Fishing texas ANNUAL 201 9
The
mystique of
CADDO LAKE Advertising Section
UNDENIABLY MATCH GRADE
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FISHING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019
Lone Star Outdoor News
10/12/18 3:00 PM
FISHING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019
Lone Star Outdoor News
|3
Fishing
Fishing texas ANNUAL 2019
texas
The
mystique
ANN UAL 2019
of
CADDO LAKE
Advertisers
Advertising Section
ALABAMA GULF COAST SLAM……………… 13 ANGLER QWEST PONTOONS…………………… 5 BEAR CLAW KNIFE & SHEAR………………… 9 BIG FISHERMAN BOAT & RV STORAGE…… 10 BUFORD RESOURCES………………………… 6 CCA DALLAS……………………………………… 4 COAST………………………………………… 11
About the Cover:
Anglers fish beneath the tall cypress trees covered with Spanish moss at Caddo Lake, one of Texas' top largemouth bass fisheries. See story on Page 12.
DISTANT WATERS NEW ZEALAND…………… 8
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Lone Star Outdoor News, ISSN 21628300, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. A mailed subscription is $35 for 24 issues. Newsstand copies are $3, in certain markets copies are free, one per person. Copyright 2019 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 email them to news@ lonestaroutdoornews.com.
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FISHING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019
Lone Star Outdoor News
Fish in comfort with Angler Qwest Catfish Edition 822 and 824 Series
CATFISH ENVY
Grandpa claimed cats on the Tennessee River were so big they clogged up the intakes on the dam. If a person actually landed one, it was towed behind the jon boat on a stringer, destined for a cornmeal breading or catfish scrapple. Back then, the extra rod holder was the grandson, while today more than a dozen rods can be customplaced on the 822 or 824 series so a cold drink, or bait, all is within easy reach. There’s no reason catfishing can’t be comfortable, even with six of your buddies, or the entire infield of your kid’s baseball team. Standard features include: • State-of-the-art fiberglass center console big enough for today’s giant locators • Rear binary wall system providing a gunnel for track and rod holders systems • Infinity Bluetooth stereo system with two kicking Infinity speakers • Upholstered captain's seat cabinet with storage in base • Rear upholstered 70-gallon catfish livewell with Max Air Recirculation System • Two binary walls with 72-inch Traxstech Accessory Tracks for nearly infinite positioning of accessories • Rear fishing station with a high-pressure wash-down system and measuring board Add-on Features • Gen II Triple Tube package • Individual seat covers • Docking lights • Upgrade to teak vinyl flooring • Power anchor brackets (front or rear) • Tilt-out tackle storage for rear walls • 35-gallon extreme baitwell • Traxstech products • Radar arch tower
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FISHING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019
Lone Star Outdoor News
|5
WORLD-CLASS
fishing AT HOME
By James Richards The rod bowed and water splashed as the river giant thrashed its head, trying to toss the tiny hook that held him captive. Each time that it would seem his fight was done, he would turn and charge away from the boat with newfound energy. The contest lasted about 15 minutes until I finally got to hold up the rainbow beauty. And this battle of fly and line took place in our own backyard. While so many may travel far and wide in search of pristine fishing for spring break, we often overlook the treasure lying just beyond our own neighborhood. The Guadalupe River is regularly stocked each spring with rainbow and brown trout. I have chased these elusive fish from Wyoming to Colorado to Missouri. However, my best trout-fishing experience took place in March, coasting down the Guadalupe River. With just a fly rod and a tandem nymph rig, an angler can have quite the fishing trip. These fish tend to hang out in the deep green holes in the river. With polarized sunglasses, these spots are easy to see in contrast to the limestone riverbed. You also can look for where the current is broken up by big rocks, which is where trout like to sit out of the current as food is
