearts broken a lot in the past by letting 4 1/2- to 5 1/2-year old bucks pass in hopes of seeing them again a year later and never returning. We started protein feeding about six years ago, and we’ve seen a significant difference in the
rack quality of the bucks.” But, Sperring said, what ultimately often happens is he’s feeding other people’s deer. In September 2011, Sperring continued to get trail cam pictures of a 3 1/2-year-old, high, wide, slick 7-point buck. What was so interesting about the deer was that he had unnaturally high and wide genetics for the area, but was still only a slick 7-pointer.
Water for rice fields still a long ways out Help may be on the way for Texas rice fields devoid of water, but it could take a while. The Texas chapters of Ducks Unlimited had come out in support of the Lower Colorado River Authority’s decision to “move forward on the development of an off-channel reservoir to provide water in the lower basin for rice farming and wetlands management.” According to DU, the reservoir in Lane City will provide 90,000 acre-feet of water for irrigation. This water, captured from local rains and river overflows, would be available even during a drought of record. In addition, LCRA approved the pursuit of 10,000 acre-feet of groundwater at a site in Bastrop, to meet the board's recent goal of 100,000 additional acrefeet in the lower basin. The additional water supply would supplement the water supply that LCRA draws from lakes Travis and Buchanan, its major water supply reservoirs, and its other water rights. However, the only phase of the project that has been approved is $18 million allocated for land acquisition and preliminary plans, according to Clara Tuma of LCRA. “We are currently seeking grants, loans and other sources of funding,” Tuma said.
“Great genetics, but a 7-point,” Sperring said. “We thought that maybe because of the drought, he didn’t grow a matching G3 on one side. Aside from being 3 1/2 years old at the time, the deer in our area do not have large bodies like those of South Texas. Typically, a large mature buck in our area will weigh 150 pounds (not field dressed). See TALL SEVEN, Page 7
CWD only found in Hueco Mountains
TAKING FLIGHT: Water is in short supply for rice farmers and the waterfowl that depend on the crop when they arrive each fall from up north. Photo by LSON.
It could take years before the project is actually put into effect. Approximately 60 percent of the estimated 1.96-million-bird midwinter waterfowl population for the Texas midcoast is expected to rely on ricelands (active and idle flooded rice fields) to meet their food needs. In addition, the Gulf Coast Joint Venture identifies specific population objectives for more than 12 million shorebirds and wading birds that are highly dependent on water in ricelands for nesting, migration and wintering habitat. “Approval of off-channel reservoirs is critical to planning and providing water in the lower basin for rice agriculture and other managed wetlands during extended dry periods, and it's a crucial step in ensuring sufficient water supSee RICE FIELDS, Page 6
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department proved this past hunting season what they already knew — some mule deer in the Hueco Mountains have Chronic Wasting Disease. Nearly 300 tissue samples were collected from hunter-harvested mule deer from the Trans-Pecos region of far West Texas during the 2012-13 season for CWD. Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory and National Veterinary Services Laboratories have confirmed CWD in four of those samples. All CWD-positive deer were harvested within the CWD Containment Zone. Of 298 deer sampled during hunting season, 107 were harvested in the Containment Zone, 93 were harvested in the adjacent High Risk Zone, 25 were harvested in the Buffer Zone, and 73 deer were harvested outside of the CWD zones. Nineteen of the samples collected from the Containment Zone were from deer harvested in the Hueco Mountains. Including the two positives reported from TPWD’s strategic sampling effort last summer, and the three positives reported by New Mexico Game and Fish last year, CWD has been detected in 9 of 31 deer sampled in the Hueco Mountains. — Staff report
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LoneOStar Outdoor News
Custom hunting knives with a twist
For Lone Star Outdoor News Few things are as indispensible to a hunter’s kit as a good knife. It’s not necessarily hard to find one, but just like a trusted gun, it takes a little more effort to find one that feels just right. Knifemaker Curtis Klingle of College Station was a hobbyist blacksmith for more than a decade when he retired from his job as a peace officer. In his hobby, his tenacity for getting the most performance out of the simple, hand-held tool grew with his knowledge of the materials used. “I have always loved working with steel,” Klingle said. “And working with tool steels and spring steels opened up a whole new world to me.” The fixed blade knife may look simple, but Klingle said he pushes his creations for maximum functionality by “getting the correct geometry for a blade for its intended use, perfecting the heat treat and tempering for that specific steel.”
But functional works of art are still works of art. And after maximizing the blade performance, Klingle found room for creativity with the knives’ handles. From a chef’s knife to his survival offerings, all facets of CM Forge knives are made for everyday use — including the handle material. Klingle had seen a knifemaker offer a handle made out of blue jeans and fiberglass resin. “I thought it was a neat idea but wanted to carry it a bit further with using a customer’s own fabric or clothing to personalize the knife,” he said. Klingle tweaked the process by using a polyester resin used to make surfboards, which dries clearer, “letting the true color of the materials come through,” he said. From there, Klingle let his customers take the creativity in their own direction. Requests have run the gamut, with some honoring living and deceased friends and relatives. When his 12-year-old daughter bagged her first
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Young archers compete in state tourney
Maker incorporates favorite items into handles By John R. Meyer
February 22, 2013
By Craig Nyhus Lone Star Outdoor News
INTERESTING DENIM: Donald Davey holds a Klingle knife with handle material made from a favorite pair of blue jeans. Photo by John Meyer, for LSON.
deer, Chad James wanted to have a knife made for her with a bone from it. When he couldn’t find a large enough piece from the doe, Klingle improvised by casting part of a leg bone in resin. “My daughter’s been collecting knives for a few years; it was a great knife for her,” James said. “The only trouble is, she doesn’t ever want to use it.” The father-daughter duo has plans for a buck hunt next season — followed by the knife’s first job. Janet Staples of Palestine had Klingle make each of her sons a knife handle with clothing from their grandfathers, both of whom had died in the last few years. “I got the idea from my nephew who is a friend of Curtis,” she said. One of the pieces of clothing she supplied was an old threadbare bluejean jacket that her father-in-law wore every day. When she delivered it, Klingle was surprised to find a dog biscuit in one of the pockets. “He used to fill his pockets with treats and the dogs would follow him out in the pasture to check on the cows,” Staples told him. Chad Hanks was looking for a Christmas gift for his stepdad, a crawfish farmer, who helped him start his College Station restaurant, The Crawfish Hole. He and Klingle were discussing a custom knife when the handle material came up. Hanks procured a burlap blanket used to cover crawfish during transport and the perfect gift was born. “Once it was finished, it was hard to give away as a gift,” Hanks said. “It was amazing how the handle turned out; it almost looked 3-D.” Klingle seems to get as much satisfaction from his creations as his customers. The craftsmanship is there, but the handles add an element of pricelessness known only to the final owner.
Ashton Wyatt, an 8th-grader from Lamar Middle School in Lewisville, topped the field of more than 1,100 archers from 49 schools at the Texas Archery in the Schools Program state tournament, held Feb. 15 in Belton. Wyatt’s score of 294 out of a possible 300 beat Justin White of Kaufman High School, who finished second with a score of 291, followed by Ty Neumeier of Canton High School with 290. Abby King, a 9th-grader, also from Lamar Middle School, was the top female finisher with a score of 287. Sarah May of Allen High School also scored 287 to top the High School female division but finished second in the overall female competition. Hope Washburn of Argyle High School finished third with 283. In the Elementary Division, Tania Sanchez of St. Mary’s Catholic School was the top archer with a score of 283, followed by Nicholas Elmore of Lamar Middle School with 274. Canton High School won the team competition, followed by Allen High School and Kaufman ISD. Lamar Middle School showed its dominance by fielding two teams that finished first and second in the Middle School division. Lamar also topped the Elementary Division, followed by Union Grove ISD. The 2013 NASP Nationals with be held in May at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville.
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February 22, 2013
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Rice fields Continued From Page 4
plies for all users. Having the capacity to store more water downstream will reduce demands on upstream supplies,” said DU Conservation Outreach Biologist Kirby Brown. “In addition to rice agriculture’s tremendous role in the Mid-Texas Coast’s economy, the importance of ricelands to waterfowl and other migratory birds cannot be overstated.” According to DU, for every 10,000 acres of flooded ricelands lost, the region loses the ability to support 120,000 waterfowl. Thus, the loss of LCRA water for rice fields on more than 50,000 acres in 2012 impacted 600,000 ducks, as well as additional wetland-dependent shorebirds and wading birds.
If rice farmers wanted more water this year, they could already be out of luck. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on Wednesday approved LCRA’s request for emergency drought relief for an unprecedented second consecutive year. The approval means that without significant rainfall in the Highland Lakes watershed in the next two weeks, most downstream rice farmers will go without water from the lakes for the second straight year. According to Mike Lanier, owner of Red Bluff Prairie Hunting Club in Garwood, the hunting will be substantially impacted. “It starts impacting the season with the second crop,” he said.
“Bluewing teal stop here because of the second crop. It brings a lot of money into the area.” Lanier said the Eagle Lake region has suffered more than the Garwood area, and farmers, outfitters and people that depend on those industries will be hugely affected by a lack of water. “The hunting in January was a struggle because birds were forced into smaller areas,” he said. “Eagle Lake had none. Bay City had none. A lot of areas just didn’t have any food production. “I’m afraid to see what Eagle Lake will look like without water for the second year in a row.” — Staff report
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Tall seven Continued From Page 4
“Having said that, it was hard not to pull the trigger because he looked so big considering the circumstances, along with his high and wide rack.” The buck survived the 2011 season. “In August of 2012, we started getting trail cam pictures of him, and realized that he was going to be a slick 7-point again,” Sperring said. “This time he was even taller, wider and more massive. His one G3 grew and so did his brows. To have a better chance at harvesting him, I even picked up a bow for the first time to try and have an extra month to hunt him before the rut and rifle season.” An avid rifle hunter until that point, Sperring decided he would only take a broadside, 20-yard maximum shot with a bow. “I knew I wouldn’t get a shot at him eating at one of our feeders, because we never got one picture of him eating protein or corn,” he said. “One September morning, I was sitting in one of our new bow stands dreaming of how it would look to have an opportunity to draw on this buck, especially being my first season to bow hunt.” Sperring didn’t have to wait long to see how his dream would unfold. “Wouldn’t you know it, about 9:45 a.m., after only seeing two does earlier at the feeder, I looked over my shoulder and I saw him walking right toward me along the fence line. He literally came 10 yards from me and stopped to look up at me. He didn’t see me, but he sensed something was off. Luckily, I had the wind right.” The buck circled the stand, and was soon at 20 yards — the limit for Sperring. It was now or never for the hunter. “When he decided to jump the fence onto my side, I tried to pull the bow back, but couldn’t,” he said. “I was too nervous; the buck fever was overwhelming. After seeing me struggle a bit, he slightly spooked and ran out of sight. I couldn’t believe what had just happened. He came in all by himself like I had daydreamed, and I couldn’t capitalize. “I never saw him again during bow season.” Sperring was confident he could harvest
the buck during the first two weeks of rifle season, but something always went wrong. I only saw him a few times, but he was always moving,” he said. “He would never stay still in the open or go to a feeder. He was extremely smart. I could have squeezed the trigger a few times on him, but it would have been a selfish move to potentially ruin such a big deer for a not-so-great shot.” Finally, on Nov. 18, the big deer made a mistake. “I was hunting in one of our ground blinds when I saw a doe in the field to my right at about 6:45 a.m.,” Sperring said. “She continued looking behind her back out of my sight at what could have been a buck.” After 20 minutes, Sperring looked up to see the doe at a dead run toward him, with the big buck hot on her trail. “As soon as I saw it was him, I immediately raised my rifle to where I thought he would present a shot,” he said. “As the doe quickly approached the fence line, she stopped on a dime. The big 7 kept his momentum and hopped over the fence into the pasture. Only 70 yards away, he stood broadside as I squeezed the trigger.” The shot was true, and Sperring said it all happened within 15 seconds. “My emotions were overwhelming,” he said. “I couldn’t believe I finally shot the buck I was after for so long. As my father and I walked up on him, I couldn’t help but to shed a few tears in true appreciation for such an incredible animal.” Sperry had hunted eight weekends in a row on 27 separate trips to the stand and 149 hours sitting. He entered the buck in several contests throughout the state. “After getting back to Cypress, I immediately drove all the way down to South Texas to enter him in the contests,” he said. “I also entered him into a local contest in Cypress. Currently, he is sitting in second place at Los Cazadores for largest low-fence 7 point, and first place in the local contest in Cypress. “I couldn’t be more proud of my trophy, especially after seeing what patience and true dedication can reward.”