swept by the river’s flow within their reach. In our short trip my brother, Joe, and I landed multiple rainbows and a brown trout measuring close to 20 inches. Due to river stockings from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited, the river has the potential of producing rainbows up to the record of 28 inches as well as a hunting ground for hungry stripers that have been caught in the Guadalupe weighing more than 30 pounds. There is also an array of wildlife to enjoy, including bald eagles, osprey, wood ducks, and blue herons that patrol up and down the riverbanks, fishing alongside us. The corridor of towering cypress trees and backdrop of limestone rock walls create an environment that could rival scenery in most fishing locations across the country. If you would like to learn more about fishing the Guadalupe, there are many excellent guides who provide tremendous fishing expeditions. We have fished with both Greg Smith and Judson Cole, who helped educate and expose us to the incredible fishing the Guadalupe has to offer. They both provide an excellent day of fishing on the water, whether they are catering to serious fly-fishermen or equipping beginner anglers with the tools to enjoy this natural treasure. James and Joe Richards
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FISHING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019
Lone Star Outdoor News
THE BEST FINESSE HOOK ON THE MARKET Eagle Claw Trokar, the U.S. manufacturer of premium quality fish hooks, expands on the popular lineup of award-winning Trokar hooks with the TK137 Finesse hook. Available with (TK137W) and without (TK137) hand-tied weed guards, these hooks are meticulously designed to be the ultimate tool in finesse fishing. Featuring Trokar’s patented Surgically Sharpened Technology in the hook point ensures faster, deeper penetration with less pressure required for hook set. The Pro-V bend holds soft plastics in place when wacky or neko-style fishing and is tested and proven stronger than its round bend cousins. Each hook is available in four sizes: 2, 1, 1/0 or 2/0; and each package containing six hooks retails at $5.99.
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FISHING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019
Lone Star Outdoor News
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TROUT-FISHING TRIP OF A LIFETIME In the Southern Hemisphere on the northern island of New Zealand lies Lake Taupo and its more than 30 tributary rivers that flow into this 240-square-mile body of water, along with its lush and wild backcountry wilderness. Clients have been heard saying “As close to a perfect trip as we could have imagined,” “Best guides on the planet,” “We never saw another angler the entire week,” and “Amazing beauty, amazing fish, both in numbers caught and size — on dry flies no less.” Kevin Wigfield at Distant Waters has been helping anglers fulfill their fly-fishing and travel dreams to this incredible destination for more than 20 years. The temperatures rarely dip below the 50s this time of year, and by lunch it will be in the mid-70s. But we are not fishing Lake Taupo tributaries today. Instead, we hear the sounds of a helicopter overhead. Over the radio, our pilot explains his flight route will pass by a waterfall and over a forest made up of thousands of jasmine green trees. The river systems that make up this backcountry are home to some of the wildest brown and rainbow trout known to mankind. The helicopter descends into a forest below, and there is no trace of civilization — no roads and nothing artificial to break the landscape. The helicopter touches down on a remote stream bed. The scene cuts to the heart of any true sportsperson, and created an immediate realization that we are truly removed from the outside world. From here on it's the angler, their guide and the river. An angler knows when they have found a good river, and this is it. The Distant Waters guide instructs and helps set up a #8 or #10 dry fly in preparation to sight,
stalk and catch an average trout ranging from 4 to 6 pounds — all while looking for that elusive double-digit fish. Having fish of this size consistently rise to a dry fly is on every angler’s bucket list, landing bigger-than-life fish justifies why a person travels halfway around the world. A destination of a lifetime, it feels larger, wilder but yet so familiar. Like anywhere else, going with a trusted guide in the rough backcountry waters is essential. An experienced outfitter like Distant Waters ensures the trip is well worth the effort. Kirk Klancke, president of the Colorado River Headwaters chapter of Trout Unlimited, purchased a Distant Waters trip at the Colorado Trout Unlimited gala. “We weren’t sure how it would go, but Kevin took care of every detail of the trip, including working with our flight schedule to allow us additional time in New Zealand,” Klancke said. “We still talk about the size of the fish and the attitude they showed when hooked. The trip included a helicopter ride into remote backcountry where Darlene caught her biggest trout.” New Zealand’s trout fishing is rightly renowned, but to fully appreciate it, you need to experience it first-hand. The large trout in pristine waters, the scenic beauty surrounding you, the chance to enjoy the country and its culture — that’s what an angling adventure to New Zealand is all about. Explore the possibilities for your own custom-made adventure with Distant Waters.