February 22, 2013
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February 22, 2013
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FISHING
Winter brings out the beasts
PULLING LIKE A DUMP TRUNK: Big black drum are being caught in ship channels and from piers during February. Capt. Scott Isbell shows a nice one caught near Ingleside. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.
Black drum run brings anglers to jetties, piers By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News Mark Eckert and his wife, Kyong, love to fish the Texas coast — so much so that they bought a lodge in Port O’Connor to keep them headed that way from their Helotes home. And over the past few weekends, the big black drum have been their targets. “What used to be the Lone Star Lodge came up for sale in August and we snapped it up,” Eckert said. “We named it the Drumrunner Lodge — it will accommodate about 12 peo-
ple, when we’re not using it, of course.” Eckert has been fishing inside the jetties in about 35 feet of water. “The big nasties are starting to move through there,” he said. “We caught four drum over 40 inches and one big 40-plus inch red.” Eckert’s bait of choice is blue crab. “An old-timer taught me how to peel the hard shell off,” he said. “Then, just cut it up and throw it out there.” The couple also landed several smaller redfish, and, switching to shrimp, a mess of sheepshead.
“We don’t guide or anything,” Eckert said. “We just love to fish.” Other jetty anglers along the coast provide similar reports when conditions are right, although most report using sea lice or large shrimp as bait. They may have a different name for the fish, though. “The big uglies are running,” one Internet poster wrote. At Marker 37 Marina in Corpus Christi, some black drum are being landed on the Tim Buttler Fishing Pier. “Last night (Feb. 17) there were a few over-
Lake Ray Roberts turning on Bass in prespawn pattern, whites still in winter pattern By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News
Anglers heading north out of the DFW Metroplex should consider taking a short drive this spring to an overlooked lake — Lake Ray Roberts. The lake has a solid population of largemouth bass, and the white bass and crappie fishing should be very good this month. “The spawn is going to kick in at the end of February or beginning of March,” said guide Cliff Spindle. “The crappie are coming shallower and the white bass are on main lake points, but will be moving into creeks soon.” Spindle said the lake needs a few straight days of warm weather to bring water temperatures up to where the fish will begin thinking about spawning. “Just need a few more days to get everything moving,” he said. While the largemouth bass bite is slowly gaining steam, this white bass are easy pickings, if you know where to look, according to longtime guide
Greg Reedy. “I’ve been out off and on the past few weeks,” Reedy said. “The (largemouth) bass I would characterize as slow to fair right now on plastics and jerkbaits. The crappie bite has been decent on the main lake brush piles. The white bass are still on their regular winter locations on deep-water points and humps. “They haven’t even thought about heading toward the creeks yet.” Reedy said the water temperatures have been fluctuating between the high 40s and low 50s, and the lake is about 4-feet low at the moment, even after significant rainfall the past few weeks. “We were a lot lower than that,” Reedy said. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, bass anglers are finding success on lipless cranbaits and Texas-rigged soft plastics, while crappie and white bass are decent on minnows and slabs. Guide Cliff Spindle, (940) 727-3493 Guide Greg Reedy, (940) 367-3262
sized bulls caught off the pier on sea lice,” said Jerry Ward at the marina. “Some people are definitely catching them here, along with a lot of sheepshead.” At Rollover Pass on the Bolivar Peninsula, reports of bull drum catches from both sides of the cut accompany good action for redfish and speckled trout during the afternoon incoming tides. Scott Isbell, (361) 557-1138 Marker 37 Marina, (361) 949-4750 Drumrunner Lodge, (361) 983-4371
A monster from Falcon If you read the latest issue of Lone Star Outdoor News (Feb. 8), you would have seen that the border lakes are catching fire. Case in point. Falcon International Reservoir joined the action on Thursday, Feb. 7, with a 13.4-pound entry into the ShareLunker program. Isaac Denson of Monahans was fishing in 2 to 3 feet of water when the big bass hit about 11:30 a.m. The fish was 26.5 inches long and 20 inches in girth. The fish was the fifth entry of the season into the program, following entries from Lakes Austin, Fork (two entries) and Dunlap. The largest entry of the season to date is Richard Scibek’s 16.04-pounder caught from Lake Fork on Feb. 2. Since the big bass from Falcon was picked up by TPWD, three more lunkers were caught. The first, caught on Lake O’ the Pines by angler Thomas McCraven of Gladewater, weighed 13.23 pounds. The second was hooked in a tournament on Toledo Bend by Anasoco, La. angler Casey Martin. That bass weighed 13.06 pounds. The third was caught Feb. 19 on Lake Fork by angler Mark Hall. That fish was taken to Oak Ridge Marina and weighed 13.11 pounds. — TPWD
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Back-to-back on Rayburn
FIND THE DROP-OFFS: Fishing in northern lake coves near secondary points that lead to spawning flats will produce fish for the next few weeks. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.
Temps the key for prespawn bass By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News
The tournament was going to be won or lost depending on what the weather did. Catch a warming trend and the big bass would be headed toward the shallow water to search for a place to spawn. A cold front meant anglers would have to back out into deeper water. Lone Star Outdoor News Operations Manager Mike Hughs saw the temperature dropping several days before his bass club’s tournament on Lake Tyler, so he adjusted his strategy and found deeper points to key on. “I was fishing deeper water,” he said. “I caught my big fish, 8 pounds, in
16 feet, but it was close to a drop-off down to 27 feet. I focused on these areas with bait and near structure like brush piles or stumps.” Hughs won the tournament throwing a Carolinarigged soft plastic to cover ground. The prespawn can be a great time to connect on a trophy largemouth bass, if you know what the fish are doing. Many North Texas lakes are currently playing the prespawn game, with bass changing depths based on the temperatures. According to Lake Fork guide Andrew Grills, the prespawn is in full swing on Fork, and he targets coves on the northern bank for staging bass. “It’s been awful windy
some days, but the fishing is getting really good on Fork,” Grills said. “The bass are full swing in the prespawn. I start on the creeks on the northern side out of the wind — those warm up the quickest. I target the spawning flats with a north bank, looking for secondary points close to the flats.” Grills said he likes to throw a Carolina-rigged plastic, square-billed crankbaits and lipless crankbaits to target prespawn fish. When a smaller cold front comes through, Grills changes tactics. ‘If we get a little cold front, like we do throughout the spring, I will back off the flats for a couple of days and throw a jig slowly,” he said. See PRESPAWN, Page 11
It might have been cold and windy, but Jonathan Garrie and Wayne Triana would not be denied their second consecutive win at Bass Champs on Sam Rayburn Feb. 16. With 207 boats participating, they brought in three fish weighing 19.65 pounds, with a 9.33-pound kicker, to take home more than $15,000, bringing their total Bass Champs winnings on Sam Rayburn this year to more than $30,000. Garrie and Triana had a few spots in mind to hit. “The first area we went to was really rough with the wind,” Garrie said. “We were taking waves over the nose of the boat.” The pair managed two nice fish, then headed for a new spot they had scouted several weeks ago. “We went to a new spot that we found a few weeks ago,” Garrie said. “That’s when Wayne caught our kicker. After that we headed to another spot we wanted to hit, but another boat was already there.”
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With the tournament drawing to a close, they went to their “honey hole” — an area that drops from 12 to 50 feet near a river channel — and pulled another nice fish. They were fishing with crankbaits. “We’ve been very fortunate to hit the right places at the right times to be able to catch these fish.” Top 10 teams: 1st: 19.65 lbs, $15,000, Jonathan Garrie & Wayne Triana Jr. 2nd: 19.38 lbs, $5,000, Rusty Clark & Cory Rambo 3rd: 16.93 lbs, $3,000, Wilson Burton & Kegan Kavander 4th: 16.66 lbs, $2,000, William Eddleman & Ben Matsubu 5th: 16.55 lbs, $1,500, Dicky Newberry & Ken Smith 6th: 14.28 lbs, $1,000, Norman Land & Travis Moore 7th: 14.12 lbs, $1,000, Jason Bonds 8th: 13.91 lbs, $1,000, Michael Lowery & Lance Lowery 9th: 13.66 lbs, $1,000, Kyle Rowe & Vincent Neal 10th: 13.31 lbs, $1,000, Lorin Lively & Tom Arnall
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TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT Big stripers biting LAKE TEXOMA — According to Lake Texoma guide Bill Carey, the striper fishing has been phenomenal thanks to temperatures 20 degrees above normal. “The big fish are biting,” he said. “We are using Road Runner jigs and sassy shad soft plastic lures. The artificial lures are the sporting way to target the larger fish.” Carey said plenty of 10-pound fish are being caught, and 20-pounders are not rare right now. “The big story is there have been no major winter storms. The rain we received gave Lake Texoma a good drink of water,” he added. Along with big stripers, trophy-sized white bass are also a real possibility on winter trips. To contact guide Bill Carey, call (903) 660-5989.