DISTANT WATERS NEW ZEALAND
☎ (303) 550-2990 DISTANTWATERSNZ.COM
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FISHING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019
Lone Star Outdoor News
Unparalleled edge retention coupled with the sharpest edge. The greatest fillet you’ll ever use and the last you’ll ever need. The new white river “step-up” fillet
FISHING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019
Lone Star Outdoor News
|9
OPE NIN G SU MM ER 2 019
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From a distance, the BLACK FX1000 will deliver your longest shots with confident precision. Competition-ready straight from the box, BLACK FX1000 integrates renowned Nikon optics into its first focal plane optical system for tack-sharp images and dialing functionality at any magnification and distance. With great glass, first focal plane reticle and return-to-zero integral zerostop precision turrets, the FX1000 has all the quality features you want for long-range at half the price of competitive scopes. Proprietary new glass-etched tactical reticles paired with precise, highspeed turrets allow fast, repeatable distance corrections and intuitive holdoff points. And for rapid return to your zero, the FX1000 debuts Nikon’s all-new BLACK Return-to-Zero integral zero-stop in the elevation turret. Nikon’s proprietary FX-MOA and FX-MRAD reticles were created expressly for the first focal plane optical system used in the BLACK FX1000 riflescope. Each reticle is designed to optimize the sight picture and provide the tools necessary for ranging, holdover and windage corrections. Illuminated reticle models with side-mounted control offer 10 intensity levels of red illumination with an OFF switch between each step for quick, easy brightness adjustments. A smooth-turn aluminum ring with rubberized eye guard allows crisp reticle focus and quick target acquisition. The Side Parallax knob allows adjustment without changing your shooting position. Constant, generous eye relief keeps your brow safe and provides a good sight picture for various shooting positions. It’s waterproof, fogproof, shockproof — and backed by Nikon’s No Fault Policy for return and/or replacement.
Great Deals on Inshore Fishing Extravaganzas April-June Fishing the legendary inshore waters off Piñas Bay, Panama is a “bucket list” adventure for all anglers. Fulfill your fishing fantasy! Tropic Star Lodge has provided the ultimate in offshore and inshore fishing adventures for our guests for the past 50+ years. We invite you to discover why we’ve been named “the best fishing resort in the world.”
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3/11/19 1:32 PM FISHING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019
Lone Star Outdoor News
6 × AA
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FISHING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019
Lone Star Outdoor News
3/7/19 1:24 PM | 11
The
mystique of
CADDO LAKE
By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News An angler’s first trip to Caddo Lake along the northeast Texas/Louisiana border might be spent sacrificing time fishing for admiring the scenery and taking photos. The 26,800-acre lake has been labeled one of the most beautiful lakes in America, with a rich history. Filmmakers head to the lake for its eerie bayous. The first thing most anglers notice are the giant cypress trees covered in Spanish moss. The trees, often several hundred years old, can reach up to 15 stories high with a trunk base of 15 feet. It’s the perfect target for a drop of a plastic worm. Caddo began as a natural lake, although an earthen dam was required to keep it that way. What many anglers don’t know is Caddo Lake is one of Texas’ and Louisiana’s top bass fisheries. The record bass, at 16.17 pounds, was caught in 2010. The lake has produced nine 13-poundplus bass on the Texas side and, on the Louisiana side, hundreds of bass topping 8 pounds and included in the Bass Life Replica Program that reimburses anglers for all or part of the cost of a replica. Many of the boats seen on the water at Caddo aren’t the typical bass boats observed on other Texas reservoirs. Aluminum tops fiberglass on this lake, and canoes, kayaks and jonboats are most common. Finding your way to a favorite fishing spot, or, more importantly, finding your way back to the boat ramp can be a challenge, with Caddo’s maze of narrow rows that wind through the overhanging cypress trees and stump-laden waters. Although tall poles with metal tags mark the channels, if there is no GPS on the boat, keep your cellphone charged, as you might be calling while trying to find your way back. Guides on the largely shallow, mud-bottomed lake advise using one simply to avoid spending the day running in circles. When fishing, weedless plastics are most common, as treble hooks tend to catch on the unforgiving wood under the water’s surface. The trees, though, get the most attention. Many of the cypress trees are more than a century old, and are covered in Spanish moss, which is not really a moss, but is a member of the bromeliad family, whose members include the pineapple and a variety of flowering house plants. What fishermen know is largemouth and crappie (called white perch by many of the locals) spawn at the base of the trees around the labyrinth of cypress “knees” beneath the surface. Guides indicate the more isolated the cypress tree, the better.