Channel cats galore LAKE SOMERVILLE — Guide Weldon Kirk said the fishing has been outstanding since Christmas for good-sized channel catfish. “We’ve been limiting out on nearly every trip,” Kirk said. “We are catching them in 3 to 5 feet of water, mostly under slip corks. We keep the bait just off the bottom.” Kirk said the shad are moving to the shallows as the
AMISTAD: Water clear; 61–65 degrees; 48.68’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinner baits, crankbaits, jerkbaits and soft plastics. Striped bass are good on slabs and small crankbaits under birds. White bass are good on slabs and small crankbaits under birds. Catfish are good over baited holes. ARROWHEAD: Water off-color; 45–52 degrees; 12.07’ low. Largemouth bass are slow to fair on jigs and Texas rigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair to good on slabs. ATHENS: Water clear, 52–56 degrees; 2.63’ low. Largemouth bass are good on lipless crankbaits and spinner baits fished around any cover. BASTROP: Water clear; 62–66 degrees. Largemouth bass are very good on watermelon and watermelon red spinner baits, crankbaits, lipless crankbaits and soft plastics. Crappie are good on minnows and black/blue tube jigs over brush piles. Channel and blue catfish are good on stinkbait, shrimp, and nightcrawlers. BELTON: Water clear; 60–64 degrees; 6.76’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse lipless crankbaits and spinner baits. Hybrid striper are good on live shad. Crappie are good on minnows under lights at night. Channel and blue catfish are good on shrimp and live bait. BRAUNIG: Water clear. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon crankbaits, spinner baits and lipless crankbaits. Channel catfish are very good on liver, shrimp, cheesebait and cut bait. BRIDGEPORT: Water clear; 51–56 degrees; 14.92’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on suspending jerkbaits around main lake docks and small crankbaits along points. Crappie are good on minnows. BROWNWOOD: Water clear; 58–62 degrees; 10.45’ low. Largemouth bass are good on black/blue jigs, crankbaits, and worms over brush piles. White bass are fair on Li’l Fishies and spinner baits off lighted docks at night. Crappie are fair on Li’l Fishies and min-
nows over brush piles. Channel catfish are fair on cut bait and nightcrawlers over baited holes. BUCHANAN: Water lightly stained; 60–64 degrees; 27.82’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on pumpkin jigs, jerkbaits, and Carolina-rigged lizards along break lines in 10–20 feet. Striped bass are good drifting live bait in 20–30 feet. Crappie are good on minnows over brush piles. CALAVERAS: Water clear. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse lipless crankbaits, spinner baits and crankbaits near the dam. Striped bass are good on silver spoons and jigs near the dam. Channel and blue catfish are good on nightcrawlers, shrimp and cheesebait.
low. Largemouth bass are slow. Striped bass are fair on silver striper jigs. White bass are fair on slabs and Li’l Fishies. Crappie are fair on minnows and pink tube jigs. Channel and blue catfish are fair on perch, stinkbait, and frozen shrimp. Yellow catfish are fair on trotlines baited with live perch. CONROE: Water clear; 58–62 degrees; 2.88’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse/black soft plastics, crankbaits and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and blue tube jigs. COOPER: Water clear; 52–56 degrees; 7.10’ low. Largemouth bass are good on lipless crankbaits and suspending jerkbaits (best action is midday). Hybrid striper are good on live shad.
CANYON LAKE: Water lightly stained; 60–64 degrees; 8.86’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on black/chartreuse jigs, jerkbaits and Texas-rigged worms on shaky jigheads in 20–30 feet. Striped bass are good trolling white striper jigs and vertically jigging Pirk Minnows. White bass are fair jigging Pirk Minnows and Blade Baits. Crappie are good on minnows and crappie jigs upriver.
FALCON: Water stained; 63–67 degrees; 29.38’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse soft plastics and crankbaits. Channel and blue catfish are excellent on frozen shrimp and cut bait.
CEDAR CREEK: Water clear; 51–55 degrees; 2.76’ low. Largemouth bass are good on white spinner baits and finesse worms around docks. Hybrid striper are good on live shad. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on prepared bait.
FORK: Water clear; 52–56 degrees; 4.08’ low. Largemouth bass are good on black/blue flipping jigs along channel bends. Square-billed crankbaits around wood along points is effective. Crappie are good on minnows around the bridges.
CHOKE CANYON: Water clear; 66–70 degrees; 17.54’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse spinner baits and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are fair on liver and stinkbait.
FT. PHANTOM HILL: Water clear; 44–53 degrees; 11.16’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs, lipless crankbaits and Texas rigs. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers.
COLEMAN: Water lightly stained; 59–63 degrees; 13.60’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics and lipless crankbaits. Hybrid striper are fair on chartreuse striper jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows over brush piles. Channel catfish are good on stinkbait and cut bait. COLETO CREEK: Water clear; 2.62’
FAYETTE: Water stained. Largemouth bass are good on green pumpkin Carolina-rigged soft plastics, spinner baits, lipless crankbaits, Senkos, flukes and soft plastics.
GRANBURY: Water stained; 58–62 degrees; 5.39’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows and white tube jigs. GRANGER: Water stained; 60–64 degrees; 0.17’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse jigs and soft plastic worms upriver in heavy timber. White bass are fair upriver. Crappie are fair on minnows upriver under lights at night. Blue catfish are good on
weather warms up, scattering the catfish and putting them onto a spring pattern. “That is when we catch them right on the bank,” he said. “Also, Fayette Lake near La Grange has been really good. We are catching them there and they are all between 3 and 10 pounds.” To contact guide Weldon Kirk, call (979) 229-3103.
Whites moving up LAKE PALESTINE — The white bass are staging near the mouth of the five main creeks that run into Lake Palestine, according to guide Jim Beggerly. “They have made sporadic runs up the creek,” he said, “and yesterday I got reports of the anglers catching them like gangbusters in the Neches and Kickapoo. They were catching good numbers of fat females.” Beggerly said jigs with hair on them seem to be doing better than the soft plastic tails, especially when worked slowly because of the colder water temperatures. “For bass, their have been several tournaments here recently with mixed results,” he said. “The crappie are moving out of deep holes, but they haven’t gone very far because of several cold fronts.” To contact guide Jim Beggerly, call (903) 279-9002. — Conor Harrison
prepared baits and on juglines baited with cut bait and soap. GRAPEVINE: Water clear; 51–56 degrees; 5.97’ low. Largemouth bass are good on shallow crankbaits along main lake rock, switching to suspending jerkbaits around the dam later in the day — deep-diving crankbaits and football jigs in brush piles are working as well. Crappie are good on jigs. White bass are good on slabs.
watermelon/white spinner baits and crankbaits. White bass are good on minnows. Blue catfish are good on cut bait and shad. MARTIN CREEK: Water clear; 66–84 degrees; 1.95’ low. Largemouth bass are good on lipless crankbaits and bladed jigs around shallow cover. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on prepared bait.
HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 59–63 degrees; 0.26’ high. Largemouth bass to 7 pounds are good on red or June bug soft plastic worms and crankbaits, and on watermelon red Brush Hogs off points and drop–offs and around stumps and docks in 6–10 feet. Crappie are good on minnows and chartreuse tube jigs near the dam in 20 feet. Catfish are good on chum baits.
MONTICELLO: Water fairly clear; 52–57 degrees; 0.71’ high. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged soft plastics and black and blue jigs around stumps — square-billed crankbaits working in the same areas.
HUBBARD CREEK: Water offcolor; 45–54 degrees; 20.1’ low. Largemouth bass are slow to fair on Texas rigs and jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs over brush piles. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers and prepared bait.
OAK CREEK: Water stained; 45–53 degrees; 17.46’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs and jigs. Crappie are good on jigs and live minnows over brush piles. Catfish are good on chartreuse (use Worm–Glo) nightcrawlers.
JOE POOL: Water clear; 51–55 degrees; 1.86’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged soft plastics in 5–10 feet of water. Green pumpkin has been best. Crappie are good on jigs. White bass are fair on slabs and jigs. Catfish are fair on prepared baits.
POSSUM KINGDOM: Water fairly clear; 47–53 degrees; 9.81’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs, jigs and drop-shot rigs. Crappie are good on minnows.
LAKE O' THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 52–57 degrees; 2.92’ low. Largemouth bass are good on lipless crankbaits around shallow cover. LAVON: Water lightly stained; 52– 58 degrees; 8.56’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on black/blue jigs around shallow cover. Catfish are good on trotlines. LEWISVILLE: Water clear; 50–55 degrees; 5.44’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on shaky heads and football jigs along main lake points. Crappie are good on minnows. Hybrid striper are good on slabs. Catfish are good on prepared bait and cut shad. LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 61–65 degrees; 0.40’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on
NAVARRO MILLS: Water lightly stained; 58–62 degrees; 0.34’ low. Largemouth bass are fair chartreuse lipless crankbaits. White bass are good on silver slabs.
PROCTOR: Water lightly stained; 57–61 degrees; 5.17’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon crankbaits and soft plastic worms. Channel and blue catfish are good on live shad and goldfish. RAY HUBBARD: Water clear; 51–55 degrees; 2.96’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged plastics around deep rocks — football head jigs and deep-diving crankbaits have also been productive. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are excellent on 1-ounce slabs. Hybrid bass are good on slabs as well. Catfish are good on cut shad. RAY ROBERTS: Water clear; 50–54 degrees; 3.85’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on lipless crankbaits and Texas-rigged soft plastic baits along edge of grass lines
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■ Saltwater fishing reports: Page 16 and Carolina rigs along deeper points near channels. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on prepared bait. Zebra mussels have been found in this reservoir. STILLHOUSE: Water lightly stained; 59–63 degrees; 6.03’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse spinner baits and crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and chartreuse tube jigs. TAWAKONI: Water stained; 53–57 degrees; 4.42’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on California 420-color flipping jigs and bladed jigs around docks — midday bite has been best. Striped bass and hybrid striper are good on slabs. TOLEDO BEND: Water lightly stained; 58–62 degrees; 3.14’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse spinner baits and crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and white tube jigs. Bream are good on worms. Channel and blue catfish are good on frozen shrimp, cut bait and stinkbait. TRAVIS: Water clear; 60–64 degrees; 49.52’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse jigs, smoke grubs and watermelon crankbaits in 8–20 feet. WALTER E. LONG: Water lightly stained. Largemouth bass are slow. Hybrid striper are good on chartreuse striper jigs. White bass are good on minnows and pet spoons. Crappie are good on minnows. WHITNEY: Water lightly stained; 58–62 degrees; 8.51’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse spinner baits. White bass are fair on minnows and Li’l Fishies. Crappie are good on minnows and blue tube jigs. — TPWD
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Brauer top on Toledo Bend An old pro taught the younger guys a lesson on Toledo Bend. Denny Brauer of Del Rio weighed a five-bass limit totaling 17 pounds even Saturday to win the EverStart Series Texas Division event presented by Mercury on Toledo Bend with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 56 pounds, 8 ounces. “It feels awesome,” said Brauer. “It was definitely a struggle today and I went through a lot of different emotions all day long wondering if I was going to end up with enough weight to win. I am totally elated. “All three days I fished boat docks and pretty much stayed on the lower end of the lake,” Brauer continued.
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“I was covering a lot of docks but catching most of my fish where there was 5 to 10 feet of water underneath. I was pitching a 1/2-ounce Strike King Denny Brauer pro model jig in black and blue color on 25-pound test line. This was Brauer’s first victory in FLW competition, but he is no stranger to fishing success. Brauer recently retired from an outstanding career with the Bassmaster Elite Series and moved south to his present home in Del Rio. “I really didn’t see a lot people out there doing what I was doing,” Brauer went on to say. “That’s the neat thing about Toledo Bend. It’s such a good lake and there is so much cover that boat docks are not the premier player here. Most people ignore the docks. The fact that I had them all to myself probably enabled me to win the tournament.”
This is Brauer’s second season fishing the EverStart Series and he is currently sitting in fourth place in the Texas division Angler of the Year race. The top 10 pros on Toledo Bend were: 1st: Denny Brauer, Del Rio, 15 bass, 56-8 2nd: Dustin Grice, Hewitt, 15 bass, 53-12 3rd: Stephen Johnston, Hemphill, 11 bass, 46-6 4th: Jeromy Francis, Magnolia, 15 bass, 46-4 5th: Todd Castledine, Nacogdoches, 13 bass, 45-4 6th: Jim Tutt, Longview, 15 bass, 45-3 7th: Keith Combs, Huntington, 15 bass, 45-2 8th: Andrew Upshaw, Hemphill, 12 bass, 39-8 9th: Kelly Owens, Crowley, La., 11 bass, 34-8 10th: Bill Glascock, Kingston, Okla., 12 bass, 33-3 — FLW Outdoors
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“Like the other day, we were catching fish on a 2-foot deep hump covered in grass. When the front hit, we caught the fish on the edge of the hump in 4 feet of water. “I like to jig with a slower presentation along the edges.” Amateur tournament angler and North Texas bass fisherman Randy Conover said he keys on water temperature in the late winter/ early spring prespawn period. “I check the water temperature and then go from there,” Conover said. “If it is warm, I start looking for hard, sandy bottoms. Water clarity also plays a big factor. If it is a full moon and high water temperatures, I am fishing shallow.” Conover said he will start out cooler mornings fishing the deeper water before transitioning shallower as the day gets warmer.
On guide James Caldemeyer’s fishing report at lfmfr.com, he said to pay close attention to water temperature as well. “I always stress to anglers that are coming to Lake Fork this time of year that water temperature is everything,” he said. “It’s important to be observant about the water temperature as you move around on the lake … The bass are generally going to focus on the warmest water that they can find and the fish in those areas are going to be the most active. I like to look for areas that temperatures are increasing daily. A good place to look first is in the creeks and pockets that are protected from the north. If I am in temperatures between 52-56 degrees, I consider that ideal for prespawn bass activity. If it gets any warmer than that you can expect them to start spawning.”
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GAME WARDEN BLOTTER PIG SHOT UNDER FEEDER BY MAN ON ADJACENT LAND WHILE NERVOUS HUNTER WATCHED Game Warden Chad Moore was patrolling the west side of Karnes County when he received a call about a truck that had pulled up alongside an adjacent property. The complainant told Moore the person in the vehicle shot a pig under her feeder while she was in the blind. Moore made the location and spoke with the witness, who gave him pictures as the incident unfolded and a written statement. The subject later admitted to shooting across the fence into the other ranch and killing the pig. The subject received citations as well as charges for hunting without landowner consent. His rifle and the hog were seized. DUMPED TURKEY WITH TAG LEADS TO MORE VIOLATIONS Lubbock County Game Warden Mallory Brodrick received a call about a dumped dead turkey. To Brodrick’s surprise, the turkey was still tagged. Brodrick found the owner of the turkey — a young boy who had no idea his turkey was even missing. Brodrick went to the boy’s residence and spoke to his grandfather, who admitted to taking his brother and his grandson on a hunt. The grandfather confessed that the grandson had shot a 9-point buck and a turkey, and that the boy didn’t have a license when he shot either of the game animals. So the grandfather later decided to go to town and buy a youth license to tag the turkey. However, they kept the great uncle’s deer tag on the buck. The grandfather admitted to leaving the turkey in the back of his truck for two weeks and the 9-point buck at the processor with the great uncle’s tag on it. The grandfather stated that he had planned on cutting the beard and tail feathers to make a mount
POACHERS CHASE ANIMALS INTO LAKE, SHOOT SWIMMING DEER San Augustine Game Wardens Jeff Cox and Michael Ferguson received information from a fisherman that some deer hunters in the national forest were shooting recklessly near Sam Rayburn Reservoir and possibly taking deer out of season. The fisherman gave a poor description, no location to go on and no violators were found. The next morning, the wardens received information from another fisherman that a group with a similar description had chased some deer into the
lake, run them down in a boat and shot them. The wardens located a witness who saw the incident and said five or six men and boys in two boats shot the deer swimming in the lake and left. Two empty buckshot hulls were located in the lake a quarter-mile from shore, but no boats or hunters. Finally, only minutes before dark, they located and stopped two boats meeting the description. Blood was observed in both boats and on some of the hunters. One of their guns was loaded
with buckshot matching the hulls retrieved earlier. After the warden separated one subject from the others and conducted a short interview, he confessed that the group had in fact driven five deer into the lake that morning, chased them down in boats, and shot all five in the head. The wardens recovered five heads and carcasses from the violator's residence. The deer were obviously shot in the head at close range. Numerous charges and restitution were filed on the adults involved.
for the young boy, but never mentioned intentions of using the meat. No one explained how the turkey ended up on the rural road with the young boy’s tag still intact. Citations were issued to the adults.
trespass, fishing in a restricted area and no fishing license.
aground in the Brazos River between Hill and Johnson counties. Volcik notified Hill County Game Warden Mark Hammonds of the incident, and they patrolled to the Ham Creek Boat Ramp in Johnson County to help the stranded boaters. When the wardens arrived, they noticed that the boat was sitting in just a few inches of water about 50 yards from the main river channel. Hammonds walked to the subjects to help them with some personal property to bring with them until they were able to retrieve their boat. The occupants of the boat were cold and wet from trying to get the boat off the sand bar, and were thankful for the help they received. The boat owner stated that he learned a valuable lesson of being better prepared, especially with not knowing the river channel.
OUT-OF-STATERS LEARN ABOUT FISHING IN RESTRICTED AREAS Titus County Game Warden Jerry Ash responded to the Luminant Monticello Power Plant on a trespass call. Four male subjects were seen trespassing on the Luminant mining property wearing backpacks. Ash first discovered a rental car out of Oklahoma, and later found four males trespassing and fishing at the hot water discharge on Lake Monticello. Two of the men were from Connecticut, one man was from Massachusetts and one man was from California. It was discovered that all four of the men were high school friends. They decided to take a fishing trip to Lake Fork, but they did not catch anything. Someone at Lake Fork told them about how good the fishing was at the hot water discharge at Lake Monticello, but they did not have a boat. Citations and warnings were issued for criminal
SNOW MADE FOR EASY TRACKING After a 5-inch snow, Titus County Game Warden Jerry Ash responded to a trespass call in Camp County. A landowner returned to his property in Camp County and discovered footprints all around his deer stand. Ash discovered that someone had shot a hog out of the landowner’s hog trap. Ash tracked the drag marks a quarter-mile to a neighbor’s residence. After interviewing the neighbor, Ash was given the name of a possible suspect. The suspect was located in the Titus County Jail. The suspect confessed and provided the identity of two additional suspects. Citations were issued for trespass with a firearm, taking wildlife resource without landowner’s consent, no hunting license and no hunter safety course. WARDENS RESCUE BOAT STRANDED ON SAND BAR Hill County Game Warden Douglas Volcik received a call from the owner of TowBoatUS for the Lake Whitney area, who told him about a situation of two subjects who had run
TRESPASSING HUNTERS NABBED, ALONG WITH PERSON FISHING ILLEGALLY Bell County Game Warden Brandt Bernstein received a call from a hunter on his lease that backs up the to the Corps property near Stillhouse Lake. He advised someone had just shot a gun and was on
his lease. Bernstein responded to the area behind the spillway, where the hunter said they trespassed. While waiting, he observed three men fishing. One individual didn’t have a license and had an outstanding warrant. Bernstein placed the individual in custody. While waiting for confirmation on the warrant, Bernstein heard two shots coming from the area of the possible trespassers. He located the hunters just after dark on another property across the river and they admitted to shooting twice at a doe, but missing. The next day Bernstein was contacted by the landowner who advised that those hunters did not have permission to be hunting on the property. TRESPASSERS HUNT IN DEER BLIND, STEAL HEATER Trinity County Game Wardens Sam Shanafelt and Randy Watts received a call from a landowner about possible trespassing on his property and a missing heater from one of his deer blinds. Around the deer blind were several footprints not belonging to the landowner. The wardens followed the tracks back across a fence and onto the neighbors’ property. They interviewed a man at the neighbor’s house who confessed to trespassing on his neighbor’s property but said he knew nothing about a heater. The man gave permission to search his vehicle. A meth pipe was found in the driver’s side door. A bag of meth was located inside the suspect’s house. The man then said the heater could be in the house. It was found hidden in the closet in the suspect’s bedroom. The suspect was arrested and transported to the Trinity County Jail. Charges for possession of a controlled substance, trespassing and theft are pending.
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OUTDOOR BUSINESS
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Aggies win first shooting match Whoop! The Texas A&M Aggie Corps of Cadets AMU Centerfire squad won the 1st Annual Scholastic Pistol Program Winter Regionals, which was hosted by the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets Marksmanship Unit and sponsored by GLOCK. The Aggie’s took High Overall by besting new Southeastern Conference rival, the University of Florida Gators, as well as nine other squads in both Centerfire and Rimfire Divisions. The event was held at the Gunsmoke Range in Snook. The match also served as the first match for the newly announced Rimfire Division. This new division, which is called Rimfire Junior Varsity, will be offered in all three divisions of SPP, Junior, Senior and Collegiate. It proved to a popular division with squads from the South Texas Shooters, Dripping Springs HS, Heritage Steel Shooters, University of Florida, Texas A&M Corps of Cadets and Texas A&M Pistol Team competing. “The cadets are still talking about the SPP
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a lot being caught today because of the conditions. But they were in here last week — lots of people were catching limits.” Lehr said anglers were catching both males and the larger females with eggs before the water rose. “There were some big slabs being caught,” he said. In Central Texas, Stillhouse Hollow and Belton Lake guide Bob Maindelle said the fish had not made it into the creeks or rivers yet because of a lack of current, but they were staging near the mouths. “We don’t have a whole lot of flow in the tributaries right now,” he said. “They are mak-
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Winter Regionals,” said Brig. Gen. (R) Joe E. Ramirez, Jr., commandant of cadets at Texas A&M University. “I look forward to next year’s event and seeing all the teams showing off their shooting prowess again.” — Staff report
Cabela’s to open outpost store in Waco Hunters and anglers in Central Texas will soon have a new outdoor shopping option, as this fall Cabela's will open a new Cabela's Outpost Store in the Central Texas Marketplace on Interstate 35 and West Loop 340 in Waco. Work on the 42,000-square-foot store is scheduled to begin in March. The smaller stores, designed for markets with fewer than 250,000 people, offer the same products as the larger stores in Allen, Buda and Fort Worth, but with more seasonal selections, a Cabela’s spokesperson said. The Waco store is expected to employ approximately 100 full-time, part-time and seasonal employees. — Staff report
ing their move but are holding in place. There are big schools of white bass in the upper one-third of both lakes.” Maindelle said birds have been working more and more as the lake temperatures continue to creep up. “We’ve had about a 6- to 8-degree warm-up in the past few weeks,” he said. “It went from 50 to between 56 and 58 degrees. It is on the rise. Any marginally satisfactory weather day and the bite is on. Barring severe wind or weather front, it is a given you will catch fish.” Maindelle said the fish are being caught between 25 and 40 feet of water adjacent to the river channels. “Three-quarter ounce white slabs are the ticket,” he said. “I have 12 rods in the boat, and nine of them are
rigged with that bait.” On the Neches River near Chandler above Lake Palestine, Game Warden Chris Swift said the locals are telling him the white bass are there for the taking. “It’s pretty easy,” Swift said. “They are mostly males right now, but I have seen some females with eggs. Everyone I have checked has had fish — most have at least 8 or 10.” The city of Chandler recently built a parking lot for anglers on Highway 31 to reduce the danger of parking on the side of the highway. “The water is off-color, but the fish are running steady,” Swift added. “A couple more days of sunshine and it will be fully on.” Guide Bob Maindelle, (254) 368-7411
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Snapper
Quail
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because Texas takes fish.” Abele said that snapper stocks are recovering, but the recovery, in his opinion, has not been long enough yet to sustain a longer season. “Snapper are a long-lived species that can live for 50 years,” he said. “They have been recovering for 10 years, and I felt they needed a longer period to recover.” Ironically, several days after the meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission decided to enact a 44-day recreational state snapper season for the Gulf. Like Texas, this means Florida would also be subject to the emergency rule for being inconsistent with the proposed federal season. The commission will make a final decision in April. TPWD wasted no time condemning the vote. “We are simply outraged by this move to penalize Texas anglers, local economies and fisheries for simply exercising our regulatory authority in Texas waters,” said T. Dan Friedkin of Houston, Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission chairman. “This is not a recipe for a successful collaborative approach to fisheries management. I do not intend to stand idly by while Texas anglers are penalized by such egregious federal overreach.” San Antonio resident and chairman of the GMFM Council, Doug Boyd, said he was dismayed by the final vote. “Personally, I don’t think (southeast regional administrator) needs that right,” Boyd said. “We manage our fisheries as a whole, not state by state. Texas and Louisiana both feel like we have better data (than the federal biologists). They feel like they can manage the fishery better.” Boyd said a shortened season would have an impact on Texas businesses. “Obviously, a shortened season by itself is bad,” he said. “Communities depend on tourism and when the red snapper season is shortened it hurts charter boats, head boats, restaurants and hotels, etc. This problem is even worse because it could shorten the season in Texas and not the rest of the Gulf. It could be as low as two days.” TPWD Executive Director Carter Smith also chimed in on the debate. “This recommendation is clearly directed at Texas and it strikes me as more punitive and political, rather than biological, because state regulations in Texas waters have not mirrored those set by the Gulf Council in recent years,” said Carter Smith, TPWD executive director. “This is not a victory for red snapper, but rather a loss for Texas anglers and coastal communities.” To contact representatives on the council, go to www.gulfcouncil.org/about/fishery_council_ members.php#councilmembers.