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FISHING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019
Lone Star Outdoor News
G3 Boats
The ultimate fishing tournament for saltwater anglers of all ages. Daily, weekly, and overall prizes will be awarded in multiple categories, totaling over $80,000 in giveaways.
April 20 - May 18, 2019
Visit our website for details: • • • • •
Registration information Tournament rules and regulations Fish species permitted Prize categories and amounts Weigh station location
AlabamaGulfCoastSlam.com 251-540-BOAT (2628)
2019-3969 SLAM ad for Lone Star Outdoor News.indd 1
FISHING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019
Participants can fish aboard registered charter boats including inshore boats, headboats, multi-passenger boats, and six passenger boats, as well as recreational boats. Or cast your line from a kayak, paddle board, pier, bridge, or jetty. Surf and shore fishing is also permitted. There’s no tournament entry fee for anglers fishing from a registered charter or recreational boat (charter fees still apply). Our website includes a complete list of registered vessels. For those fishing from shore, a small entry fee is required, and includes the entire tournament period. Simply bring your catch to the Orange Beach weigh station. There is no entry fee required for pier fishermen.
Lone Star Outdoor News
3/11/19 3:55 PM|
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The aluminum bay boat with everything, the Bay 22 DLX The flagship of the G3 Bay Boat family, the Bay 22 Deluxe, is a sweet fishing machine, destined to become a favorite of coastal anglers everywhere. The Bay 22 DLX sports smart design, superior performance and quality equipment. The interior is fully protected with a Tuff Coat spray-in line, and the 97-inch beam provides spacious casting areas. The Bay 22 DLX brings performance to a peak with a rugged 125 hull, rated for up to 200 horsepower. Matched with a Yamaha 200 SHO motor, you will have a hair-trigger hole shot and impressive top end. The updated custom console includes hydraulic steering, stainless wheel with spinner knob, stainless grab rail, Yamaha controls and key switch, 12-volt outlet, quality Faria gauges and six upright rod holders. In the bow, twin lockable storage boxes extend under the front deck for rods and gear. Two comfortable high-back fishing chairs are standard, and a flip-up passenger seat on either side of the padded leaning post provides additional seating. Convenient storage boxes for tackle and gear are located under the flip-up jump seats. To keep your catch fresh, the Bay 22 DLX offers more livewell capacity than high-end fiberglass boats, with two livewells, a 21x19, 17-gallon livewell attached to the center console that doubles as a passenger seat and, in the stern, a larger 14x34, 31-gallon livewell with 500 GPH aerator. Other standard features include buoyancy pods, a 30-gallon fuel system and a premium aluminum dual axle trailer with 14-inch radial tires. Popular options include a choice of Minn Kota trolling motors, hydraulic jack plate and factory-installed Power-Poles. Choose from five hull colors: Midnight Blue, Sea-Foam, Burgundy or Mossy Oak camo in either Break-up or Shadow Grass. T-Tops are available in Black, Oyster, Navy and Black Cherry.
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736.00 lbs
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FISHING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019
Lone Star Outdoor News
FISHING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019
Lone Star Outdoor News
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FISHING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019
Lone Star Outdoor News