Photo by LSON.
“The CRP helps a lot, and it’s real dry so one cow is one cow too many,” he said. “And we put a lot into managing the land here. We’re seeing a lot of insects, but like everyone else, we just need rain and the birds should have food when the chicks are hatched.” Although few quail are seen along the ranch roads, Kallina said there are quail around, and hunters near Hebbronville are seeing bobwhites as well. “It’s better than people think it is down here in South Texas,” he said. “You just have to go out and find them.” In the Rolling Plains, hunters heading to the field aren’t faring as well, so many are finding alternative ways to spend days working their dogs. Tim Connally of Fort Worth said in the early part of the season, some areas southeast of Big Spring and near Ballinger had some birds, and some landowners signed
February 22, 2013
up to have birds transported to other areas through a program established by the Rolling Plains Quail Research Institute. Other areas, though, report few to no birds. “I’ve been out with my dogs, but just on pen-raised birds,” he said. “And a bunch of my quailhunting friends just came back from Pine Hill Plantation in Georgia. Most people that want to work dogs and hunt are chasing pen-raised birds — the dogs need to stay in good condition and need the work.” Mike Pugh has maintained two leases in Young and Mitchell counties, and while hunting has been poor, there is still hope that rains will bring the birds back. “The best day I had was five coveys,” he said, “although it may have been three coveys and we saw two of them twice. Once you get west of Sweetwater, though, the conditions get really bad.”
Page 15
Early morning has been the time to go out, Pugh said. “I can get in a little dog work real early before it warms up,” he said. “I haven’t pointed a covey in the afternoon for so long I can’t remember when it was.” Jay Stine is the director of Shared Services for the Quail Coalition, and hunted Feb. 10 at the family ranch in Clay County. “We kicked up six coveys and the scent conditions were terrible,” he said. “It exceeded our expectations.” Stine and others met with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials and Texas legislators, and are cautiously optimistic that additional funding will be allocated for quail research and habitat development in the next biennium. “The (TPWD) budget added $4 million for quail-designated funds,” Stine said. “And legislators are pushing for more of the Upland Game Bird Stamp funds to be released.”
Page 16
February 22, 2013
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT Sponsored by
Tuna time PORT ARANSAS — According to Capt. Russell Sanguinet at Fisherman’s Wharf, the offshore tuna trips have been tearing it up, catching good numbers of yellowfin and blackfin tuna. “We have been catching a ton of tuna on top-waters,” he said. “The tuna are feeding on bait balls of anchovies right now and they are hammering top-waters.” Sanguinet said the inshore trips have loaded the boat with limits of vermillion snapper, kingfish and sharpnose sharks. “You can’t beat a ribbonfish for kings,” he said. To contact Fisherman’s Wharf, call (800) 605-5448.
Drum going strong CORPUS CHRISTI BAY — Guides are keeping clients satisfied with a solid black dru drum bite in the ship channel of Corpus Christi Bay, according to Bluff Landing Marina’s Bert Bradshaw. “I am seeing some decent-sized trout, but the trout bite has been a little tough,” he
NORTH SABINE: Trout and redfish are fair while drifting mud and shell. Waders have taken better trout on the Louisiana shoreline in the afternoon on slow–sinking plugs. SOUTH SABINE: Redfish are fair on the edge of the channel on mullet. Sheepshead and black drum are good at the jetty on live shrimp. BOLIVAR: Trout are fair to good on the south shoreline on slow–sinking plugs. Black drum and redfish are good at Rollover Pass. TRINITY BAY: Trout are fair while working shell and mud on the upper end of the bay on plastics. Redfish are good at the spillway on crabs and mullet. EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair to good on the north shoreline on Corkies and MirrOlures. Whiting and sand trout are good on the edge of the Intracoastal on fresh shrimp. WEST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair on the mud and shell on MirrOlures and Corkies in
the afternoon. Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp and crabs. TEXAS CITY: Whiting and sand trout are fair to good on shrimp from the piers. Redfish are fair in Moses Lake on the falling tide on crabs and shrimp. FREEPORT: Sand trout and sheepshead are good on live shrimp on the reefs. Redfish are fair to good at San Luis pass on cracked blue crabs. EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair for drifters on live shrimp and soft plastics over humps and scattered shell. Redfish are fair to good on the edge of the Intracoastal on crabs and mullet. WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Redfish are fair to good on the south shoreline in the guts and bayous. Trout are fair along the Colorado River on finger mullet.
said. “A lot of guides are bringing in big black drum from down south. It has been a lot of drum.” Bradshaw said guides have been using dead shrimp to entice bites from the drum, but also soft plastics are catching the trout. To contact Bluff Landing Marina, call (361) 937-7100.
Sharks and sheepshead SOUTH PADRE ISLAND — “Sheepshead.” That was the one-word answer given by Jetty’s Bait Stand on South Padre Island when asked what anglers were catching. “My son went down to the end of the jetty and caught his limit in one hour,” said the manager. “He also caught three reds.” The stand reported nice-sized trout up to 24 inches were being caught by the anglers with guides. “Also, there are a lot of sharks,” he said. “They are mauling anything out in the bays. They are always around the island, and we have good numbers of tigers, bonnetheads and hammerheads.” Mullet was the bait of choice for the gamefish. To contact Jetty’s Bait Stand, call (956) 772-1038. — Conor Harrison
PORT O'CONNOR: Trout and redfish are fair on soft plastics on the edge of muddy channels and at the jetty. Redfish are good at the mouths of drains. Sheepshead are good at the jetty on shrimp. ROCKPORT: Trout are fair on the edge of the ICW on glow DOA Shrimp. Redfish are fair to good in the holes on the Estes Flats on mullet and shrimp. PORT ARANSAS: Redfish are fair around Pelican Island on shrimp and crabs. Sheepshead are good at the jetty on live shrimp. Tuna and wahoo are good offshore. CORPUS CHRISTI: Trout are fair on the King Ranch shoreline on Catch 5s and Corkies. Redfish are good in the Humble Channel on crabs and table shrimp. Waders in Oso Bay have taken trout on top-waters. BAFFIN BAY: Trout are fair to good in mud and grass on twitchbaits. Trout are fair to good in the guts along shorelines on Corkies. Redfish
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To advertise in this section, call Mike Hughs at (214) 361-2276 or email him at mhughs@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
and black drum are fair in the Land Cut on shrimp and crabs. PORT MANSFIELD: Redfish are fair to good on DOA Shrimp and scented plastics under a popping cork around grass holes. Trout are fair to good on mud and grass along the edge of the ICW on Corkies and MirrOlures. SOUTH PADRE: Trout and redfish are fair to good on the edge of the Intracoastal on DOA Shrimp and scented plastics. Redfish, black drum and mangrove snapper are fair to good in the channel and at the jetty on fresh shrimp. PORT ISABEL: Redfish are fair in the guts and holes on scented baits. Sheepshead are good around the causeway on shrimp. Trout are fair on the edge of the flats on soft plastics under popping cork and scented plastics. — TPWD
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
Sun | Moon | Tides Texas Coast Tides Sabine Pass, north Date Time Feb 22 12:11 AM Feb 23 12:56 AM Feb 24 1:40 AM Feb 25 2:25 AM Feb 26 3:12 AM Feb 27 4:03 AM Feb 28 4:59 AM Mar 01 6:02 AM Mar 02 12:18 AM Mar 03 1:15 AM Mar 04 2:18 AM Mar 05 3:26 AM Mar 06 4:34 AM Mar 07 5:39 AM Mar 08 6:38 AM
Height 1.1H 1.2H 1.2H 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H -0.1L -0.2L -0.3L -0.3L -0.3L -0.3L -0.3L
Time 7:14 AM 7:53 AM 8:30 AM 9:07 AM 9:44 AM 10:22 AM 11:00 AM 11:41 AM 7:14 AM 8:42 AM 10:21 AM 11:49 AM 12:50 PM 1:33 PM 2:08 PM
Galveston Bay entrance, south jetty Date Time Feb 22 6:57 AM Feb 23 12:19 AM Feb 24 1:14 AM Feb 25 2:10 AM Feb 26 3:07 AM Feb 27 4:09 AM Feb 28 5:16 AM Mar 01 6:31 AM Mar 02 7:54 AM Mar 03 12:37 AM Mar 04 1:44 AM Mar 05 2:58 AM Mar 06 4:14 AM Mar 07 5:25 AM Mar 08 6:28 AM
San Luis Pass
Date Time Feb 22 7:53 AM Feb 23 12:49 AM Feb 24 1:44 AM Feb 25 2:40 AM Feb 26 3:37 AM Feb 27 4:39 AM Feb 28 5:46 AM Mar 01 7:01 AM Mar 02 12:34 AM Mar 03 1:33 AM Mar 04 2:40 AM Mar 05 3:54 AM Mar 06 5:10 AM Mar 07 6:21 AM Mar 08 7:24 AM
Freeport Harbor Date Time Feb 22 7:07 AM Feb 23 12:12 AM Feb 24 1:12 AM Feb 25 2:09 AM Feb 26 3:05 AM Feb 27 4:03 AM Feb 28 5:06 AM Mar 01 6:15 AM Mar 02 7:32 AM Mar 03 12:37 AM Mar 04 1:41 AM Mar 05 2:55 AM Mar 06 4:13 AM Mar 07 5:28 AM Mar 08 6:36 AM
Height -0.4L 1.3H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H -0.4L -0.4L -0.5L -0.5L -0.5L -0.4L
Time 3:12 PM 7:31 AM 8:04 AM 8:37 AM 9:11 AM 9:47 AM 10:25 AM 11:05 AM 11:49 AM 9:27 AM 11:02 AM 12:22 PM 1:16 PM 1:54 PM 2:24 PM
Height -0.3L -0.3L -0.2L -0.2L 0.0L 0.1L 0.3L 0.6L 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H
Time 3:03 PM 3:19 PM 3:37 PM 3:56 PM 4:15 PM 4:35 PM 4:55 PM 5:16 PM 12:26 PM 1:18 PM 2:29 PM 4:06 PM 5:34 PM 6:32 PM 7:17 PM
Height 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 0.8L 1.0L 1.1L 1.2L 1.1L 1.0L 0.8L
Height 1.3H -0.4L -0.3L -0.2L 0.0L 0.2L 0.5L 0.8L 1.1L 1.5H 1.6H 1.6H 1.7H 1.7H 1.6H
Time 7:16 PM 3:28 PM 3:46 PM 4:03 PM 4:20 PM 4:36 PM 4:50 PM 5:03 PM 5:14 PM 12:40 PM 1:55 PM
Height 1.1L 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.4H 1.3L 1.5L
5:58 PM 6:30 PM 7:05 PM
Height -0.3L 0.8H 0.8H 0.8H 0.8H 0.8H 0.9H 0.9H -0.1L -0.2L -0.3L -0.3L -0.3L -0.3L -0.2L
Time 3:42 PM 8:27 AM 9:00 AM 9:33 AM 10:07 AM 10:43 AM 11:21 AM 12:01 PM 8:24 AM 9:57 AM 11:32 AM 12:52 PM 1:46 PM 2:24 PM 2:54 PM
Height 0.8H -0.2L -0.2L -0.1L 0.0L 0.1L 0.3L 0.5L 0.9H 0.9H 0.9H 1.0H 1.0H 1.0H 1.0H
Time 8:12 PM 3:58 PM 4:16 PM 4:33 PM 4:50 PM 5:06 PM 5:20 PM 5:33 PM 12:45 PM 1:36 PM 2:51 PM 6:54 PM 7:26 PM 8:01 PM
Height -0.2L 0.9H 1.0H 1.0H 1.1H 1.1H 1.2H 1.3H 1.3H -0.2L -0.3L -0.3L -0.4L -0.4L -0.3L
Time 3:03 PM 7:46 AM 8:23 AM 8:59 AM 9:37 AM 10:17 AM 11:02 AM 11:55 AM 1:11 PM 9:01 AM 10:36 AM 12:01 PM 1:02 PM 1:47 PM 2:21 PM
Height 1.3H -0.2L -0.2L -0.1L 0.1L 0.3L 0.5L 0.7L 0.9L 1.4H 1.5H 1.5H 1.6H 1.5H 1.5H
1.5L 1.3L 1.1L Height 0.7L 0.8H 0.8H 0.8H 0.8H 0.8H 0.8H 0.8H 0.7L 0.8L 0.9L
Time 7:50 PM 8:15 PM 8:45 PM 9:20 PM 9:59 PM 10:41 PM 11:27 PM
Height 0.8L 0.7L 0.6L 0.5L 0.3L 0.1L 0.0L
5:39 PM 6:08 PM 6:53 PM 8:21 PM 10:12 PM 11:40 PM
1.2H 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.4H
Time
Height
7:37 PM 1.0L 8:07 PM 0.8L 8:42 PM 0.6L 9:20 PM 0.4L 10:01 PM 0.2L 10:47 PM 0.0L 11:38 PM -0.2L 5:27 PM 5:43 PM
1.5H 1.5H
9:28 PM 11:07 PM
1.5H 1.6H
Time
Height
8:33 PM 9:03 PM 9:38 PM 10:16 PM 10:57 PM 11:43 PM
0.6L 0.5L 0.4L 0.3L 0.1L 0.0L
5:44 PM 5:57 PM 6:13 PM
0.8H 0.9H 0.9H
0.9L 0.8L 0.7L
9:58 PM 11:37 PM
0.9H 1.0H
Time 9:21 PM 3:21 PM 3:39 PM 3:56 PM 4:13 PM 4:30 PM 4:45 PM 4:58 PM 5:03 PM
Height 0.9L 1.3H 1.3H 1.2H 1.1H 1.1H 1.0H 1.0H 1.0H
Time
Height
8:04 PM 8:16 PM
1.0L 0.9L
9:29 PM 0.8L 9:36 PM 0.7L 9:46 PM 0.6L 10:02 PM 0.4L 10:27 PM 0.3L 11:02 PM 0.1L 11:45 PM -0.1L
10:39 PM
1.1H
Solunar | Sun times | Moon times
Moon Phases Full
New
Last
Feb. 27
Mar. 10
Mar. 5
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.
First
Mar. 18
Houston
Port O’Connor
Date Time Feb 22 9:47 AM Feb 23 10:32 AM Feb 24 12:57 AM Feb 25 2:47 AM Feb 26 4:32 AM Feb 27 6:00 AM Feb 28 12:20 AM Mar 01 1:07 AM Mar 02 1:58 AM Mar 03 2:58 AM Mar 04 4:08 AM Mar 05 5:29 AM Mar 06 6:52 AM Mar 07 8:09 AM Mar 08 9:16 AM
Rockport
Date Time Feb 22 12:56 AM Feb 23 1:43 AM Feb 24 2:33 AM Feb 25 3:30 AM Feb 26 4:46 AM Feb 27 6:32 AM Feb 28 1:25 AM Mar 01 2:38 AM Mar 02 3:43 AM Mar 03 4:46 AM Mar 04 5:51 AM Mar 05 6:56 AM Mar 06 8:01 AM Mar 07 9:02 AM Mar 08 12:01 AM
Height -0.5L -0.4L 0.2H 0.2H 0.2H 0.1H -0.1L -0.2L -0.3L -0.3L -0.3L -0.4L -0.4L -0.3L -0.3L
Time 11:14 PM
Height 0.2H
11:12 AM 11:50 AM 12:25 PM 12:57 PM 7:29 AM 10:56 AM 5:02 PM 5:13 PM 5:47 PM 6:36 PM 7:36 PM 9:04 PM 11:19 PM
-0.4L -0.3L -0.2L -0.1L 0.1H 0.2H 0.3H 0.3H 0.4H 0.5H 0.5H 0.4H 0.4H
Height 0.0H 0.0H 0.0H -0.1H -0.1H -0.1H -0.2L -0.2L -0.2L -0.2L -0.3L -0.3L -0.2L -0.2L 0.1H
Time 10:39 AM 11:17 AM 11:51 AM 12:22 PM 12:51 PM 1:15 PM 8:53 AM 6:34 PM 6:55 PM 7:40 PM 8:39 PM 9:44 PM 10:52 PM
Height -0.3L -0.3L -0.3L -0.2L -0.2L -0.2L -0.1H 0.0H 0.0H 0.0H 0.1H 0.1H 0.1H
9:58 AM
-0.2L
Port Aransas, H. Caldwell Pier Date Time Feb 22 6:42 AM Feb 23 7:21 AM Feb 24 12:01 AM Feb 25 1:15 AM Feb 26 2:25 AM Feb 27 3:36 AM Feb 28 4:52 AM Mar 01 6:19 AM Mar 02 8:01 AM Mar 03 12:32 AM Mar 04 1:35 AM Mar 05 2:44 AM Mar 06 3:54 AM Mar 07 5:01 AM Mar 08 6:03 AM
Height -0.7L -0.6L 0.7H 0.8H 0.8H 0.9H 1.0H 1.1H 1.2H -0.3L -0.5L -0.6L -0.6L -0.6L -0.6L
South Padre Island Date Time Feb 22 6:39 AM Feb 23 7:18 AM Feb 24 7:56 AM Feb 25 12:54 AM Feb 26 2:06 AM Feb 27 3:20 AM Feb 28 4:39 AM Mar 01 6:07 AM Mar 02 7:50 AM Mar 03 12:22 AM Mar 04 1:26 AM Mar 05 2:35 AM Mar 06 3:47 AM Mar 07 4:56 AM Mar 08 6:00 AM
Height -0.1L -0.1L -0.1L 1.1H 1.1H 1.0H 1.0H 1.0H 1.1H -0.4L -0.5L -0.5L -0.5L -0.4L -0.3L
Time 3:24 PM 3:34 PM 7:58 AM 8:35 AM 9:14 AM 9:56 AM 10:43 AM 11:38 AM 12:54 PM 9:55 AM 11:32 AM 12:37 PM 1:23 PM 1:57 PM 2:23 PM
Height 0.9H 0.9H -0.5L -0.4L -0.1L 0.1L 0.4L 0.8L 1.0L 1.4H 1.5H 1.5H 1.5H 1.4H 1.3H
Time 3:39 PM 3:45 PM 3:50 PM 8:34 AM 9:15 AM 9:59 AM 10:47 AM 11:43 AM 12:56 PM 9:50 AM 11:40 AM 12:52 PM 1:39 PM 2:10 PM 2:31 PM
Height 1.2H 1.2H 1.1H 0.0L 0.1L 0.3L 0.5L 0.7L 0.9L 1.2H 1.3H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.3H
Time
Height
8:34 PM 6:47 PM 5:59 PM 1:27 PM 1:46 PM
0.0H 0.0H 0.0H 0.0L 0.1L
Time
Height
7:39 PM 6:59 PM 1:20 PM
-0.1H -0.1H -0.1L
Time
Height
8:28 PM 3:42 PM 3:50 PM 3:56 PM 4:01 PM 4:04 PM 4:00 PM 3:42 PM
0.6L 0.9H 0.8H 0.8H 0.9H 0.9H 1.0H 1.1H
Time
Height
10:45 PM 0.0L 11:34 PM -0.1L 5:05 PM 4:59 PM
0.1H 0.2H
Time
Height
11:46 PM -0.1L 6:38 PM -0.1H
Time
Height
8:43 PM 0.5L 9:06 PM 0.4L 9:35 PM 0.3L 10:09 PM 0.1L 10:50 PM 0.0L 11:37 PM -0.2L
2013 Feb-Mar 22 Fri 23 Sat > 24 Sun > 25 Mon F 26 Tue > 27 Wed > 28 Thu 01 Fri 02 Sat 03 Sun 04 Mon Q 05 Tue 06 Wed 07 Thu 08 Fri 09 Sat 10 Sun > 11 Mon > 12 Tue N 13 Wed >
A.M. Minor Major 2:20 8:32 3:03 9:14 3:46 9:57 4:30 10:42 5:17 11:29 6:07 ----7:01 12:48 7:58 1:44 8:57 2:43 9:58 3:44 10:59 4:44 11:57 5:43 12:24 6:39 1:17 7:31 2:07 8:20 2:54 9:07 4:41 10:53 5:28 11:40 6:16 12:04 7:06 12:54
Dallas 2013 Feb-Mar 22 Fri 23 Sat > 24 Sun > 25 Mon F 26 Tue > 27 Wed > 28 Thu 01 Fri 02 Sat 03 Sun 04 Mon Q 05 Tue 06 Wed 07 Thu 08 Fri 09 Sat 10 Sun > 11 Mon > 12 Tue N 13 Wed >
A.M. Minor Major 2:26 8:38 3:08 9:20 3:51 10:03 4:36 10:47 5:23 11:34 6:13 12:01 7:06 12:54 8:03 1:50 9:03 2:49 10:04 3:49 11:04 4:50 ----- 5:48 12:30 6:44 1:22 7:37 2:12 8:26 3:00 9:13 4:46 10:59 5:33 11:45 6:21 12:10 7:11 1:00
San Antonio 7:43 PM
0.9L
11:01 PM
1.0H
Time
Height
Time
Height
8:20 PM 8:33 PM 3:53 PM 3:55 PM 3:56 PM 3:53 PM 3:46 PM 3:24 PM
1.0L 0.9L 1.0H 0.9H 0.9H 0.8H 0.8H 0.9H
11:37 PM
1.1H
7:13 PM
1.0L
8:55 PM 0.7L 9:23 PM 0.5L 9:57 PM 0.3L 10:38 PM 0.0L 11:26 PM -0.2L
10:50 PM
1.2H
2013 A.M. Feb-Mar Minor Major 22 Fri 2:33 8:45 23 Sat > 3:15 9:27 24 Sun > 3:58 10:10 25 Mon F 4:43 10:54 26 Tue > 5:30 11:41 27 Wed > 6:20 12:08 28 Thu 7:13 1:01 01 Fri 8:10 1:57 02 Sat 9:10 2:56 03 Sun 10:11 3:56 04 Mon Q 11:11 4:57 05 Tue ----- 5:55 06 Wed 12:37 6:51 07 Thu 1:29 7:44 08 Fri 2:19 8:33 09 Sat 3:07 9:20 10 Sun > 4:53 11:06 11 Mon > 5:40 11:52 12 Tue N 6:28 12:17 13 Wed > 7:18 1:07
Amarillo
2013 A.M. Feb-Mar Minor 22 Fri 2:46 23 Sat > 3:29 24 Sun > 4:12 25 Mon F 4:56 26 Tue > 5:43 27 Wed > 6:33 28 Thu 7:27 01 Fri 8:24 02 Sat 9:23 03 Sun 10:24 04 Mon Q 11:25 05 Tue ----06 Wed 12:50 07 Thu 1:43 08 Fri 2:33 09 Sat 3:20 10 Sun > 5:07 11 Mon > 5:54 12 Tue N 6:42 13 Wed > 7:32
OUTDOOR PUZZLER | By Wilbur “Wib” Lundeen ACROSS 1. A saltwater fish catch 4. A trout species 8. The thrill of the hunt 9. A bear hideaway 10. A large trophy fish 13. Anything that attracts game, fish 15. To pack a day’s catch in
17. 18. 20. 21. 23.
The largest bass A deer lure, scent ____ A prey of the eagle The trapper’s quest A member of a buck’s harem 25. A bear food source 27. A camp stove fuel 28. Used for bait at times
30. A grouse 33. An aid to the bowman 36. Fish to be 37. A part of an antler 39. Wildfowl home 41. Term for scanning area for game 43. A saltwater fish 47. To shed feathers 48. A fur seeker’s gear 49. Protects the shooting hand DOWN 1. Deer have many of these 2. A good bear trap bait 3. Found in West Texas, the ____ horns 4. The fish basket 5. Male turkey 6. Albinos are ____ 7. To treat a hide 11. A commercial catch in huge nets 12. The male dall 14. A shore bird 16. A salmon 19. Still hunters have
Page 17
February 22, 2013
Solution on Page 21 ____ stands 20. Brings in a catch 21. A brand of shelter, ____ trap 22. Reels in a catch 24. A very valuable fur bearer 26. Hunting dog picks this up 29. Analyzing freshness of game track 31. Breed of dog trained to hunt 32. A predator 33. Code for a type bullet 34. A trapper’s quarry 35. Feature of a wild boar 38. A type of tent 40. The fish gill 42. A shooter’s protection, ____ pad 44. To construct a fly lure 45. Letters mean grain measurement 46. Code for a bullet point
Major 8:58 9:40 10:23 11:08 11:55 12:21 1:14 2:10 3:09 4:10 5:10 6:09 7:05 7:57 8:46 9:33 11:19 ----12:30 1:20
P.M. Minor 2:44 3:26 4:09 4:54 5:41 6:31 7:26 8:24 9:25 10:27 11:28 ----12:53 1:45 2:34 3:20 5:06 5:52 6:39 7:29
Major 8:56 9:38 10:21 11:05 11:59 12:19 1:13 2:11 3:11 4:12 5:13 6:12 7:08 7:59 8:47 9:33 11:18 12:04 12:28 1:18
SUN Rises Sets 06:53 06:15 06:52 06:16 06:51 06:16 06:50 06:17 06:49 06:18 06:48 06:18 06:47 06:19 06:46 06:20 06:45 06:20 06:44 06:21 06:43 06:22 06:42 06:22 06:41 06:23 06:40 06:24 06:38 06:24 06:37 06:25 07:36 07:26 07:35 07:26 07:34 07:27 07:33 07:28
MOON Rises 3:38p 4:34p 5:30p 6:28p 7:26p 8:26p 9:27p 10:30p 11:34p NoMoon 12:37a 1:38a 2:35a 3:26a 4:13a 4:56a 6:35a 7:12a 7:49a 8:25a
Sets 4:32a 5:11a 5:48a 6:24a 7:00a 7:36a 8:15a 8:56a 9:41a 10:30a 11:25a 12:24p 1:26p 2:30p 3:33p 4:36p 6:37p 7:37p 8:35p 9:32p
P.M. Minor Major 2:49 9:01 3:32 9:43 4:15 10:26 4:59 11:11 5:46 ----6:37 12:25 7:31 1:19 8:29 2:16 9:30 3:16 10:32 4:18 11:34 5:19 12:03 6:18 12:59 7:13 1:51 8:05 2:39 8:53 3:26 9:38 5:11 11:23 5:57 12:09 6:45 12:33 7:35 1:23
SUN MOON Rises Sets Rises Sets 07:02 06:17 3:38p 4:43a 07:01 06:18 4:35p 5:21a 07:00 06:19 5:33p 5:57a 06:59 06:20 6:32p 6:32a 06:58 06:21 7:32p 7:06a 06:56 06:21 8:33p 7:41a 06:55 06:22 9:36p 8:18a 06:54 06:23 10:40p 8:57a 06:53 06:24 11:45p 9:41a 06:52 06:25 NoMoon 10:30a 06:50 06:25 12:49a 11:24a 06:49 06:26 1:50a 12:23p 06:48 06:27 2:47a 1:25p 06:47 06:28 3:38a 2:30p 06:45 06:28 4:24a 3:35p 06:44 06:29 5:05a 4:39p 07:43 07:30 6:42a 6:42p 07:42 07:31 7:18a 7:43p 07:40 07:31 7:53a 8:43p 07:39 07:32 8:28a 9:41p
P.M. Minor Major 2:56 9:08 3:39 9:50 4:22 10:33 5:06 11:18 5:53 ----6:44 12:32 7:38 1:26 8:36 2:23 9:37 3:23 10:39 4:25 11:41 5:26 12:10 6:25 1:06 7:20 1:58 8:12 2:46 9:00 3:33 9:45 5:18 11:30 6:04 12:16 6:52 12:40 7:42 1:30
SUN MOON Rises Sets Rises Sets 07:06 06:28 3:51p 4:44a 07:05 06:28 4:47p 5:24a 07:04 06:29 5:43p 6:01a 07:03 06:30 6:41p 6:37a 07:02 06:30 7:39p 7:13a 07:01 06:31 8:38p 7:49a 07:00 06:32 9:40p 8:28a 06:58 06:33 10:42p 9:09a 06:57 06:33 11:46p 9:54a 06:56 06:34 NoMoon 10:44a 06:55 06:35 12:49a 11:39a 06:54 06:35 1:50a 12:37p 06:53 06:36 2:47a 1:39p 06:52 06:36 3:39a 2:43p 06:51 06:37 4:26a 3:47p 06:50 06:38 5:08a 4:49p 07:49 07:38 6:48a 6:50p 07:47 07:39 7:25a 7:50p 07:46 07:40 8:01a 8:48p 07:45 07:40 8:38a 9:45p
P.M. Minor 3:10 3:52 4:35 5:19 6:07 6:57 7:52 8:50 9:51 10:53 11:54 12:23 1:19 2:11 3:00 3:46 5:31 6:18 7:05 7:55
SUN Rises 07:25 07:24 07:22 07:21 07:20 07:19 07:17 07:16 07:15 07:14 07:12 07:11 07:10 07:08 07:07 07:06 08:04 08:03 08:01 08:00
Major 9:22 10:04 10:47 11:31 ----12:45 1:39 2:37 3:37 4:38 5:39 6:38 7:34 8:25 9:13 9:59 11:44 12:30 12:54 1:44
Sets 06:35 06:36 06:37 06:38 06:39 06:40 06:41 06:42 06:42 06:43 06:44 06:45 06:46 06:47 06:48 06:49 07:49 07:50 07:51 07:52
MOON Rises 3:56p 4:54p 5:53p 6:53p 7:54p 8:56p 10:00p 11:06p NoMoon 12:11a 1:16a 2:17a 3:13a 4:04a 4:48a 5:28a 7:05a 7:39a 8:13a 8:47a
Sets 5:08a 5:45a 6:20a 6:54a 7:27a 8:01a 8:36a 9:15a 9:58a 10:46a 11:40a 12:39p 1:42p 2:47p 3:53p 4:58p 7:02p 8:04p 9:05p 10:05p
FOR THE TABLE Pan roasted white bass with wine butter sauce 2 fillets whole firm-fleshed fish, about 1 lb. each (scaled and gutted) 6 large garlic cloves, peeled, cut in thirds 2 tbsps. olive oil 1 cup flour 2 tbsps. fresh oregano, chopped 1 1/2 tsps. salt 1 tsp. hot sauce 1 cup white wine 1 tbsp. butter 2 tbsps. lemon juice Lemon slice (to garnish) Wash fish and pat dry. Spread flour on a plate. Salt the fish and then dredge in flour, coating entirely. Allow to rest for 20 min-
utes. Heat olive oil over high heat in a sauté pan large enough to hold both fish without crowding. When the oil is very hot but not yet smoking, add garlic and toss the garlic around for a minute. Place fish in the pan and brown 1-1/2 minutes on each side. Lower heat to medium, cover and roast for about 10 minutes, turning the fish once. Remove to a warmed side plate. Add wine, raise heat to high and quickly reduce to a syrupy consistency, scraping all around the pan to loosen browned bits clinging to the pot. Add the butter and swirl to melt and blend. Correct seasoning and pour sauce over fish. Garnish with additional oregano and lemon slices. — Food.com
Grilled teriyaki quail 4-8 quail, cleaned and split in halves Italian dressing Kikkoman teriyaki marinade 1/2 tsp. minced garlic Cayenne pepper Black pepper Garlic powder Lawry’s Seasoned Salt Paprika Mix equal parts of the dressing and
marinade together in a bowl. Stir in the garlic. Add the quail and stir to coat evenly. Place in the refrigerator and marinate for at least 1 hour. Stir often. Heat your grill over medium heat. Mix equal parts of the seasonings together. Example: 1 teaspoon each. Remove the quail and season liberally. Place on grill and cook to preference. Sprinkle with the seasoning when flipping. — Backwoodsbound.com
*email LSON your favorite recipe to news@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
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February 22, 2013
LoneOStar Outdoor News
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PRODUCTS HAWKEYE AFRICAN RIFLE: Some of Ruger’s guns in 2013, including the Hawkeye African Rifle, shown, will incorporate the new and revolutionary Ruger Muzzle Brake System — a removable, radial-port muzzle brake that significantly reduces felt recoil. M77 Hawkeye African with Ruger Muzzle Brake System: The Ruger M77 Hawkeye African rifle now features the same Ruger Muzzle Brake System as the Ruger Guide Gun. This standard length action rifle with 23-inch barrel will be chambered in .300 Win. Mag., .338 Win. Mag., .375 Ruger, .416 Ruger and .375 Ruger in a left-handed configuration. The Ruger M77 Hawkeye African, originally designed for the .375 Ruger cartridge, is a classic hunter’s rifle.
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(888) 332-6998 www.montanadecoy.com
XTREME INSULATED VEST: Prois’ hunting vest is an essential layering piece. Made from a soft and silent waterproof/breathable shell, it is designed to maximize core thermoregulation. This women’s camo vest is insulated with 150gm 3M Ultra Thinsulate and lined with a nylon tricot layering system to enhance ease of movement and layering. The XTREME women’s camo vest keeps heat where it should be — in the body’s core. The hood is designed with an external drawstring to cinch it tightly to your head while still maintaining peripheral vision. The XTREME includes Prois’s signature ducktail feature, which unsnaps at the base of the vest to provide the user a dry place to sit. The XTREME Vest is designed to wear as an added insulator layering piece under Prois’s XTREME jacket or it may be worn over base layers as the day heats up. (970) 641-3355 www.proishunting.com
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(928) 541-8892 www.ruger.com
GEOVID HD-B RANGEFINDER BINOCULARS: The newest in the Leica Sport Optics line of laser rangefinder binoculars, the Geovid HD-B dominated industry buzz at the 2013 SHOT Show in Las Vegas. Unveiled during a SHOT Show media event, the Geovid HD-B laser rangefinder binoculars once again affirms Leica's leadership stature as a category innovator. Considerably more evolved than its competitors, the Geovid-HD B contains advanced ballistics technology enabling users to add/create their own custom ballistics info for their specific weapon as well as class-leading ranging abilities.The newly developed ballistic function ABC™ (Advanced Ballistic Compensation) provides the proper aim point for the hunter and shooter. The Geovid HD-B’s integrated, highly precise ballistic processor can instantly gather and analyze the ballistic information with one touch of the button, giving accurate information for the correct hold over, turret adjustment or drop-down reticle aiming point. When calculating the trajectory, the distance, angle, temperature and air pressure are all taken into account.
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3-D PAPA STRUT DECOY: Montana Decoy’s three-dimensional full body turkey decoy is constructed from lightweight materials to make it ultra-portable and realistic. The Papa Strut features a two-piece design that quickly and quietly transforms into a life-size strutting tom. Some of the best features are those not included: no special carrying bags, no fragile mounts and no bulk or unwanted weight. Folding is fast and simple, after which the decoy will fit in any vest easily and comfortably. The Papa Strut 3D Tom weighs a mere 17 ounces with the leg pole and folds to a tiny 11-inch circle with a thickness of less than 3 inches. Suggested retail is $74.99.
(800) 222-0118 www.leica-sportoptics.com
HELIOS 2013: Okuma Fishing Tackle’s lightweight low profile baitcast reel is ergonomically designed and durably constructed. The 6.3-ounce reel has a rigid die cast aluminum frame and sideblades; a machined aluminum anodized spool; and heavy duty aluminum gears and shafts. The corrosion-resistant reel features a multi-disc carbonite drag system with precise settings, a stainless steel bearing drive system, a seven-position velocity control system, and zirconium line guide inserts for use with braided line. Available in both right- and left-hand retrieve, the reel sells for about $200. For dealers, visit: www.okumafishing.com
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LoneOStar Outdoor News
February 22, 2013
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February 22, 2013
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LSONews.com
HEROES
MARKI NOWLIN of Deleon killed her first deer on the family farm with a .243. She followed that up with a second deer a little later. Marki is the granddaughter of the late T. A. (Cap) Nowlin. San Antonio hunter MIKE HOWELL was hunting in Kendall County on Dec. 4 when he took this great buck with chocolate horns scoring 146.5 B&C.
REED GRAFF, 8, took his first hog this past November.
SHARE AN ADVENTURE ■ Want to share hunting and fishing photos with other Lone Star Outdoor News readers?
KATIE WILSON shot this 20-point buck while hunting with her father, Pete, in Dimmit County. The buck scored 180 B&C.
Email them with contact and 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.
MEL MARTY from Laguna Vista was fishing north of South Padre Island on Jan. 19 when he caught this 42-inch bull red.
Stockdale hunter DEREK DEWITT took this trophy axis in McLennan County. The big buck measured nearly 30 inches.
CLASSIFIEDS 200 ACRE LEON COUNTY Turn-Key Hunting, Fishing, Recreational Ranch. F.M. frontage, 75% wooded, hilly to rough terrain, fenced, springfed creeks and stocked ponds, 4/2 furnished Lodge, 10' covered wrap around porch, metal buildings, new feeders, stands, and much more. Mineral Rights negotiable. Owner/ Broker, rjbtx@hotmail.com or (281) 733-5585 BIG CUTTING BOARDS 24"x48" Cutting Boards for hunters and fishermen. Made in the U.S.A. BigCuttingBoards.com AVON INDEPENDENT SALES REP IN DFW www.youravon.com/jacquelinek, Contact Jacqueline, Sales Rep. UTAH, NEVADA HUNTING Deer, Elk, Sheep, Mountain Lion, Antelope, Moose, Mountain Goat. Bow, Rifle, Muzzloader. (435) 623-2744 TURKEY HUNTING Great South Texas turkey hunting in Carrizo Springs, TX. Meals and lodging included. Deer-down.com. Call Mark. (210) 422-3210 QUAIL GUN 20-gauge, 26” BBL, English stock, side by side. Smith & Wesson Elite Gold In box, never fired. $1850 (214) 361-2276 x 201 SOUTH PADRE FISHING Reds, Trout, Flounder, Snook. Everything supplied but food and licenses. Multiple trip discounts. Call Capt. Thomas for details or CDCT12005@aol.com (956) 551-1965
LOOKING FOR DEER? Great Deal Native Whitetail Trophy and Management Hunts near Brady. Meals and lodging at Highpoint Ranch and exotics hunts are also still available. Brand new lodge and some of the best home cooking you will ever have. I’ll send you some game cam photos of our bucks. Like us on Facebook. Call Sawyer Wright. (254) 485-7069 STATE WATERFOWL STAMP/PRINT COLLECTION FOR SALE 32 total signed and numbered state prints and stamps from around the country 12 state first; Louisiana, Vermont, Arizona,Kansas, Rhode Island, Kentucky, Connecticut, Idaho, Virginia, Nebraska, Canada, Australia. 10 from South Carolina. All unframed. Great art work for any water fowlers office wall or hunting camp. Call and ask for David. (214) 361-2276 DECOYS WANTED WOODEN Duck and Goose. Top prices paid. Ask for David. (214) 361-2276
1
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SUPER DEER - DOVE HUNTING RANCH 154 high-fenced acres, Medina County, 20 miles west of San Antonio. Fishing tank, 2 water wells, public water, improved whitetail, axis, fallow deer, 6 whitetail breeder pens, Alsatian rock cabin, mixture of fields and brush, one-quarter minerals, $4950 acre. Owner-Broker. (830) 796-0520 FULL TEXAS STATE DUCK STAMP COLLECTION Signed and Numbered. (817) 832-8078 DISCOVER ARCHERY TEXASARCHERY.INFO PROPERTIES FOR SALE 493.79 +/- acres of recreational/hunting land in Terrell County, Texas, featuring a modern cottage, deer feeders, stands and more! Price Reduced on 926.47 +/- acres of great hunting property located in Terrell County, Texas. Features small cabin, maintained roads, quail, dove and deer and great views. Visit our website at www. SandersonTXRealEstate.com. (432) 940-9425
PER WORD
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DATEBOOK February 22-23
Deer Breeders Corp 5th Annual New Year’s Deer Auction Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott (830) 598-8600 dbcdeer.com
February 23
Dallas Woods and Waters Club 34th Annual Banquet and Fundraiser Plano Centre (214) 570-8700 dwwcc.org Kayak Angler Tournament Series Lake Bastrop (512) 719-4386 fishkats.com
February 28
Dallas Safari Club Monthly Meeting Royal Oaks Country Club (972) 980-9800 biggame.org Ducks Unlimited Whitehouse Dinner The Arbor, Tyler (903) 539-8606 ducks.org
March 1-2
Texas Deer Association Spring Gala Banquet and Auction Embassy Suites Outdoor World, Grapevine (210) 767-8300 texasdeerassociation.com
March 1-3
Texas Dog Hunters Association Wild Hog Roundup Wilbur Baber Complex, Hallettsville (903) 926-2601 tdha.org
March 2
Texas Team Trail Sam Rayburn Reservoir (210) 788-4143 texasteamtrail.com Mule Deer Foundation 2nd Annual Fundraiser and Banquet Parker County Sheriff’s Posse Event Center, Weatherford (817) 594-0291 Muledeer.org
Delta Waterfowl Marshall Dinner Marshall Visual Arts Center (903) 407-2586 deltawaterfowl.org
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February 22, 2013
March 6-10
Houston Fishing Show George R. Brown Convention Center (713) 853-8000 houstonfishingshow.com
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Executive Editor Craig Nyhus Managing Editor Conor Harrison Associate Editor Mark England Graphics Editor Amy Moore Business/Products Editor Mary Helen Aguirre Operations Manager Mike Hughs
Puzzle solution from Page 17
Accounting Ginger Hoolan Website Bruce Soileau
National Advertising Mike Nelson Accounts Manager Founder & CEO David J. Sams Advertising Call (214) 361-2276 or email mhughs@lonestaroutdoornews.com to request a media kit.
Lone Star Outdoor News, ISSN 2162-8300, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. A mailed subscription is $30 for 24 issues. Newsstand copies are $2, in certain markets copies are free, one per person. Copyright 2013 with all rights reserved. Reproduction and/or use of any photographic or written material without written permission by the publisher is prohibited. Subscribers may send address changes to: Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355 or e-mail them to news@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
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February 22, 2013
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Trout Continued From Page 1
ing for big trout and this has not been a normal year.” Arsola said water temperatures in the 70s have made finding the pockets of big trout tough. “The fish are there, they are just spread out,” he said. “We are catching them on top-waters, mainly, but Corkies are working also. Day-glow pink Corkies and darkcolored soft plastics in blood red or motor oil color are catching fish.” Farther south in the Laguna Madre, trout guide Tricia McBride said it hasn’t been a great year, yet. “It sure hasn’t been like it has been the last couple of years,” she said. “It was crazy good for a couple of years. But if you stay with it and are there at the right time and the right place, you can catch an 8-pounder. “There are lots of little fish, which is encouraging.” McBride said the water is discolored, but with each push of new water, it gets better. “All in all, I’d give the trout report a ‘good’ — it certainly isn’t dismal,” she added. “They are a lot more spread out. I think pressure has something to do with it, but also nature just has cycles. They’ll come back, hopefully. “We didn’t have a winter, but we’ve had a lot of warm Februarys and then it gets cold in March and April. I bet we have a good early spring.” On Sabine Lake, along the upper coast, the reports were better, with anglers catching good numbers of trout and decent-sized fish, as well. “We’ve been catching good numbers of trout up to about 8 1/2 pounds,” said longtime guide Capt. Jerry Norris. “There aren’t
Photo by LSON.
any birds working, and we’ve been getting all of our fish on top-waters or Bass Assassins.” Norris said the lake has seen a lot of rain recently, which delayed the trout getting into their normal winter hangouts. “It moved the fish,” he said. “They are just now getting normal, but I’ve been fishing in this area for 27 years and this is the best (past 12 months) I’ve had catching fish. There is no more commercial netting and no shrimping at all in the lake, so there are much better conditions for the fish.” Norris said he has been hammering the fish since November. Internet reports and other guides have confirmed what LSON has been hearing — a strange year on the lower coast with big trout few and far between, but lower water temperatures and better fishing up north. Capt. Jesse Arsola, (979) 479-2558 Capt. Tricia McBride, (956) 642-7298 Capt. Jerry Norris, (409) 718-8782
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February 22, 2013
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February 22, 2013
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